Ep 5. Survival of the Fittest

In Cupcake Wars season 1 episode 5, titled "Survival of the Fittest," four talented bakers compete for a chance to showcase their delicious creations at a special event held at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Safari Park.

Hosted by Justin Willman, the competition challenges the bakers to create cupcakes inspired by the animal kingdom. In the first round, the contestants must use a mystery ingredient to make their cupcakes. The judges - Candace Nelson, Florian Bellanger, and guest judge Jillian Michaels - evaluate their creations based on taste and presentation.

The second round is the elimination challenge, where the bakers have to create a display of 1,000 cupcakes in just two hours. The catch is that the cupcakes have to be inspired by a specific animal and must use a designated ingredient, such as honey for the bees or bamboo for the pandas.

The judges then evaluate the bakers' displays based on taste, appearance, and how well they incorporated the designated ingredient and animal.

The episode culminates in a tense showdown between the final two bakers, who are given just one hour to create a display of 100 cupcakes based on a surprise theme. The judges then determine the winner based on which baker created the best cupcakes and display throughout the competition.

Overall, "Survival of the Fittest" is an exciting episode of Cupcake Wars that showcases the talent and creativity of these skilled bakers. With high stakes and intense competition, it's sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they root for their favorite contestant to come out on top.