4 Levels of Cupcakes: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious

We challenged chefs of three different levels - an amateur, a home cook and a professional chef - to make their versions of cupcakes. And then we brought in a food scientist to review their work. Whose cupcakes came out on top?



ABOUT EPICURIOUS
Browse thousands of recipes and videos from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, and more. Find inventive cooking ideas, ingredients, and restaurant menus from the world’s largest food archive.

4 Levels of Cupcakes: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious

[jushyo]

Penny: alcohol
Gabrielle: espresso
Stephen: cheese

[rikku]

“ Just like a caterpillar, this batter will turn into something new”- Steven, 2019.

*Inspiring*

[jplayzgamez]

What I learned
Stephen: Doesn’t like regular frosting
Gabrielle: isn’t fancy schmancy
Penny: Borderline alcoholic

[Sheenifier]

4 levels of Chefs is basically
1: I can cook
2: I love to cook
3: I cook to live
4: I'm a scientist

[aditrisrinivasan]

Stephen is overqualified he didn’t use cake mix and store bought frosting.

[jinlovesnamjoonssexybrain]

Steven: "that looks professionally done"

Epicurious: *instantly shows the professional chef*

[suuebear]

Honestly I’m impressed that the level 1 chef didn’t use box cake

[Misterbrainturn]

Everybody gangsta ‘til Stephen starts icing the cupcakes with a spoon

[FingeringThings]

I’m surprised Steven didn’t put half a cheesecake into the batter

[meatloaf]

Cream cheese

Instant flashbacks to “half a cheesecake”

[ALTREDBAST]

Officer pulls me over:

Sir, have you been drinking?

No sir. I just had a lvl3 cupcake.

[Samis]

Man I love that level 1 cook. He's so goofy and happy. He's the kind of guy you want to be best friends with.

[erickac]

I feel like this is Chef Penny's personal "feel good, treat yourself" cupcake.

I also feel like she would have added more rum if it wasn't being filmed 😂

[Borderlandslova]

I was like “wow this level 3 chef is making a time friendly cupca-...”
Her: “now this will take 9-12 hours to brown”
Me: “oh..”

[werneralvaradocastaneda]

I love Penny's fascination for alcohol. She's like the embodiment of "two shots of vodka".

[meighan]

I feel like as time went on Penny has become more casual and funny. She’s one of my favourite level 3’s now!

[carpetedshower]

Penny mouthing “I love rum.” Made me chuckle.

[judebaraka]

I wonder what pro chefs make when they’re actually hungry and dont want to wait for their cow to grow

[YourMsRightHere]

I wish they would eat each other's cupcakes.

[jiediao]

I’m just surprised that Penny didn’t grow her her own coconut and pineapple