Plot Synopsis

Elite bakers Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman face-off in an epic baking battle for the chance to be crowned the undisputed king of cake in this six-episode competition series, which challenges every aspect of what it means to be a true pastry artist and cake master. From techniques, to design skills, and taste, each episode will measure their talent in two rounds: a Bake-Off to test their baking abilities, followed by a Cake-Off to showcase their creative imaginations and decorating expertise. Renowned chefs Sherry Yard and Keegan Gerhard are joined throughout the competition by special guest experts including, Florian Bellanger, Street Science's Kevin Delaney, Flip or Flop's Christina Anstead, Hannah Hart, Waylynn Lucas, Penn & Teller, Gesine Prado, Fast N' Loud's Richard Rawlings, Aarti Sequeira, and many more, to help determine the winner. The pressure is on as the two biggest names in cakes put it all on the line in this ultimate cake-off! The competition is fierce as Buddy and Duff pull out all the stops and push their creativity to the limit in each challenge as they whip up impressive creations. The battle begins as Buddy and Duff must make their most beloved family recipes in the first Bake-Off. In the cake-off, the chefs create car-inspired birthday cakes for celebrity gearhead Richard Rawlings. Things heat up quickly as this friendly competition becomes a serious battle of creativity, skill and reputation. Throughout the season they are challenged to create carnival treats to impress a crowd of hungry amusement park patrons, dazzle with intricate Bollywood-inspired cakes (for Aarti Sequeira), and satisfy customers during the morning rush at the iconic Randy's Donuts in Los Angeles. If that's not enough, they must also design desserts for an exclusive dog pampering party (for Christina Anstead), impress a couple with elegant wedding cakes for their big day (for celebrity event planner Slomique Hawrylo's bridal fitting event), and enchant audiences with illusion cakes for a special show at Hollywood's Magic Castle (for the legendary duo Penn and Teller). In the finale on Sunday, April 14th at 9pm ET/PT, Buddy and Duff face their toughest challenge yet. For the final Bake-Off, the two chefs must work to make their most heartfelt and monumental creations yet -- chocolate desserts to conceal engagement rings for surprise proposals. Then in the final Cake-Off, their skills are pushed to new heights, as Duff returns to Charm City Cakes and Buddy heads back to Carlo's Bake Shop to work on their final show-stopping space-themed cakes for Philadelphia's prestigious Franklin Institute. After weeks of intense competition, it all comes down to these out-of-this-world creations. Plus, STREET SCIENCE host Kevin Delaney presides over the wild festivities as Buddy and Duff lay it all on the line with their showstopping masterpieces.

The eight-episode sophomore season of BUDDY VS. DUFF premiered on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network. Longtime rivals Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman go head-to-head in round two, where the cakes are bigger, bolder, and the competition is even more fierce. Their wives, Lisa Valastro and Johnna Goldman, support them through the difficult challenges as every aspect of what it means to be a true cake artist will be tested. This season's supersized cake creations will push the limit of imagination and ingenuity, as they are judged on a point system based on creativity, difficulty, adherence to the theme and the incorporation of a special challenging element, ranging from detail, special effects, interactivity, and more. The pressure is on as the two biggest names in cake vie to rise to the top to be crowned king! From realistic prehistoric dinosaur cakes that look alive, to mini-golf cakes that are interactive, and to theme-park cakes that move, Duff's and Buddy's abilities will be tested as they build jaw-dropping cakes. The competition kicks-off in New York as the two bakers are challenged to whip up cakes highlighting their own interpretation of the Big Apple for an event hosted by actress and foodie Debi Mazar and New York news anchor and restaurateur Rosanna Scotto. While on the East Coast they make cakes of unseen proportions for the American Museum of Natural History, Medieval Times' 30th Anniversary, and for Jordin Sparks, star of the hit Broadway musical Waitress. On the West Coast, Duff and Buddy dive into a challenge at the Aquarium of the Pacific with astounding tableau underwater cakes. Then, it is a hole-in-one for one of the bakers as they make unique playable mini-golf cakes for LPGA pro Michelle Wie. Keeping the momentum going, the bakers are tasked to construct cakes that look and move like theme park rides for the 100th anniversary of Knott's Berry Farm.

Season 3 of BUDDY VS. DUFF premiered on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT on Food Network, immediately following a new one-hour special at 8pm. Duff Goldman won the king of cake in Season 1, and Buddy Valastro took home the crown in Season 2. Now, these longtime rivals are back to battle in the ultimate baking brawl. This year, the eight- week competition will span the country as the famed bakers and their teams of cake artists will tackle each cake challenge from their bakeries; Duff on the West Coast in Los Angeles, CA and Buddy on the east Coast in Hoboken, New Jersey. Every aspect of what it means to be a true pastry artist and cake master will be tested as they must build elaborate, enormous cakes that fit the theme each week. From safari cakes, to pirates of the high seas, the bakers' techniques, decorating expertise, and creative imaginations will be pushed to the limit. The cakes will be on display in an event space that transforms each week to become an immersive world based on the theme for the challenge. 50 professional cake artists from across the country will virtually judge the cake designs to determine which cake master is top tier. The pressure is on as the two biggest names in cake vie to rise to the top and settle the score once and for all! Throughout the season they will be challenged to impress with ancient world-inspired cakes, dazzle with souped up dream car cakes equipped with lights, engines, and hydraulics, and make mouths water with a decadent feast of savory foods made entirely of cake. If that's not enough, they must also design cakes showcasing a bug's world, and then they head to the high seas with pirate ship cakes and explore architectural wonders around the world.

BUDDY VS. DUFF returned for its fourth season, BUDDY VS. DUFF: HOLIDAY, on Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network. It's the ultimate face-off, as Duff Goldman and Buddy Valastro come together for a special four-episode competition celebrating the winter holiday season. With just 20 hours to work with their talented teams and bring their masterpieces to life, four esteemed pastry chefs join the teams at their bakeries each week to judge the cakes, including Gesine Prado and Elizabeth Falkner from Jersey City, and Stephanie Boswell and Valerie Gordon judging from Los Angeles. In the season opener, "Cartoon Christmas," Buddy Valastro, Duff Goldman and their teams face off in their first challenge, building cakes inspired by the beloved classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The teams dig into their childhood memories to bring to life iconic scenes with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang.
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On Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered "Winter Wonderland," the season finale of BUDDY VS. DUFF: HOLIDAY. For their final battle, Buddy and Duff create their own magical winter wonderlands. The teams construct artic creatures and their habitats in displays of massive proportions, and the King of Holiday Cakes is crowned.