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00:00Previously on Sweet Empire.
00:03Three remaining empires charged ahead to rise above the rest.
00:06Let's freaking go.
00:07Let's make it morph.
00:09Their mission to present creative creatures straight out of a wintry wonderland.
00:13Two empires rose to the top and one melted just short of the finish line.
00:19Team Eren, your empire has fallen.
00:21And now the Winter Wars finale is upon us.
00:26Only one empire shall claim victory.
00:28The Sweet Empire title.
00:30It is now all the pressure.
00:32And savor the $50,000 prize.
00:36Elizabeth, we're coming for you.
00:38This is Sweet Empire.
00:41Yours truly, Lord Gingerton.
00:45Well, here we have it.
00:46The final two empires.
00:48How are you guys feeling?
00:49Very good.
00:50Fantastic.
00:51Excited.
00:52Francois, you're the rookie of the group, right?
00:55Yes, it's my first appearance.
00:56Did you think you'd make it this far?
00:59No.
01:01I pack only for a week.
01:05How do you think it is that your team has made it this far?
01:08Well, I think I picked the best people I could find.
01:11We just work as a great team because we use the best of each other.
01:16I cannot believe we're in the finale.
01:20I was like this close to being sent home in the first challenge.
01:24This all seems so surreal.
01:26Our empire is flying a little bit under the radar, so we're ready for a breakout in the finale.
01:31Elizabeth, how does it feel to get your empire this far in the competition?
01:35Honestly, I'm shocked.
01:38Everyone here is so, so good.
01:40I know, obviously, everyone always wants to win.
01:43My motivation for this one is about being recognized for the skill that I have and that my empire has.
01:48So I do want to win this.
01:50Our empire has really come a long way.
01:53We're going to make magic.
01:54$50,000 is on the line, but more importantly, the winner of Sweet Empire.
01:59We want that title.
02:01So it all comes down to this last challenge.
02:05Both empires have battled their way to the top, and now an epic showdown awaits.
02:09The winning empire today will walk away with $50,000.
02:16So let's cut to the chase.
02:18For the first time ever, we're giving you complete creative freedom.
02:22Let your imaginations run wild.
02:27We want to see the strengths of your empire presented in your creation.
02:31This isn't just a showpiece.
02:33This is your empire's grand finale.
02:37This challenge has no rules.
02:39It's just do whatever you want.
02:41This is the hardest thing about this because there are so many ideas in my head,
02:44and we had to come up with something and stick with one thing.
02:48The judges want to see remarkable creativity, incredible technique,
02:52and a tasting element worthy of this stage in the game.
02:55Now show us a holiday world only your empire could create.
02:59You've got 11 hours to create your showpiece.
03:03And for the last time, your time starts now.
03:07Oh, God.
03:09All right.
03:10Made it, guys.
03:10Let's go.
03:11This is the big show.
03:13We're in the finale.
03:14I don't know.
03:14You're wild.
03:15I seriously can't believe it.
03:17What is Christmas for you?
03:19What's the strength of the empire?
03:21We're good on chocolate.
03:22We're good on cake.
03:23We have to mix all of this.
03:24Yeah, we definitely have to make a mix of everything.
03:27Let's do it.
03:28Well, I remember Christmas vacation with my parents,
03:31and we were in a chalet in the Alp.
03:33And this chalet, like, warmed my heart all the time I see it.
03:36The wood texture, and we were building the snowman with my brother.
03:41I remember this huge, you know, Christmas tree that was everywhere, the pine tree.
03:46So I think we should try to do a chalet with a snowman on the front and a pine tree, you know?
03:52We're going to be making a chocolate chalet.
03:54It'll have a chimney.
03:55We're going to try to have some smoke coming out of it.
03:56We'll have a giant chocolate tree.
03:57It's going to be spinning.
03:58We're not going to use any support structure, and it's a risk.
04:01The house could fall at any given time, but you're trying to impress the judges, right?
04:06So we are going to do a technically difficult build that nobody else could do.
04:11Sounds good to me.
04:12I've never had Christmas in the Alps, so I'm willing to go there with you guys.
04:18This journey is like a roller coaster.
04:20We have the upper end on this challenge because we're working so good together.
04:24We're going to win this challenge for sure.
04:26Let's do it.
04:27I'm ready.
04:28We need a story and how it correlates back to us, our growth as a team.
04:32Well, I mean, I know what that is, obviously.
04:33I know it sounds corny and cheesy, but for us, it was the whole relinquishing control,
04:39coming together, me relying on you guys more, knowing that when times get tough or something
04:44goes wrong, help is always there.
04:46Yeah.
04:46So what about if Santa Claus is in a predicament where he needs help?
04:50We could do the yeti carrying Santa's sack, and Santa could be like on his back.
04:56For our piece, we're going to have a 3D sculpted yeti carrying Santa's bag on his back.
05:03We want to have a gorgeous background.
05:06We're going to have a really cool archway.
05:09We're also going to have a little baby yeti trekking along on the journey.
05:13This is the finale, and we want to win.
05:15So you're meant to go big and create something that no one else can create.
05:20That's the whole point.
05:21All right.
05:22I think we got a plan?
05:22Yeah, that sounds good.
