In the baking classes, they’re letting competition rise instead of just the dough.

Josie Muenks, Baking and Pastry Arts teacher, introduced a new way of going about the course’s cake decorating unit this year: cupcake wars.

Inspired by Food Network’s show “Cupcake Wars,” for this project students in the Baking and Pastry classes worked in teams to choose a theme and then plan, bake and decorate cupcakes to match that theme. Themes included casino, bees, sharks and farm as well as media-inspired themes such as “Sesame Street,” “Plants and Zombies,” Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” and “SpongeBob.”

Teachers were invited to judge the cupcake displays each hour based on their taste, texture, display and creativity.

This year was Muenks’ first time teaching the Baking and Pastry classes, and she wanted to make a lab where students could learn cake decorating skills without food waste. The previous teacher hosted a cake decorating project using full size cakes, but Muenks decided to use box mix cupcakes instead.

“We’re focused on icing and using different kinds of piping tips and making different fun designs,” Muenks said.

Muenks spotted many students during this unit who she said could pursue a career in cake decorating, many of whom hadn’t even touched a piping bag before the competition.

The creative aspect of the project is incredibly important, Muenks said, and students were able to pick their own themes for their pastries and create sets to display them.

Abby Morgan, sophomore, said her group chose a “Sesame Street” theme with chocolate cupcakes to create a nostalgic feeling.

“We all have that childhood memory of watching ‘Sesame Street’ on Saturday mornings,” Morgan said.

Landon Lawhorn, sophomore, created a bee display with his group featuring yellow cake mix and vanilla-honey buttercream.

He said he enjoyed learning how to decorate the cupcakes and unearthed design skills he didn’t know he possessed.