Show guide
Cupcake Wars
- Food Network
- United States
- 2009 to 2018
- 11 seasons
- Completed
About Cupcake Wars
The show that monetized the great American cupcake craze: four bakers, three escalating rounds, and a winning display served at a real splashy event. Its judging table was built on genuine credentials, from the founder of the world's first cupcake-only bakery to a French pastry chef with a three-Michelin-star resume, which is why the verdicts still hold up. For a generation of viewers, 'one thousand cupcakes' remains one of television's great catchphrases.
The format
Four bakers compete through three themed rounds, taste, presentation, and a final display of one thousand cupcakes built with a carpentry team, with one baker eliminated per round. The winner takes $10,000 and serves their cupcakes at the episode's featured event.
The prize
$10,000 per episode
Hosts & judges
Hosts
- Justin Willman2009 to 2017
- Jonathan Bennett2017 to 2018
Judges
- Candace Nelson2009 to 2016
- Florian Bellanger2009 to 2018
- Rotating guest judge2009 to 2018
Where to stream
Food Network, HBO Max, and discovery+ in the US, plus a Netflix collection; check Food Network Canada and discovery+ UK abroad.
Verified July 2026. Streaming availability changes often, so check the platform before you subscribe.
Seasons
Eleven seasons and 137 episodes, all archived below.
Season 1Dec 27, 2009 to Aug 3, 20109 episodes
- Episodes
- 9
- Premiere
- Dec 27, 2009
- Finale
- Aug 3, 2010
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 2Dec 7, 2010 to Mar 8, 201113 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Dec 7, 2010
- Finale
- Mar 8, 2011
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 3Jun 14, 2011 to Sep 11, 201113 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Jun 14, 2011
- Finale
- Sep 11, 2011
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 4Dec 4, 2011 to Mar 4, 201213 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Dec 4, 2011
- Finale
- Mar 4, 2012
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 5Mar 11, 2012 to Jun 24, 201213 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Mar 11, 2012
- Finale
- Jun 24, 2012
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 6May 13, 2012 to Sep 23, 201214 episodes
- Episodes
- 14
- Premiere
- May 13, 2012
- Finale
- Sep 23, 2012
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 7Oct 7, 2012 to Mar 24, 201313 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Oct 7, 2012
- Finale
- Mar 24, 2013
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 8Apr 7, 2013 to Jul 7, 201313 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Apr 7, 2013
- Finale
- Jul 7, 2013
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 9Sep 7, 2013 to Dec 28, 201313 episodes
- Episodes
- 13
- Premiere
- Sep 7, 2013
- Finale
- Dec 28, 2013
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 10Apr 11, 2016 to Aug 15, 201611 episodes
- Episodes
- 11
- Premiere
- Apr 11, 2016
- Finale
- Aug 15, 2016
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Season 11Nov 28, 2017 to May 22, 201812 episodes
- Episodes
- 12
- Premiere
- Nov 28, 2017
- Finale
- May 22, 2018
- Country
- United States
Episodes and bakes
The episode-by-episode challenge guide for this season is being verified against broadcaster records. Cast, dates, results, and season sources are listed here while that editorial pass is completed.
Competitors
This format does not use one season-long cast roster. Competitors and winners change by episode, so they belong in the sourced episode breakdown rather than in a misleading season table.
Season fact sources
Every season guide is on this page: open a season for its episodes, bakes, cast where available, and sources. Winners stay tucked away so nothing gets spoiled by accident.
Season winners
Winners are crowned per episode on this show, so there is no single season champion to spoil.