05:23I think so.
05:26I'm just going to go into casting these big pieces because we have to get them set.
05:31I'm going to make royal icing, and so we can make all of the little royal icing decorations.
05:36I'm making the coconut cake right now.
05:38Perfect.
05:38Okay.
05:39I think what difference my team and Elizabeth's team on terms of leadership is I don't push
05:44them as much.
05:45I let them feel comfortable.
05:46I let them feel doing what they do the best.
05:48This is my royal icing, ready to start piping accent pieces.
05:53Camille is going to have to decorate the whole house.
05:55We got to make walls, roofs, support bars.
05:58Everything is made out of chocolate.
05:59There's no support structure in there other than chocolate.
06:02It's like building an actual house.
06:04Nia is going to make all the cuttings for the chocolate, and I'm going to make all the
06:08recipes.
06:09I want to build a cake that's going to look like a pina colada.
06:12So my goal is to have a coconut and rum ganache with a pineapple confit and a chiffon cake
06:18with coconuts.
06:19I'm making like a tropical cocktail inside a snowman.
06:22So to reinforce the taste of the coconut, I'm going to add some coconut flake that's
06:27already toasted.
06:28It's almost like cold and hot.
06:30Too much contrast maybe.
06:31So it's a big risk, but I think risks are always paid off if it works.
06:36Everyone knows what they're working on?
06:37Yep.
06:38I'm getting started on the tasting element, Elizabeth, per usual.
06:40Awesome.
06:41I'm going to start stacking some cake.
06:43Okay.
06:43Yeah, I'm going to pour all the chocolate.
06:45For our piece, we're going to try to focus on making sure we really make the use of everyone's
06:50skills.
06:51Oh, I can't believe this is the finale.
06:54I'm going to start focusing on the yeti because he's so big.
06:58I'm just making a few jingle bells.
07:00Renu's going to be focusing on showcasing her awesome chocolate skills.
07:04She's going to make our chocolate archway.
07:06She's also going to do some hand-sculpted chocolate work, and she's going to be jumping
07:09on that yeti with me.
07:10Sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar.
07:12And of course, we're going to put to use Jonathan's sugar skills.
07:15He's going to be blowing sugar ornaments, making snowflakes for us, and he's also going
07:20to be doing both tastings.
07:22This is definitely a group effort.
07:24So I think my tasting element, I'm going for an olive oil lemon cake.
07:26Oh, okay.
07:27With a lemon basil curd, a white chocolate basil ganache, and then we're going to do a
07:31cheesecake layer, and then we're also going to do a pine nut shortbread crumble.
07:34That sounds delicious.
07:36This final challenge is fairly daunting.
07:39There are so many aspects that need to get done.
07:42I'm going to create jingle bells, as we've seen before, a little bird to go in the bird's
07:48nest, directional signs for the North Pole, and some chocolate trees.
07:52It's going to be stretched for me to try to help out once my chocolate jobs are done.
07:56It's pretty tricky timing-wise, but I do trust that Elizabeth does know that, so I trust the
08:03process.
08:05I'm making all the little decoration pieces for the snowman.
08:10He's always got to have a top hat and little cold buttons.
08:15Giant Christmas trees.
08:17We're making this huge Christmas tree that's going to spin in front of the house.
08:22On the first challenge, I made a big tree, and because I didn't have time to finish it
08:26on the first one, I felt like I could have done better, and that's the time to do my revenge
08:30for myself.
08:31It's really a big tree that we have to fill up, so I want to make sure that we have at
08:35least five, six, seven trees on it, so it's going to look full.
08:39All right, trees are done.
08:40They're just going to set.
08:41They'll be in the freezer for you quick, Francois.
08:44Good.
08:44You guys, I'm carving the snowman now.
08:48All right.
08:48I'm excited for the snowman.
08:53So I'm going to do the design for the balcony now, okay, guys?
08:56One of the balcony that you find in the house is just crosswood, so what I've decided to
09:00do is using the stencil that I have, I'm making some line of chocolate, and then I'm making
09:04other line of chocolate, and I cross them together, so it gives you this aspect.
09:09I'm starting my other dessert.
09:11It's a crinkle-feel dessert.
09:12In our culture, we all call it maachaka, but it means, like, wrinkled.
09:15For my second tasting element, I'm doing something that's classic to my culture, and my dad's
09:19absolute favorite dessert.
09:20I make it every Christmas for him.
09:22It looks just like a bird's nest.
09:23All right, I'm going to start some of those eggs, Jonathan.
09:25Yes.
09:26For the little surprise treat.
09:27And to make it more interactive, I'm going to be making a pistachio creme anglaise sauce,
09:32and Raina's going to be making these chocolate eggs that we're going to fill with our sauce,
09:35and when the judges go to eat their dessert, they get to bite the egg and pour the sauce
09:38right all over the dessert.
09:39It's the finale, so I've got to give everything.
09:42Brow bones.
09:44A little narrow bridge for the nose.
09:47I'm just adding texture to the eyebrows.
09:50Okay, great.
09:50Because he is an abominable snowman, and obviously there is differences, like, some skin texture
09:54and then the first starts, so I really want to make sure that that reads.
