May the Best Cupcakes Win – Local Sister-Brother Duo Appear On Pilot Episode The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars Kids

 Thirteen-year-old Joshua Guthrie and 15-year-old Rachael Guthrie, stared at table of ingredients: chicken, carob, peanut butter and bacon and more.  The cameras were rolling.  Three other teams of junior bakers were spread throughout the room, and the tension of timed competition filled the test kitchen.  It was only Round One.  They needed to think quickly or they’d be cut before they even stood a chance to win.  They had their challenge – to make a delicious cupcake with two of these wacky ingredients – now they just needed a plan.
Recently inspired by a love of baking, these two Santa Clarita teens competed on the pilot episode of Cupcake Wars Kids on the Food Network.  Though they knew they were signing up for an extraordinary challenge, they had no idea what was in store: thousands of cupcakes, on-set carpentry, celebrity judges and the possibility of $5,000.  And it all started with your standard childlike kitchen curiosity.
“My mom was baking, and I decided I wanted to try,” Joshua recalled of his first shot in the kitchen.  “I started with what she knew and just kept going.  Eventually my sister got a little jealous of my baking skills, so she tried it, too.  My family got to eat it all, and it was just fun eating and enjoying it together.”
It was time to put it all to the test as the sister-brother duo readied launched into the first of three rounds.  If they won, they’d receive $5,000 in prize money, as well as a KitchenAid mixer.  Faced with the “secret ingredient challenge” in Round One, the Guthrie siblings chose bacon and carob, composing a chocolate carob cupcake with bacon cream cheese frosting and bacon grease inside to really bring out the savory flavors.  Their attention to detail and interesting combination of ingredients won over the judges, propelling them into the second round.
Next, they were tasked with creating three different cupcakes inspired by the characters from Scooby Doo.  In celebration of the ever-popular kids cartoon, the voice actors of Velma and Daphne
served as guest judges.  Inspired by Shaggy’s love for pizza, the Guthries decorated a vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting to look like pizza.  To complete the challenge, they also made an orange cream cupcake with chocolate orange frosting and a chocolate cupcake with grape frosting.  Their sweets were another success as the Guthries moved onto the final round.
In typical Food Network fashion, Round Three surprised the contestants with a twist.  Not only would the young bakers have to produce 1,000 cupcakes in just two hours, but they also had to oversee the design of a large themed display.  Sticking to the four flavors they’d already produced, the teams had the help of four professional bakers, bringing the teams up to six people each.  This is where the Guthrie kids found their edge.
“They really knew how to delegate,” said their mother, Claire Guthrie.  “They demonstrated good leadership skills in addition to their skills in the kitchen.”
Even with a leading edge, Rachael and Joshua faced difficulties.
“The most challenging part was getting all the decorations on the cupcakes in time,” Joshua said.  “I had to cool them, frost them, decorate them and move them onto the display, which an on-set carpenter duo helped us build.”
But when the clock ran out, and all hands went up in the air, they had made it.  And all it took was a final taste, and a look at the creative display, for the judges to name Rachael and Joshua the winners.  Holding up their trophy, an engraved KitchenAid mixing bowl, the Guthries took in the sweet taste of victory.
What will the do next?
“I want to be a cake decorator and a famous singer,” Rachael said proudly.
“And I’d love to get on another cooking show and start a cupcake business, ” Joshua said.
To follow the Rachael and Joshua Guthrie on their future baking adventures, please visit them on Facebook at JoshuaRachaelGuthrie or Instagram at Joshua_and_Rachael_Bake_Cakes. 

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