Contestants create cakes that replicate common objects in an effort to trick celebrity judges. Winners of each episode receive $5,000 and a chance to win more money by identifying which display of cash is real and which is cake.

Throughout each episode, contestants and celebrity judges are presented with a display of multiple examples of an object, one of which is a cake replica.

Three contestants are given eight hours to bake and decorate a cake that replicates the look of an object selected for that episode. Celebrity judges are then presented with three separate groups of five of the same object. Among each of the five-object sets is one of the contestant-baked cakes. If the judges correctly guess which object is actually a cake, its baker is eliminated from that episode.

When multiple contestants are able to trick the judges, the winner is selected based on cake quality. The winner of each episode wins $5,000 and is able to win an additional $5,000 if they can correctly identify which of two identical bundles of cash is actually a cake.

If they do not correctly identify the cake, the $5,000 is added to the cash bundle round winnings in the next episode. The winners of the three episodes leading up to the finale then compete in the finale to win $50,000.