09:58I've never, ever sculpted a yeti before, ever, so this is definitely a challenge on a personal
10:04level, but I want to make sure it looks like a believable yeti.
10:09It's pretty muscly, so I don't think he would be, like, podgy.
10:12I'm trying to make sure that I have both the elements of human-like muscular structures
10:18as well as primate, because that's kind of what it's meant to be, is, like, this in-between
10:22kind of missing link, so to speak.
10:24I also use two different colors of modeling chocolate, because this is the fleshy, that's
10:27going to be, like, the skin.
10:28Oh, smart.
10:29And then we have the white contrast for the fur.
10:31Yeah.
10:32Every detail counts.
10:34Are you ready to assemble now?
10:35Yeah, man.
10:35I'm just marking it so we know exactly where everything's going to lay.
10:38Got it all laid out, I got the instructions.
10:40We're going to need the side panel first.
10:42Bring that over, drop it right on there, and I'll hold it while you get the other piece.
10:48This is the most ambitious chocolate build I've ever attempted, as far as time constraints,
11:01the pressure on it.
11:02Squared up.
11:03You're good.
11:04And I'll hold this while you get the other side panel ready.
11:06You have to have a good foundation.
11:08You have to reinforce certain parts of the house.
11:14Wait, wait, that guy's bad.
11:16All right, let me tell you.
11:17Dope.
11:18You have to make sure everything's connected properly.
11:20All right, I got this side up.
11:21It's getting set.
11:22Ready to put the back on.
11:24We just got to make sure it's, like, right on point, you know what I'm saying?
11:27And then you have to hope it holds.
11:28You know, it's construction just in chocolate.
11:31This is going to be so fragile.
11:33Oh, yeah.
11:35I don't want to do that.
11:37Do what?
11:40Ooh, sketchy at best.
11:42Yeah.
11:42Francois!
11:43I'm over here.
11:47Are you on?
11:48Yeah.
11:49All right, the piping bag's right there.
11:51Stress level's up.
11:53I know the risk of this.
11:55Francois knows the risk of it.
11:56Cammie doesn't know the risk of it, but we're going to not tell her that.
12:00And we're going to roll the dice.
12:02We've got to go big.
12:03This thing's going to have to support 30 pounds of chocolate with just chocolate.
12:07Francois' team is making a piece standing on its own with chocolate, which is very precarious.
12:12Anything can happen and anything can break.
12:15I would not make something that big.
12:17So these are the cross beams that are going to hold the weight of the roof.
12:20Since the roof is made of chocolate, it is quite heavy.
12:23It's taking a while to do this chocolate structure, and we have so much work to do on it.
12:27So we have to work fast, but also we have to be steady.
12:31This is as 30 as we're going to get.
12:32We can go roof time whenever you're ready.
12:34If this pour, I'm going home for sure.
12:37Here we go.
12:47We should be good now.
12:50I think we're good.
12:51It's always interesting to see what people are doing it for.
12:54Cammie, what would it mean for you to win this?
12:56You know, I've said it a million times.
12:58My job gets, or our job, really, gets viewed as a hobby.
13:02That is.
13:02By a lot of people.
13:04Very true.
13:04And to see that you can come on here and make something amazing with your friends, it makes a huge difference.
13:10I walked in not having a ton of confidence in myself, but I came from the bottom and worked my way up to the finale.
13:19I am ready to win and show that I do have skill.
13:23I need to prove my worth now.
13:25What about you?
13:26It's for my kids, family, everybody believed in me.
13:29You know, after certain things happen in life, it really shifts your perspective.
13:33The last few years of my life were kind of tough.
13:35When I was 37, I had to have emergency surgery to drain fluid out of my heart.
13:40I almost died.
13:41Like, legitimately, there was a real possibility of that, and it changes everything.
13:47I just want to show my kids that you can't give up.
13:49Like, if you really want something, it may not be the first one, two, three, ten years.
13:53You know, you just have to stick with it, and that perseverance matters.
13:57Francois, what about you?
13:59Oh, directly from my daughter.
14:00All these shows, all these things, it's just to show off, to go home.
14:03That she's proud of the daddy, you know?
14:05Oh, yeah.
14:06No better feeling.
14:07How long until it sets?
14:09Two minutes.
14:11Hey, Cammie.
14:11What's up, babe?
14:12It's crazy how you were on my empire not too long ago, and here we are.
14:16Different empires on the final challenge.
14:19I was at the very bottom, and you saved me.
14:21You did.
14:22I knew I should have sent her home.
14:24No, I'm just joking.
14:25And here we are.
14:26I'm glad to see you here with me.
14:28Thanks, babe.
14:29I owe a lot to Jonathan.
14:30He saved me from the first challenge, and I'm very thankful, but I'm really excited to take them down.
14:37I am so confident.
14:39She's confident.
14:41Elizabeth's team is strong.
14:43We just have to bring everything that we have in our arsenal to make our project over the top.
14:49It's go time.
14:51May the best team win.
14:52We will.
14:53Oh!
14:53I will say it's definitely a different vibe from the first challenge I joined you two on.
15:00I think we're just having fun now.
15:01We're just enjoying what we're creating.
15:03Yeah, we've been a long way.
15:03And I think it's showing in our pieces.
