Ep 9. Tony Hawk

In season 6 episode 9 of Cupcake Wars, skateboard legend Tony Hawk joins forces with judges Florian Bellanger and Candace Nelson to judge this week's cupcake creations. The four contestants competing for the $10,000 prize are challenged to create cupcakes that embody the spirit of skateboarding. The first challenge involves making a skateboard-inspired flavor, with the contestants using everything from coconut to mint chocolate to bacon in their cupcakes.

For the second challenge, the contestants are given a surprise ingredient that they must incorporate into their cupcakes. This week's surprise ingredient is beer, leading to some interesting flavor combinations such as chocolate stout cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and a beer-infused caramel sauce. The contestants must also incorporate a skateboard-themed element into their cupcakes, with some making miniature skateboard ramps out of fondant and others creating edible chocolate skateboards.

As always, the contestants face a time crunch and must work quickly to get their cupcakes baked, decorated, and plated in time for judging. The tension ratchets up as the contestants struggle with various challenges, from overflowing batter to malfunctioning ovens. Through it all, Tony Hawk offers words of encouragement and advice, sharing his own experiences of pushing through tough situations on the skateboard.

In the end, one contestant is crowned the winner of this week's Cupcake Wars, earning the $10,000 prize and the honor of having their cupcakes sold at a special event at Tony Hawk's Skatepark. With creative flavor combinations, gorgeous decorations, and a nod to skateboarding culture, this week's contestants truly pushed the limits of what can be done with cupcakes. Fans of Cupcake Wars will not want to miss this exciting and flavorful episode!