[September 02, 2011] TV show no piece of cake for Baxter baker Tweet Sep 02, 2011 (Fort Mill Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- FORT MILL TOWNSHIP -- Cupcrazed Cakery owner Heather McDonnell has been keeping a secret. Earlier this year, McDonnell flew to Los Angeles and, with her sister-in-law Debbie McDonnell as her assistant, competed in Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." The episode, a Southern-themed show set to air on Sept. 11, will feature McDonnell competing against three other bakers in a three-part competition for $10,000. Cupcake Wars fans know that the cupcake challenge isn't a straight forward competition showcasing each baker's best recipes. Instead, round one of the competition requires the bakers to incorporate one of several unusual ingredients into their cupcakes. Previous episodes have included ingredient choices such as salmon, pretzels and oysters. The second round allows bakers to make three, more traditional, cupcakes that are judged on taste and presentation. One team is eliminated after each challenge. The final round pits the final two baking teams against one another, and gives them, along with a team of helpers, two hours to make 1,000 cupcakes and a display. This episode, called "Country Cupcakes," features celebrity judge Jeanette McCurdy, a country music singer who also stars on the Disney TV show "iCarly." The winner of the show will prepare cupcakes for McCurdy's record release party. As a "Cupcake Wars" fan, McDonnell knew she should be prepared for the surprise ingredient to be just about anything. She can't reveal what ingredient she had to work with, but said that it was something she'd never done before. "I have a couple of solid recipes I can manipulate, and that's what you have to do," McDonnell said. "I thought, 'Pick the most difficult thing they have. I thought if I could make it work, I could definitely get to round one. It's all about the challenge." McDonnell first applied to "Cupcake Wars" before her Baxter Village shop opened last November. She wasn't selected for the show at the time, but just three months after opening Cupcrazed she received a call from producers asking her to resubmit her video application. Not long after that, McDonnell got the call saying she and an assistant would be flown to L.A. to compete in "Cupcake Wars." "I screamed in the office and then the girls started screaming in the kitchen because everyone knew it was good news," McDonnell said. McDonnell spent time before heading to L.A. to compete on the show asking her customers questions about which cakes they preferred, trying out new flavors and monitoring customers' response to the flavors. She arrived at the studio armed with a mental arsenal of recipes. No cookbooks or recipe cards are allowed in the "Cupcake Wars" kitchens. A small kitchen is provided to the bakers along with a pantry stocked with basic supplies. Nothing is premade, McDonnell noted. "If you don't know how to bake, you will lose," McDonnell said. Although McDonnell didn't know if she'd make it to the third round, she and Debbie prepared in advance by mapping out the dimensions for a display that would fit 1,000 cupcakes. Before the two left for L.A., Heather McDonnell considered the possibility of being knocked out of the competition early, and how that might affect her business. "I was scared if I failed it would hurt my business," McDonnell said. "I didn't want anyone to think I didn't know what I'm doing. I've got real bills to pay here." McDonnell has one more secret to keep. Until the show airs, she can't tell anyone how it all turns out. Sitting in her shop recently, McDonnell had just finished making a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes. Her face breaks into a wide grin, and she laughs. "I can't say anything. But, they saved us for the season finale for a reason," McDonnell said. "People can watch us and see why. They saved the best for last." "Country Cupcakes" with Heather and Debbie McDonnell will air on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. on Food Network. ___ (c)2011 the Fort Mill Times (Fort Mill, S.C.) Visit the Fort Mill Times (Fort Mill, S.C.) at www.fortmilltimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]