15:05Yeah.
15:05The judges said, you know, you've got to work as a team, and that's what you're going to be, you know, judged on as well.
15:11So it forced us to really re-evaluate things.
15:14And the way it works.
15:16Yeah.
15:17And that I have to relinquish control more.
15:20And not try to take on too much.
15:22And ask for help.
15:23You ask for help.
15:24And know that I can rely on you guys, and you'll be there.
15:26Yeah, let's freaking go.
15:28We all look really good, so this must mean this is the finale.
15:40Yes.
15:41Roseby, we've got our final two teams fighting for $50,000 today.
15:45What are our thoughts on these two juggernauts of empires?
15:49This is quite the face-off.
15:51Yeah.
15:51You've got Elizabeth, who can make anything out of cake.
15:55And you've got Francois, who can make anything out of chocolate.
15:58Yeah.
15:59But what will they make?
16:00It's going to be difficult to judge, because two different mediums.
16:04Yes.
16:05Francois is a bit of an underdog in that he's never competed.
16:09So I think this probably means a lot to him.
16:12But Elizabeth doesn't seem like the type who takes losing lightly.
16:16It's also going to come down to how your empire and your team dynamics work, right?
16:21This is the most pressure, the most is at stake today.
16:25How well can your team come together in the most difficult times?
16:30All right, guys, I think it's time for you all to go take a closer look at these final two empires.
16:35Let's go.
16:37Bring back food.
16:38Okay.
16:39Hello.
16:40Hello, hello.
16:41What are you working on, Renu?
16:43They're bells, but what are they for?
16:44They're for decoration for this sort of vignette we're creating.
16:47So this is sort of a frame over the vignette, lots of elements in the background, lots of little details.
16:52So hopefully it's a magical winter wonderland.
16:54Jonathan, what are you working on?
16:56I'm working on a light post right now.
16:57It's casted with sugar.
16:59We're going to decorate the sides to look like a lantern light post.
17:02And I'm working on a yeti.
17:04The sculpting is beautiful.
17:06Yes, as usual.
17:07I have a quick challenge.
17:08Yeah, okay.
17:08If I asked you to describe your team in one word, what is the one word?
17:12Jonathan?
17:13Ah, dang, that's hard.
17:14Why do you put me on the spot?
17:15One word?
17:16Yeah.
17:18Chaotic.
17:19That's me, though.
17:20Elizabeth?
17:20Courageous.
17:20You just scared Elizabeth.
17:22Chaotic?
17:23That's her kryptonite.
17:25Chaotic, courageous, now you have to pick a C word.
17:27I have no C words.
17:29Just an O word.
17:30Oh, creative.
17:31Creative.
17:32Very good.
17:33See, that's why I'm the leader, because I'm there to...
17:36Because you told me which C word to use.
17:39Why do you need to win today?
17:41What's at stake?
17:42I've done one or two shows recently, and I keep counting up the runner-up.
17:46Oh, okay.
17:48It wears on you a little bit.
17:49You're like, dang it.
17:50You know, I'm just trying to work my butt off to help them achieve, you know, their goals,
17:53because Renu's never won a competition before either, and I want to break my curse.
17:58I feel like I've been trying so hard, so it would be nice to be able to have a win under
18:03my belt.
18:04So I'm going to bloody well try.
18:06You can guarantee it.
18:07Good luck.
18:08Yes, good luck.
18:12Hi.
18:13Hi.
18:13Bonjour.
18:14Bonjour.
18:15So you're not using any type of armature whatsoever?
18:33Exactly.
18:34Wow.
18:34Cammie, how does that feel for you as a cake decorator?
18:37I know.
18:38It's actually not something that I delve into very much in my own job, so they are confident
18:44that they could build this house, and I knew I could decorate it, so...
18:47What do you guys feel is your biggest challenge at this moment?
18:50Cammie's got to get through a ton of piping and decorations.
18:55We are relying heavily on her skill set.
18:57We've got to make sure this works.
18:59We've got to get everything done.
19:00Really, ultimately, it's just coming together at the end.
19:02But I didn't have to build a house.
19:03But you do have to wait until the house is built before you can start piping.
19:08Right.
19:08That's why it's important that you stay on track.
19:09A lot of those things are going to be last minute.
19:11I'm trying to stay calm, cool, and collected, but there's so much more we need to finish up.
19:16The time is ticking, and we need to start decorating this chalet.
19:21Three hours left.
19:23Three hours.
19:24Kick into overdrive.
19:25I am building my cake, Elizabeth.
19:31I'm going to continue on the toy set.
19:34Yeah, and I'll just keep going with the taxpayer everywhere.
19:37Yep.
19:37I need you to get this done in eight to ten minutes, okay?
19:41Woo-hoo-hoo!
19:42Yep.
19:43You got it, though.
19:43You can do it.
19:46What's it have?
19:52Oh, nice!
19:54I've got my tasting done.
19:55I've got all my sugar ornaments done.
19:57I've casted my snowflakes.
19:58I've gotten my lantern finished.
20:00I'm doing well with my timing.
20:01Let me know, Jonathan, when you want to cover the backboard.
20:03I'm ready for you whenever.
