If you’ve been bummed out over Cupcake Wars ending, then check out Cake Wars,  a show that airs on the Food Network on Monday nights at 7 P.M.

Cake Wars is very similar to Cupcake Wars, which ended a couple of years ago. Four expert cake makers go head-to-head to see which one of their cakes will be shown at a major event.

Each winner earns a $10,000 prize, which they use to help out their bakery. Each cake is critiqued by three judges; Waylynn Lucas, Ron Ben-Israel, and a different guest judge each show. The bakers are judged on how well their entries match the event theme.

Cake Wars is real similar to Cupcake wars.  The only thing that has really changed are the judges, and how many rounds the bakers must go through. The host, Jonathan Bennett, even looks really similar to Cupcake Wars’ host, Justin Willman. Since the show is a spinoff of Cupcake Wars, there are lots of similarities, including a very similar plot.

The cake makers must compete in two elimination rounds. A contestant is eliminated after each round until there are only two left standing. The first round is to see how well the cake tastes, and how well the bakers can make a professional looking cake within a certain amount of time.

The guest judges come to the show with an event scheduled and a chosen theme for that event. The bakers must create a cake that satisfies the needs of the guest judge that week.

The show is a great way to let the viewer know what kind of cake shops are out there. It also give the bakers a chance to showcase their talents, and attract more business for their bakeries. However, the show puts the bakers in a very difficult position. They do not allow the contestants enough time to mold, bake and decorate a cake suitable for that day’s theme. Because of the time limits, some of the bakers submit some sloppy work, and this may actually drive customers away from their shops. This is the complete opposite of what the show is trying to do.

There are many times when pieces fall of the bakers’ cakes fall off, or their sculpting is rushed and doesn’t look they way it would look if they were given more time. This timing problem is very evident in the second round. The bakers need to bake a cake that is five feet tall and incorporates all the items from that day’s theme.

Once the bakers are done designing and baking their cake, they are told to move their cake onto a platform that isn’t designed to match their creation. That was one aspect of the show similar to Cupcake Wars that I was looking forward to seeing. I was shocked to see the bakers placing their creations on a plain stand in front of the judges.

Cake Wars needs to work on how much time they are allowing the contestant to showcase their cooking skills. The producers of the show have to balance the time better so the public can get an idea of how good a job the bakers can really do. Cake Wars also needs to create a more original plot so that it does not mirror Cupcake Wars so closely.