Season 1, Episode 4

Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Cakes

Food Network searched for the Ultimate Cake recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Chocolate Cake, Cupcakes and Birthday Cakes. A panel of food experts determined whose cake was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!

COMPETITORS:
Chocolate Cakes

Janice Kollar -- CAKE GRAND PRIZE WINNER!
Recipe: "Really Good" Chocolate Layer Cake
Hometown: Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

Erin Renouf Mylroie
Recipe: Anniversary Chocolate-Buttermilk Layer Cake with Toffee and Toasted Almonds
Hometown: St. George, Utah

Jaclyn Esposito
Recipe: Individual Molten Chocolate Coconut Cakes
Hometown: Aventura, Fla.

Cupcakes

Kelly Madey
Recipe: Orange Chiffon Cupcakes with Meringue Buttercream
Hometown: Quakertown, Pa.

Lorie Roach -- Winner!
Recipe: Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream
Hometown: Buckatunna, Miss.

Channon Mondoux
Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Brandy Sauce and Whipped Orange Flower Cream
Hometown: Portage, Mich.

Birthday Cakes

Doreen Howarth -- Winner!
Recipe: Put the Lime in the Coconut Cake
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Marie Belfiglio
Recipe: "Honey, I'm Peanuts About You!" Cake
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.

Debra Scruggs
Recipe: Tropical Pound Cake
Hometown: Toney, Ala.

See Tune-In Times

Recipes From This Episode

Anniversary Chocolate-Buttermilk Layer Cake with Toffee and Toasted Almonds

"Really Good" Chocolate Layer Cake

Orange Chiffon Cupcakes with Meringue Buttercream

Put the Lime in the Coconut Cake

Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream

Tropical Pound Cake

Individual Molten Chocolate Coconut Cakes

Gingerbread Cake with Brandy Sauce and Whipped Orange Flower Cream

"Honey, I'm Peanuts About You!" Cake

Previous Episode

Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Comfort Foods

Ultimate Recipe Showdown: Pasta

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