20:04But we are getting down to crunch time, and this means I have to do everything to help the team out as much as possible.
20:10Me and Elizabeth are covering the main backdrop in fondant.
20:13We're covering the candy cane poles.
20:15And then Elizabeth has to do this really cool airbrush work to give it the illusion of a city.
20:19If we just stay focused, we can finish this.
20:23However, we are giving ourselves a lot to do.
20:25It looks like just a blob at the moment, but I'm making center's head.
20:29I need a beard.
20:33I need a mustache.
20:34He's really small, and I'm having to make this little tiny face.
20:38I'm trying to make him as realistic as I kind of can for something that's so small.
20:43That actually looks pretty darn freaking good.
20:46And my idea is to have him riding the Yeti.
20:49Nice.
20:50Yeah, perfect.
20:51Hey, Jonathan Rainey, look, I'm doing a different technique than I did for the walrus, so it looks a bit more icy.
20:57Oh, nice.
20:58I'm definitely going to do my eyes a little bit different to the walrus eyes.
21:02These eyes need to look more human and a little bit more intense.
21:06So I'm hand painting individual lines that are going in towards the pupil, and I'm using like six different shades of blue, bluey purple, white for highlights.
21:16I'm assuming I'm casting eyes for those, yes?
21:18Of course, yes, please.
21:20Boom.
21:21With the sugar lenses, it should really, really read as convincing.
21:25Look how good those came out.
21:27We're still clear.
21:28I want my Yeti staring down the competition.
21:31I'm going to get the chimney in and sealed, and we'll have to test it to make sure it doesn't leak out.
21:35We're working on getting the smoke machine ready for the chimney.
21:39Okay, what the hell?
21:40And of course, it won't work.
21:43What the heck?
21:44All right, hold on.
21:45I'll troubleshoot this.
21:47Can I start to assemble the big tree?
21:48Yeah.
21:49Okay.
21:50All right.
21:50You're on, my main man.
21:58I'm starting to paint it, and then I need a crack.
22:04Looking around, one panel fall.
22:06Here's where you have one more panel for the tree.
22:08Hold on.
22:09What happened?
22:13The chocolate was really cold right out the freezer.
22:15There was a temperature shock.
22:16He's spraying it, and it starts to fall apart.
22:18So I'm just making another tree piece real quick, because it's breaking a little bit.
22:23I'm just like, dang.
22:24This is the part that's supposed to be on the board, spinning, really nice and huge.
22:30Worst timing for something like this to happen.
22:31So the big tree is all crumbling.
22:46What do you mean?
22:46It's breaking out.
22:48Where?
22:49Oh, my God.
22:50Francois' tree broke.
22:51That's horrible.
22:52That's the absolute worst thing that can happen.
22:55Thank God it wasn't us.
22:57All right.
22:57Let me cut.
22:59There's a lot on the line.
23:01It's the finale.
23:02If this tree falls apart, we're toast.
23:11Oh, my God.
23:12We don't have a tree anymore.
23:14I feel kind of disappointed, but we have to react fast.
23:17We don't have time to play around, because we still have to do so many things.
23:20Stay calm.
23:21At this point in the competition, how devastating is it if anything goes wrong?
23:25Oh, to make it this far and to not win because of something breaking or falling apart, very devastating.
23:32We got the other trees, so we'll just switch over to a medium there, which is totally fine.
23:37I know I've got some other trees I've made.
23:39We've got backups, but it's not the big tree.
23:42It's just at this point, it's just getting it done.
23:44It's not one of the focal points we had made a point to make.
23:47I made the chimney in white chocolate, so I'm going to spray orange and then score to make it look like bricks.
23:51All right, I don't want to freak you guys out, but, yeah, you have an hour left.
23:5660 minutes.
23:58All right.
23:58We in business.
24:00Coming, you okay?
24:00Yep.
24:01What you doing, though?
24:02Piping garland, trying to finish up stuff before I get started on the actual house.
24:07The guys have this thing built.
24:09It's go time.
24:10I am the most in my element when I'm piping all of these royal icing decorations.
24:18This is where I shine.
24:20All right, how you guys doing?
24:21Good.
24:21Just lots of details.
24:24These tiny details might not seem like a lot, but when you step back and see it, that is what's going to make the difference.
24:33This is almost as bad as hanging actual Christmas lights.
24:36But there's very little time left, so I hope that we can pull this off.
24:43How's that look, Cammie?
24:44That looks awesome.
24:45Hey, bakers, you got 30 minutes.
24:48Oh, my goodness.
24:49Not a big deal.
24:50Only $50,000 up for grabs.
24:52Yeah, no big deal.
24:53I'm making the back side of Santa in case we want to put him near the Christmas tree inside.
24:58We're going to overwhelm the judge with so many details.
25:00We're going to have snow on the roof, snow on the balcony, pathway made in chocolate rocks.
25:05Looking great, Cammie.
25:06I'm going to try to get the candy canes going real quick.
25:08Oh, yes.
25:10I'm also making little Christmas presents in chocolate.
25:13That's going to be a chocolate bombo made with rum ganache.
25:16Oh, you're making my candy canes.
25:18I'm a little worried about the time.
25:20We have so much work to do on it.
