When the sun sets, the ultimate underground cake competition begins on new series Duff Till Dawn, premiering on Thursday, January 29th at 10:30pm ET/PT on Food Network. Host Duff Goldman’s bakery becomes a battleground after hours for two talented teams of cake decorators, as their skills and creativity are tested with challenges and twists to create the most outstanding and over-the-top cakes. Competitors must amaze rotating judges Haylie Duff (Real Girl’s Kitchen), Elena Fox (Ace of Cakes), Carrie Keagan (Television Personality), Geof Manthorne (Ace of Cakes), Catherine McCord (Guy’s Grocery Games), Alysia Reiner (Actress), Kelis Rogers (Musician and Host of Holiday Feast with Kelis), Aarti Sequeiria (Aarti Party), Kevin Smith (Writer/Director) and Sherry Yard (Cutthroat Kitchen) with the boldest, tastiest and most impressive cakes for the chance to win bragging rights and the coveted golden whisk.
“The one-of-a-kind Duff Goldman is the master of dazzling and astonishing cakes,” said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network. “In Duff Till Dawn, he tests the bakers on these same talents and abilities, as well as their ability to pull all-nighters.”
The competition is anything but sweet in this six-episode series. In each episode, two new teams must outdo their competition with their special talents and original cake creations before sunrise, when only one will be crowned the winner. It is complete monster mayhem in one challenge, as the bakers race to make their creations come to life. In another episode, one team will sink and the other will swim, as they create their dream ships out of cake. Is it all smooth sailing, or are the teams headed for troubled waters? It is blast off into outer space in another challenge, where the teams must aim for the stars with gravity defying confections. In another enchanting episode, the decorators delve into the land of make believe as they are challenged to make magical fairy cakes. It is a castle clash in another challenge, where the bakers must joust for the golden whisk. Which team’s medieval manor will take the cake in this gauntlet?
Premiering Thursday, January 29th at 10:30pm ET/PT – SERIES PREMIERE!
“Monster Mayhem”
Duff Goldman challenges Kelly Zubal, queen of clean cakes, and former punk rocker, Wiley Saccheri, to bring their ultimate monster cakes to life. Will Kelly’s partnership with her husband trump Wiley’s collaboration with his mother-in-law? Can they make their cakes before the sun comes up, or will their dream monsters turn to into cake nightmares? Guest judges Haylie Duff and Geof Manthorne will help crown the team that delivers the boldest cake of the night.
Premiering Thursday, February 5th at 10:30pm ET/PT
“Cakes Ahoy!”
As the sun sets on the bakery, two teams are headed for troubled waters. Duff Goldman challenges two teams to build ship cakes before the sun comes up. Can Gonzuela Bastarache’s giant ark of cake torpedo Karolyn Plummer’s sweet galleon? Guest judges Kelis Rogers and Sherry Yard are on deck to help determine which ship will set sail, and which one will sink.
Premiering Thursday, February 12th at 10:30pm ET/PT
“Castle Clash!”
Duff Goldman pits two teams of bakers to joust for the golden whisk. Whose castle will withstand the siege of flavor: Jackie McGrath’s medieval manor, or the whimsy of Reva Alexander-Hawk’s sugary stronghold? Guest judges Sherry Yard and Alysia Reiner will answer all of these questions and crown one team victorious.
Premiering Thursday, February 19th at 10:30pm ET/PT
“Super Cake Heroes”
As the sun sets on Duff Goldman’s shop, he challenges two teams of bakers to create the best superhero cake they can before the sun comes up. Will Lachlan Oliver’s super lumenator light up the world, or will Kimberly Bailey’s super chi-weenie save a family of lady bugs from certain doom? Guest judges Geof Manthorne and Carrie Keagan will award the golden whisk to the cake that reigns supreme.
Throughout the season, fans can meet the bold pro-bakers, see photos of their fierce cake creations, and much more at FoodNetwork.com/DuffTillDawn. Fans can also tweet about the overnight battle using the hashtag #DuffTillDawn.
After graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with degrees in history and philosophy, Duff Goldman went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California. He worked at several acclaimed culinary destinations, including French Laundry, Vail Cascade Hotel and Todd English’s Olives before returning to Baltimore in 2000 to become a personal chef. In March 2002, he opened Charm City Cakes, and it soon became a household name on the hit Food Network show Ace of Cakes, which aired for 10 seasons. Goldman served as a judge on Holiday Baking Championship and has also appeared on Donut Showdown, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and has been featured in episodes of Iron Chef America, Food Network Star, Diners, Drive-Ins and Drives, Cupcake Wars, and Chopped. In 2011, Duff was nominated for two James Beard Foundation awards for Best TV Food Personality/Host and Best Television Program. In addition to owning and operating Charm City Cakes, Charm City Cakes West and Duff’s Cake Mix, Goldman is also a sculptor, artist, and musician, and has an affinity for wearing his signature hockey jerseys.
Duff Till Dawn is produced by Authentic Entertainment.
