After the Food Fight

Last night’s episode of Cupcake Wars was filled with mouthwatering flavor combinations, healthy competition and one familiar face. 

Robin Johnson, owner and master cupcake creator at , was one of four cupcake bakers from across the country competing for $10,000 and a chance to offer their goods at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Johnson celebrated the occasion at with food, drinks and of course cupcakes, among a roomful of 75 friends and family members. The show played on three large screens in the party room, but cheers and squeals drowned out the volume many of the times Johnson was onscreen.  

Near the start of the show, Johnson was heard saying to her partner Cynthia Wheeler, who helped Johnson get started in the cupcake business, “We gotta show them we’re not just two little farm girls.” 

She did that and more. Johnson pulled no punches when it came to crafting scrumptious cupcakes, and the judges praised her for it. That, Johnson said, is what meant the most to her, especially when it came from MadMac’s Florian Bellanger.

“He had positive things to say about my cupcakes, so I know that I have good quality cupcakes,” Johnson said. “They satisfied his palate and that’s really all that matters.” 

Though it seemed Johnson would emerge victorious, as she fought her way through the battles with sweet signature elements like homemade caramel, it was ultimately a baker from San Diego who walked away with the spoils. Johnson came in second.  

The consensus at the party was that Johnson was robbed. Boos were shouted from the crowd when it was announced that the other finalist had taken the cake. 

Johnson admitted she believes she should have won, especially since the final round seemed to be judged more heavily on the display than the cupcakes themselves (Johnson jokingly referred to it as “Display Wars”). But she’s happy with her performance and relieved to be able to talk about it now; it’s been a couple months since she show was filmed and she was not allowed to talk about it until the show aired.

Johnson was initially contacted by Cupcake Wars and invited to audition for the show a year ago. She didn’t make the cut for the show’s second season, but was asked to audition again for the third and learned she was on the show within a week of sending in her tape again this February.

Elaine Johnson, Johnson’s sister-in-law said that once she knew Robin would be competing on Cupcake Wars, watching the show became a different and stressful experience. 

“We would watch the show and I’d break into a sweat,” Johnson said.

Now having been on the show, Johnson said the biggest surprise was how hard it really was.

“They had to stop and powder my nose like three times I was sweating so bad,” Johnson said.  

The final anxiety came on the evening of the show’s airing, when Johnson said she was worried about how she might be portrayed.

“You’re really baking, you’re really doing it, and you’re nervous, and you screw up,” Johnson said. “And that camera was in my face every time I did something wrong.”

She sells herself short, though. Her baking skills were praised throughout the episode, there were no big mishaps to speak of–aside from perhaps some undercooked caramel–and her cupcakes were deemed delicious in each of the three rounds.

Like any dutiful journalist would, this Patch reporter sampled one of Johnson’s cupcakes at the viewing party and must say that the judges got it wrong. 

Stop by Sweet Retreat today for a chance to taste the flavors that garnered praise on Cupcake Wars last night. The supply is limited but Johnson promises more opportunities to try the famous flavors if popular demand calls for it.