'Cupcake Wars' Get Treat(s) from Needham

A local bakery is getting ready to ship out for war, or rather "Cupcake Wars"

Head baker Adie Sprague and manager Sarah Waters from Treat Cupcake Bar, with a location on Highland Ave here in Needham, will be competing on the Food Network cupcake competition. 

In "Cupcake Wars," four teams of bakers square off in rounds of cupcake baking. The prize is a cool $10,000 and a chance to showcase their work at an event. Sprague and Waters actually filmed in October, but could not tell anyone until the week of the program.

Patch caught up with Sprague and Waters, and got a few impressions (but no results) from the episode. 

"Our employees didn't even know where we were," Sprague remarked. 

They had submitted an application to the program a couple of years ago, but did not hear anything until they got a call from producers last fall who asked, "Have you guys ever thought about being on Cupcake Wars?"

"People ask all the time. Customers love the show. They come into the shop and ask if we've thought about being on 'Cupcake Wars,'" Sprague remarked.

Sprague said she was a little hesitant about being on the program. On one hand, it is a chance to be creative and get Treat's name out on a national stage. On the other hand, baking with unappetizing ingredients was unappealing.

"I don't want to make tuna cupcakes," she said.

The episode was filmed in Los Angeles. The duo were in town for a couple of days, although they shot the episode over one day. In the episode, the teams of bakers competed for a chance to bake for the Chicago Toy and Game Fair -- in an episode called 'Cupcakes R Us'.

"We don't know anything going in," said Sprague, explaining the moment they learned the theme. "We were very ecstatic, because we're very kid-focused at Treat."

She said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the cameras add a lot of stress to the experience of baking. 

"As much as we were excited about the theme," Sprague added, "the environment is so incredibly stressful. The stress and pressure of it being reality television, and also representing the business that we've worked so hard to make successful. We want to be shown in a good light. You just have to do your best."

The episode airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday, on the Food Network. It repeats at 3 a.m. on Monday morning. 

"It's definitely something that we're excited for people to see. It's us under a lot of stress. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience." Sprague said, "It was definitely worth the trip."

If you want to try the cupcakes made on the show, they will be available at both Treat locations for the week after the episode.