25:22I'm starting to stress.
25:24Slowly.
25:25So far.
25:26Gently, gently.
25:27Gently.
25:27In the last 30 minutes, you always feel kind of panicked.
25:31I know that's not normal for Francois' team, but, you know, we always go a little bit more
25:36intricate and a bit more detailed with our designs.
25:38What can I help you with, Elizabeth?
25:39What I want you to do is to take our frame here.
25:43Just put the fat sausages on him, on his legs, a big mound for his body.
25:48Are you serious?
25:50I know we talked about a baby Yeti, but we didn't talk about making a baby Yeti in the
25:56last 25 minutes.
25:58Renu is working on something.
26:00Yeah.
26:00She's got some wire.
26:01It looks like tinfoil.
26:02They've only got 30 minutes and she's starting something right now.
26:06Am I crazy to think that, like, that's a little ambitious?
26:11Your priority is to have presentable peace.
26:14And then, you know, if you have time, do something else.
26:15Yeah.
26:16Do you want me to sculpt a head for it?
26:18No, no, no.
26:18Just get the body done.
26:19This is a finale and this is a serious curveball I've been thrown.
26:25There's still a lot of other things that need to be done, too.
26:28I don't know what's happening right now and I'm a little terrified.
26:31Renu.
26:32Yes.
26:32How much longer on that?
26:33Uh, well, uh, we're not sure.
26:38We have no time to get started on this baby Yeti.
26:40We got a lot of stuff to do over here.
26:42I'm just panicking, trying to get all these pieces onto the display.
26:46I could definitely use the help.
26:47Time is ticking away.
26:49Can I put that tree there so that we can start?
26:51I'm going to put the snowman here.
26:52Are you sure?
26:53Because the tree can spin.
26:54It's whatever Francois wants.
26:56But it's not as massive as the other one.
26:58That's fine.
27:00Well, okay.
27:00No, the snowman can spin.
27:01That's fine.
27:02Plan B is the snowman.
27:05All right.
27:06Like, you know, I still think a tree would look good because of the shape, but snowman it is.
27:12Looky there.
27:12Hey.
27:14Jonathan, you want to put the Essie on now?
27:16Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
27:19Both these teams are very ambitious.
27:22But do you think that they're biting off a little more than they can chew?
27:26Pardon the pun.
27:28Let's hope not, but I think that's always tempting.
27:31You know what you're capable of.
27:33You're trying to put it all on display all at once.
27:36Look, look, look, look what's going on.
27:37Oh, God.
27:38Oh, boy.
27:39He's so heavy.
27:40He's very heavy.
27:41Holy moly.
27:42I'm going to go for it again.
27:43Yeah.
27:44It's terrifying.
27:45Let's just sit him down.
27:46He goes the other way.
27:49Careful.
27:49Don't hit your head.
27:52Make sure Santa shows.
27:53Make sure his posing is good.
27:55Yeah, that's perfect.
27:56Hey, bakers, you got 10 minutes.
27:59Renu.
28:05Hey, Renu.
28:06Yep.
28:06I think it's time you finish that up and come on over.
28:08Okay.
28:10I'll bring it over, but I'm just going to keep on working on it while it's over here.
28:13There is no time.
28:15You can keep going.
28:16Spread buttercream, please.
28:17Yep.
28:18Yeah.
28:18Elizabeth has too much on her plate.
28:21She's airbrushing the Yeti.
28:22Yes.
28:23We have to get icing on everything.
28:27There are so many details that we want on this piece.
28:31Trying to get all these pieces onto the display.
28:33And it is chaos.
28:36It looks so good, the nest.
28:38There's not much time left when the clock is ticking.
28:40I know the baby Yeti isn't going to be the star focal point, so there's going to be less detail on him than our main character.
28:47It is what it is.
28:48Ooh, Ian, ugly baby.
28:50Dude, what the heck?
28:53Literally, what is going on?
28:55That is just working.
28:57It was spinning.
28:57Yeah, it was.
28:59It's not now.
29:00Why is that not going now?
29:04Two minutes, bakers.
29:06Oh, my God.
29:07Like, what is happening?
29:08What is going on?
29:09It literally was spinning five seconds ago.
29:12It's a technical nightmare right now, and we cannot lose because this stuff does not work.
29:17Like, literally, it has one job.
29:19Turn.
29:19Just get that up.
29:21Get a bag of my buttercream, please.
29:23Why is this not ?
29:24If our effects aren't working, like, we're toast.
29:28One minute.
29:30Manu, how does that look?
29:31Oh, beautiful.
29:32We are running out of time very quickly, and I don't have time to get my snowflakes on the board.
29:36I am just freaking out.
29:38Oh, my God.
29:44Oh, where's the bird?
29:45It's right over here.
29:4730 seconds, everyone.
29:4930 seconds.
29:49Hey, grab a new arm.
29:51We need a different arm.
29:52Oh, get it.
29:53Where are the arms?
29:55I don't know now.
29:57Right beside it.
29:58You got this.
29:58You got this.
29:59Same.
29:59I got it.
30:01Francois, get that arm out.
30:0210, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
30:12Hands up, bankers.
30:13Woo.
30:14Woo.
30:14Woo.
