At a Glance
- HBO Max’s “Heated Rivalry” finale scored IMDb’s top 2025 rating
- Home bakers and bakeries are crafting cakes celebrating Shane & Ilya’s romance
- Creations mix ginger-ale and cola flavors to mirror the characters’ favorite drinks
- Why it matters: The edible tributes show how the queer love story has galvanized viewers
Since the season finale of “Heated Rivalry” aired, fans craving one more taste of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have turned to cake-baking confections that celebrate the hockey stars’ enemies-to-lovers journey.
From Rink to Oven
The Canadian romance series, which reached U.S. audiences in November 2025, climbed into HBO Max’s top 10 across six episodes. Its finale earned IMDb’s highest rating of the year, cementing the adaptation of the popular novel as a breakout hit.
TikToker Jake Eldridge captured the mood in a Dec. 24 video while decorating a vanilla cake cloaked in buttercream.
“Santa’s not the only thing coming this week,” he jokes, referencing the show’s steamy scenes. “I thought, ‘What better thing to bring to the cabin than a big cake?’ And there are much larger cakes in the cabinet, if you’ve been watching the show.”
Eldridge’s design spotlights the duo’s jerseys, piped lettering, and a “big hockey puck” plopped in the center. Commenters called it “one of the Top 3 best hockey cakes.”
Professional Pipes and Edible Prints
Professional bakers joined the trend after customers requested on-theme desserts.
“I sure didn’t expect to open my WORK EMAIL this morning and see these two faces. 😅 I thought I opened the wrong app and freaked out,” posted @vanlifegreenie on Threads, sharing an order photo. The baker revealed the finished cake on Jan. 3, praising the decorator for free-hand work after the client skipped an edible printed image. “Honestly I think this is better,” they wrote.
Author and bakery owner Abby Jimenez of Nadia Cupcakes produced multiple batches of “Heated Rivalry” cupcakes. She tells News Of Philadelphia the show’s queer-centered romance validates storytelling that “should be” mainstream.
“Shane and Ilya’s love story has truly sparked a cultural phenomenon that put us all in a chokehold,” Jimenez says. “Our staff is watching the show along with the rest of the world, we are obsessed, and we enjoy making desserts that celebrate the things we love!”
Flavors of Fandom
Home baker Sarah (@kaleidoscopebakes) fused flavors from the page to the palate. Her Dec. 31 creation split a ginger-ale spice layer with a chocolate-cola layer, nodding to Shane’s favorite soda and Ilya’s cola habit.
“When I read the books, I knew I had to make a cake inspired by Shane’s love of ginger ale and Ilya’s love of cola someday,” Sarah tells News Of Philadelphia. Ending 2025 with the dessert “felt so fitting.”
She calls the romance “queer joy” with a rare happy ending for gay characters and says the series “created a safe space for myself and many other queer people during a time where the world continuously doesn’t feel safe.”
A Community on and off Screen
The cake trend mirrors the community that has rallied online around the hockey drama:
- Viewers host watch parties and post reaction threads after each episode
- Fan art, jersey cosplay, and hockey-stick decorations fill social feeds
- Bakeries report spikes in requests for sports-themed desserts
The edible tributes keep the conversation going during the off-season and build anticipation for the already-announced second season.
Key Takeaways:
- “Heated Rivalry” has translated small-screen passion into real-world creativity
- Home and professional bakers alike channel the love story through flavor and design
- Ginger-ale and cola cakes serve as sweet symbols of Shane and Ilya’s bond
This story first appeared on News Of Philadelphia.com.
