‘Cake Hunters’ challenges bakers to make crowd-pleasing creations

You know, it occurs to me that there are three different categories of cake. There’s the sort that’s easy to whip up at home and that doesn’t get too elaborate with the decorations or with teetering tiers: they have just a simple icing, maybe a nice ganache or even some sprinkles. Then there’s the more elaborate creations, the sort usually pulled out of the oven for birthdays, anniversaries or other special events, with colorful themes and well wishes written in icing on the top.

It’s that third category, though, where things get really interesting. We’re talking towering creations, the sorts of edible art that shows like “Cake Boss” love to show off, and the surge in popularity for these stunning creations has led to a bunch of TV shows being made about them.

“Cake Hunters” on Cooking Channel is just one of them, albeit one with its own special style.

The latest season premiered last week and currently airs Friday evenings on the culinary network, and in this week’s Jan. 26 episode, a mother and daughter can’t agree on a cake style for Kendelle’s upcoming Sweet 16 party. She wants a cake that celebrates her maturity, with a theme that embraces her love of music, theater and the arts.

Her mom, Bambi, has different ideas for her little girl’s celebration. She wants sugar, spice and everything nice in a cake that Kendelle thinks would be better suited for a toddler.

A scene from “Cake Hunters”