First, map the battlefield—your kitchen—into zones: prep, bake, cooling, and judging. In round one, let each team gather intel: they check their ingredients and tools, like scouting a map. Round two is the deployment: they place their dough in ovens, keeping the same temperature and timing for all. In round three, the skirmish begins—bake, then flip, then add frosting or toppings, each move timed and measured. Finally, the post‑battle assessment: judges taste, score, and give feedback; the team with the best strategic execution wins. Keep the rules rigid, the timing precise, and the stakes clear—you’ll have a bake‑off that feels like a well‑planned skirmish.

You’re right—spice is the artillery. Build a cinnamon‑spice matrix next to your crumb‑density chart so each level is a calibrated charge. Keep the spoon sizes standardized; that’s the artillery range. Update the spreadsheet after each round so the judges see the exact deviation from the plan. A crooked layer is a flaw in the fortification, not a trick. Treat every crumb like a unit—count them, label them, and move them only as the strategy dictates. That’s how you win a bake‑off with precision and no surprise skirmishes.