Crime Scene Kitchen, Episode 5 Review: Rock and Roll

We’re almost at the point of the big merge on Crime Scene Kitchen….where each group of teams (once the second group gets to three teams next week) will come together to compete against one another, once again having six teams total. How will the teams enjoy competing against some different competitors? Tune in next week to find out who makes it to the merge, and then the week after that for the merge itself!

If you enjoy Crime Scene Kitchen, then be sure to tune in each week, starting at 8 pm EST, where we will see some mysterious treats being made by some of America’s best bakers!

Are you ready? Let’s go!

This week, the special celebrity guest and the person who chose their favorite mystery dessert was….Kelly Osbourne!

Crime Scene Kitchen combines mystery and baking! Let’s see what’s in store!

In case you missed week one, here’s the premise of the show: each week there are two challenges. In both challenges, before the baking actually begins, each team has a chance to ‘investigate’ the kitchen. There are dirty dishes, used utensils, things in the fridge, and definitely some things to fool you (a few this week) and throw you off guard just a bit.

The winners of the first challenge will get one extra clue in the second challenge – huge advantage!

For week five, we’re back with the first round of bakers, so let’s get started!

In the fifth episode of Crime Scene Kitchen, the first challenge had the following clues:

• Zested lemons in the trash can
• Cocoa powder on the counter (expired for 30 years – unused – duh)
• Ring mold and acetate on the counter together
• Some sort of jelly remnants in a bowl
• A box of cake flour on the counter
• Strawberries and raspberries in a bowl on the counter
• Strawberry stem in the sink, indicating which fruit to use
• Sifter on the counter
• Parchment paper with tiny outlines of strawberries, indicating a strawberry inlay – trash can
• Parchment paper cones on the counter
• Mascarpone cheese container in the fridge – opened
• Cake sheet pan in the dishwasher, indicating use
• Swirl of whipped cream on parchment paper on the counter

Stop! Before you read ahead, what do you think this mystery dessert could be?

Here’s what each team made, based off of the clues that each team saw in the Crime Scene Kitchen:

• Luis & Natalie: Frasier Cake
• Thomas & Cathy: Black Forest Roulade
• Thuy-Linh & Jay: Doberge Cake
• Erinn & Amanda: Raspberry Jelly Roll

MYSTERY DESSERT: Strawberry Chiffon Roll Cake w/ Lemon Mascarpone Cream

WINNING TEAM: Erinn & Amanda (got the closest, missed the fruit)

The second challenge in Crime Scene Kitchen is called the Main Event – the Showpiece Round. Whoever comes in last place this round will unfortunately be eliminated and go home.

In the second Main Event/Showpiece Round challenge, here were the following clues:

• Christmas-y spices all used on the counter
• Various postcards with Santa & different counters on the front of the fridge
• Seven cake pans in the drying rack, indicating two tiers – two different sizes
• Butter cream on a whisk mixer attachments
• Egg whites on a whisk mixer attachments
• Jar of opened molasses on the counter, indicating some sort of ginger/spiced dessert
• A post-it note with “Which topper?” on it next to the postcards
• Cardboard cut-outs in the shape of pieces of gingerbread houses
• Orange royal icing left over and hardened inside of a bowl
• Various tree-shaped cookie cutters in the drawer
• Piping bags with super small tips, indicating a lace piping of some sort

BONUS CLUE: More cardboard cut-outs to use for reference when shaping the dessert

Stop! Before you read ahead, what do you think this mystery dessert could be?

Here’s what each team made, based off of the clues that each team saw in the Crime Scene Kitchen:

• Luis & Natalie: Spice Cake w/ Christmas in July Theme
• Thuy-Linh & Jay: Gingerbread Cake w/ Gingerbread House Topper
• Thomas & Cathy: White Cake w/ Spicy Simple Syrup & Gingerbread House
• Erinn & Amanda: Two-Tiered Cake w/ Italian Buttercream & Gingerbread Village

MYSTERY DESSERT: Two-Tiered Spiced Ginger Cake w/ Santa Gingerbread House

WINNING TEAM: Nobody

ELIMINATED TEAM: Thuy-Linh & Jay (lack-luster dessert overall)

What are your thoughts on episode four of Crime Scene Kitchen? Also: what’s your Mount Rushmore of sweet treats? Let us know down below so we can chat AND bake them ALL!