Ep 5. Zoo You Bake?

In Nailed It season 2 episode 5, titled "Zoo You Bake?", the amateur baking competition takes on a wild twist as contestants are challenged to create animal-themed cakes and cupcakes. Host Nicole Byer and pastry chef Jacques Torres are joined by guest judge Gabby Douglas, Olympic gold medalist and avid baker.

The first challenge tasks the contestants with creating a cake in the shape of their favorite animal using a provided mold. As expected in Nailed It fashion, things get off to a rocky start as some contestants struggle with basic baking skills, such as measuring ingredients and following directions. One competitor attempts to make a monkey cake but ends up with a less-than-impressive blob that barely resembles an animal.

The second challenge requires the bakers to create a cupcake display featuring three different animals. The contestants are given a wide variety of tools and decorations, such as fondant and food coloring, to use at their disposal. One ambitious baker decides to create a flamingo cupcake that requires constructing a wire armature to hold up the fondant feathers.

As the clock ticks down, the stress levels among the bakers rise. In typical Nailed It fashion, there are mishaps and mistakes along the way. One contestant mistakenly uses salt instead of sugar, resulting in an inedible cake. Another baker's giraffe cake collapses under the weight of the fondant spots.

After the time is up, the judges critique each creation. Gabby Douglas praises the creativity and effort put into each animal cake, while also acknowledging the uneven baking and imperfect decorating skills. Jacques Torres praises the bakers for their bravery in attempting such complicated challenges, but also highlights the numerous flaws in each creation.

In the end, only one baker is crowned the winner and awarded the coveted Nailed It trophy. While the contestants may not have achieved perfection in their animal-themed creations, they certainly provided plenty of laughs and entertainment along the way.