30:15Woo.
30:16Woo.
30:18Frick, yeah.
30:20Good job.
30:20Oh, my God, that thing.
30:21Woo.
30:23Trees.
30:24Yeah.
30:25Yeah.
30:25It was so chaotic at the end.
30:28And I didn't put the trees on our cake.
30:31Looking at the display, it's kind of unfinished.
30:33I wanted to get five snowflakes on the board.
30:36But in the chaos of trying to finish,
30:38I just managed to get only three.
30:40Just, this sucks.
30:42This is the finale.
30:43And just one misstep could take you out of the running.
30:46And I don't want to lose.
30:47I want to win.
30:47That's why I'm here.
30:55We gave you bakers complete creative freedom
30:59to make an unbelievable showpiece celebrating
31:01the holiday season.
31:03Our expectations are sky high for your creativity
31:06and technique for this challenge.
31:08There is no room for error today.
31:11Every little details will be examined.
31:15And of course, your flavors have to be perfect.
31:18Team Elizabeth, you're up first.
31:22So for us, the holidays are all about a magical time.
31:26And it's about helping those in need.
31:28And that's exactly what we wanted our piece to represent.
31:30And it also represents us on this competition as well.
31:34We've kind of learned that sometimes you can have a bad day
31:37and you need to ask for help.
31:39And that's what we've learned to do as a team,
31:41is to rely on one another and those around us.
31:44So Santa Claus has had a rather bad time.
31:47His sleigh is broken.
31:48And he's had to ask for a helping hand.
31:50So his neighbors, which are a family of Yetis,
31:53have offered to give him a ride
31:55and help him deliver all his presents.
31:57The Yeti is fantastic.
31:59Your sculpting is so precise and so realistic.
32:02You've really brought this mythical creature to life.
32:06I love the idea of Santa on his back.
32:08Santa looks jolly and cheerful as usual.
32:11Is all the skin on the outside of the Yeti,
32:14is that modeling chocolates?
32:16Yes.
32:16It holds on to the texture very well.
32:19And I love that I can see all of his muscles.
32:21He's very strong.
32:21Oh, yeah, he's, yes.
32:22That's exactly what I look like, by the way,
32:24with this soft.
32:25Body hair included.
32:29So who did the airbrushing of the back?
32:31Um, that'd be me.
32:32You did?
32:33You're very talented.
32:34It's amazing the way that you bring this to life.
32:37I love it.
32:38I do wish there were more of your beautiful snowflakes,
32:41Jonathan, because if there were more of them hanging,
32:43then I think the glowing lights would come sort of between the gaps
32:47and also through the snowflakes, which would look very pretty.
32:51When I look at Santa face or even the face of baby Yeti,
32:56it's very different.
32:57You know, the real shame is because the mama Yeti is so detailed,
33:01it's very obvious that the baby Yeti is not.
33:05It's a little bit harder to do that kind of detail on something that small,
33:09but I agree that definitely we could have put a bit more shading on the baby Yeti.
33:13I noticed you had beautiful trees, which I believe you made, Renu.
33:18Were they supposed to be a part of this?
33:20They were, yes.
33:21I was sad to not see those trees,
33:24but they are not into the presentation.
33:26No.
33:28I think that would have added a lot of texture,
33:30and they would just add another element of holiday to this piece.
33:34Well, can we try it?
33:36Of course, absolutely.
33:38For our flavor, it's an olive oil and lemon cake
33:41with a basil and lemon curd,
33:43white chocolate basil ganache, cheesecake center,
33:45and then it also has a pine nut shortbread crumble.
33:48So this is what we call in our culture ma'achuka.
33:50It's basically a crinkled filo dough
33:52that's baked three times with a custard soak.
33:54It has cardamom, rose water, and pistachios.
33:57And then in the egg, you will be cracking that open,
33:59take a bite, and then you'll be pouring a pistachio crema ingles
34:02onto your dessert.
34:03I'm going to watch this demo.
34:07Wow, look at that!
34:10The cake is delicious.
34:11I like the lemon that you put in it.
34:13It's very refreshing.
34:14It's the kind of cake that you want after dinner,
34:16when you have a holiday dinner
34:17and you eat a little bit too much.
34:19The cake is very tasty.
34:21What's the crunch in the cake?
34:22The crunch is a pine nut shortbread crumble.
34:24That's it.
34:25It's really delicious,
34:27and the butteriness of the pine nuts just make the shortbread even more buttery.
34:31And altogether, it's a wonderful bite.
34:34The second dessert is also very delicious, and I've never really had anything like it.
34:38I've had a lot of filo desserts, but not this one in particular.
34:41I love that it's crunchy and caramelized on the top, and then it gets softer with the
34:45custard as your fork goes down.
34:47The pistachios are overpowering the rosewater, but I really like the cardamom flavor in there
34:53as well.
34:54You guys always bring the artistry.
34:56Absolutely insane holiday showpiece.
34:58Well done.
35:00The judges really nail us on our timing, but we did such a massive, massive piece,
35:07and I hope we get the credit for that.
35:09My heart is pounding in my chest.
35:12Our piece is amazing, and I know the other team couldn't have recreated what we did,
35:17so it's going to be tough.
