Crime Scene Kitchen Season 2 Finale: Which bakers floated to the top?

In the semi-finale episode, four teams of bakers were ready mix, bake, and decorate their way into the last challenge. Although each team longed to rise to the top, only three teams earned that position. Which team came just short of the Crime Scene Kitchen Season 2 finale?

Throughout the Crime Scene Kitchen second season, the biggest takeaway has been deciphering the clues. While there have been diversion elements, the little details have made the difference between safety and elimination. From having to do math to finding a particular utensil, these teams need to be observant yet have the knowledge base to come to that coveted conclusion.

While the season’s premise put professionally trained baker against self-taught bakers, those categories did not necessarily give one group an advantage or disadvantage. It seemed that the bakers who trusted their instincts and listened to their partners were on the successful path.

In the Safety Bake, the challenge had a new slant. As the bakers discovered, there was no baking in this dessert. Although each team used crème anglaise as a base, only one team found the most important clue. Or, it could have been their background that gave them the advantage.

The correct dessert was a floating island. The poached meringue with caramel shell was stunning. Determining that solution came down to seeing the slotted spoon and knowing why it was used. Only one team did that, Camille and Laissa.

The French, professionally trained bakers knew the signs that had them go down this path and they executed the dish fairly well. Although their caramel was a tad chewy, it did not matter. They were the only ones who made a floating island. They automatically earned a spot in the Crime Scene Kitchen Season 2 finale.

Heading into the elimination bake, the clues required more steps. From looking inside the envelope for the dollars spent to figuring out the décor, the difficulty level was raised for this challenge.

The clues should have pushed the bakers to make a mirror glaze entremet flavored with cardamom and pistachio with a strawberry jam center, decorated with paper peonies. To say that this challenge pushed the bakers was an understatement.

The most successful dessert was from Yassmeen and Amber. They came close to the correct flavor profile and their décor was lovely. Even though their jam was a little wet, which led the cake to feel more like a cream cake, it was overall on target. They earned a spot in the Crime Scene Kitchen Season 2 finale.

The final spot came down to T and Fadi and Tarsha and Kristy. T and Fadi nailed the flavor combination of cardamom and pistachio. While the dessert tasted good, it was visually far from correct. The pair decided to make a chocolate sail just because. The missed the décor clues and went off on a whim. That decision was very strange. It might have been better to present a plain entremet than this chocolate décor.

For Tarsha and Kristy, their dessert did not have the correct flavor. They included mint, which was nowhere in the clues. Also, they made a pate sablee sponge instead of a dacquiose. Although the dessert’s appearance was also a miss, it did include the right flowers.

In the end, Tarsha and Kristy had more misses than hits in their dessert. They would not be heading to the Crime Scene Kitchen Season 2 finale.

Which team will year the Crime Scene Kitchen Season 2 title? Be sure to watch the finale on Monday, August 14 at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.