Plot Synopsis

Buddy Valastro gives the opportunity of a lifetime to professional pastry chefs, who compete in three rounds of challenges that test their baking and business skills to prove to Buddy -- and a panel of rotating judges including Chad Durkin, Erin McGinn, Vincent Tubito, and Buddy's wife Lisa Valastro -- that their treats rise to the top. In each one-hour episode, four entrepreneurial bakers battle it out by whipping up their signature desserts that also impress aesthetically. Three bakers move on to the next round, where they present an innovative item they think will hit it big time in the bakery. Finally, in the last round, the remaining two must mass produce their item using professional machinery at Carlo's Bakery. It's a tough decision for Buddy and his advisors. Will the challenges be as easy as pie, or will the bakers crumble as they face difficult obstacles like machine meltdowns, mass production portion control, and last-minute recipe changes? One baker will have their dreams come true by the Cake Boss, as their winning item will be available to order on Carlo's Bakery website immediately following the episode. In the series opener, "Baking Mashups," four bakers battle it out with innovative spins on muffins, cupcakes, doughnuts and bagels to win the ultimate prize. It all comes down to two signature dishes that are groundbreaking hybrids, leaving Buddy Valastro to decide between a more marketable mashup and something that's literally outside of the box.