35:20Team Francois.
35:21Okay, let's go.
35:23Well, first time when I entered into the lodge here, he reminded me of this moment with
35:27my parents.
35:28We went on vacation in the Alps for the Christmas period.
35:31Just this image of the chalet with all the trees around, it's really for me what was the
35:37meaning of Christmas.
35:38I think you definitely succeed to make an Alpine chalet.
35:42I love all the details.
35:44There was a Christmas tree, a fire, the little rift with the ribbon, those are beautiful,
35:50and they do have those type of balcony.
35:54It's very Switzerland also.
35:55Yes.
35:56I love every single detail, the wood panels, the snow on the roof, the path, even just
36:01the texture of the chalet itself.
36:04And that's what's so fun about the theme that you chose today.
36:13It really brings together all your talents in one place.
36:17This is a big risk, doing something like that with no structure inside.
36:22It's looking for trouble.
36:24And we both know if anything goes wrong, it's over.
36:28You're out.
36:29And so nothing happened.
36:31One little thing, Christmas trees are a lot wider on the bottom.
36:35And as you go to the top, they become thinner.
36:38Here, they are pretty much almost the same size from the bottom all the way to the top.
36:42So that's one thing that, you know, maybe you can do a little bit different.
36:45I think it's very clever that you just revealed the shingles in certain areas, but I do wish
36:51it wasn't just two uniform patches on either side of the roof.
36:55I think it would make sense if the snow started to melt maybe around the chimney or where there
36:59would normally be warmth in a sort of patchier pattern than two perfect rectangles revealing
37:05the shingles on either side of the roof.
37:07Damn.
37:08They're kind of picking on my two things that were part of my job.
37:11Dude, am I going to cost my team the finale?
37:13Like, what in the is this, right?
37:16Well, let's dig in.
37:19So today for tasting, I made a piña colada inside a cake.
37:23Coconut chiffon cake with coconut milk and coconut rum.
37:27And then rum ganache that is whipped with pineapple confit and some little pieces of coconut cookie.
37:34And also we're going to have rum raisin, chocolate bonbon.
37:37So you have also some texture inside the bonbon.
37:40From the Alps to the Caribbean.
37:42Combination of flavor is good.
37:44It's not too sweet.
37:45You have all those flavors coming to you at equal proportion.
37:48It's not one more than the other.
37:50It's the flavor of a piña colada.
37:52The coconut cookie as the crunch is perfect.
37:55And the bonbon is...
37:57I love rum raisin, so I'm a big fan.
37:59Both tastings are very, very good.
38:02What I'm curious about is how these flavor profiles tie back to the holiday you're describing.
38:09It doesn't necessarily connect to the piece you've made.
38:11It's just the warm...
38:14The warm of the rum, especially the rum raisin.
38:17Usually you find them in the bread pudding and things like that.
38:20And I really wanted to make it.
38:22And both of the boys are in Florida.
38:25You know, they're Florida boys.
38:26And they don't get a chance to go to a chalet probably every Christmas.
38:30So it shows a little bit of them too.
38:32Camille.
38:35Francois, Camille, Nils, your show pieces are always incredible.
38:41And your flavors are always fantastic.
38:43Well done.
38:46Come on, another bonbon.
38:48You want the rest of mine?
38:49It's good.
38:50It is good.
38:51Yeah, it is good.
38:52Bakers, congratulations.
38:56Your show pieces were absolutely stunning.
38:59We expected nothing less, though.
39:02But only one team will be walking away with the $50,000.
39:10Judges, you have a very difficult decision to make.
39:13Good luck.
39:15Yes.
39:16You do.
39:17Good luck.
39:20Yolanda, who is the champion of Sweet Empire?
39:25I just want to say that all six of you are extremely talented
39:28in your own right.
39:30And together, you comprise two empires
39:34that pack a powerful punch.
39:36The winner of Sweet Empire is...
39:45Francois, Camille, and Nils.
39:48Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
39:50Oh, my!
39:51Hey!
39:52Oh, my!
39:53Oh, my!
39:54Oh, my!
39:55Oh, my!
39:56Oh, my!
39:57Oh, my!
39:58Good job, you guys.
40:00I'm shocked.
40:01I'm so surprised.
40:03We did it!
40:04We did it!
40:06You guys did awesome.
40:08Love you guys.
40:09Yeah.
40:10You were awesome.
40:11A little bit disappointed,
40:12but I'm really, really proud of my team.
40:15We did an amazing piece.
40:19Merci beaucoup.
40:20You guys did so great.
40:21So great.
40:22It was such an incredible journey.
40:24I learned that I can, you know, push myself so much.
40:27And to finish by a win, it's even better.
40:30And I knew I picked the right people for my empire.
40:33Camille and Nils, they just, you know,
40:36make my empire so, so strong.
40:39I couldn't find better people to work with.
40:42I'm very lucky.
40:43I'm very, very lucky.
40:44I mean, we really put just our childhoods,
40:46our memories, our stuff into that piece.
40:49I just think it just felt so Christmas
40:51that you couldn't deny it.
40:53Oh, we got it.
40:54We got it.
40:55Mm-hmm.
40:56They were here.
40:57I've seen it.
40:58Yeah.
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