Ep 5. Critter Christmas

Holiday Wars season 2 episode 5, titled "Critter Christmas," features four teams going head to head in a festive competition to create delicious holiday treats. The teams, made up of two bakers and one cake artist, have an additional challenge this episode as they will have to include an animal-inspired element into their designs.

Host Jonathan Bennett introduces the teams to the judges, consisting of pastry chef Shinmin Li and cake decorator Jason Smith. The teams get straight to work, brainstorming their animal-inspired designs and deciding on flavor combinations.

Team Reindeer, made up of bakers Cristian and Geraldine and cake artist Susan, decide to make a gingerbread house with a reindeer on the roof. They add a surprise element by incorporating a cocoa powder mix into their design, allowing it to "snow" on the roof of their gingerbread house.

Team Polar Bear, consisting of bakers Kiersten and Julie and cake artist Stephanie, opt for a polar bear theme in their design. They are determined to incorporate different textures into their cake, with Kiersten suggesting that they use rock candy to resemble ice.

Team Penguin, made up of bakers David and Suyin and cake artist Crystal, choose penguins as their animal-inspired design. They decide to create a fondant penguin sliding down a hill made of chocolate cake. They plan to incorporate different shades of blue and white, mimicking the snowy tundra.

Finally, Team Platypus, consisting of bakers Tania and Paul and cake artist Heather, select a platypus as their animal theme. They aim to create a pavlova, a traditional Australian dessert, with the platypus as a centerpiece. They plan to add different fruits, such as kiwis and strawberries, to make it colorful and visually appealing.

Throughout the competition, the teams face several challenges, including shaping their animal-inspired elements and ensuring that their flavors complement each other. The clock counts down as the teams work tirelessly to finish their creations.

Finally, time runs out, and the judges begin their evaluation. They first critique the designs, examining each team's animal-inspired element and analyzing the overall aesthetic. They then move on to tasting the cakes, analyzing the flavors and texture.

After all the teams present their creations, the judges deliberate and decide on the winner. The episode concludes with the announcement of the winning team and the losing team, who will face elimination in the next episode.

Overall, Holiday Wars season 2 episode 5 is a delightful and festive competition that showcases the creativity and talent of the teams. The addition of the animal-inspired element adds another layer of fun and challenge to the competition, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.