The Pillsbury Bake-Off is an American

cooking Cooking, cookery, or culinary arts is the art, science and craft of using heat to Outline of food preparation, prepare food for consumption. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely, from grilling food over an open fire to using electric ...

contest Contest may refer to: * Competition * Will contest * Contesting, amateur radio contesting (radiosport) Film and television * ''Contest'' (2013 film), an American film * Contest (1932 film), a German sports film * "The Contest", a 1992 season 4 e ...

, first run by the

Pillsbury Company The Pillsbury Company is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company that was one of the world's largest producers of cereal, grain and other foodstuffs until it was bought by General Mills in 2001. General Mills brands consist of Annie's, Betty Croc ...

in 1949.

History

The first contest was held in 1949 as the Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest and hosted in the

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. The grand prize was originally $25,000. It was held annually from 1949–1976, 2013 to 2014, and since 2017; from 1978 to 2012, the contest was held biennially. There was no contest in 2015, 2016 nor 2020. From 1996 to 2014, the grand prize was $1,000,000. From 2018 to 2019, the grand prize was $50,000 plus a kitchen makeover from GE Appliances. , it's a prize package which retails for $221. The only required

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in the early contests was Pillsbury's BEST Flour. There was no contest in 1965 because the contest was moved from October to February. Occasionally, there has been a male category winner (1978, 1990, 1992, and 2002). The only male champion was Kurt Wait of

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, who won in 1996; that year, 14 of the 100 finalists were men. The contest had reverted to an annual contest in 2013 and 2014, after the previous 18 contests were held on the even-numbered years. In 2014, the contest added eight additional "Sponsor Awards" for a prize of $5,000 each. Categories and winners included:Sponsor Award Winners
" Although the 2021 contest was held virtually, the

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aired the contest from New York, NY. GE Imagination At Work Award: won by MaryJo Watkins of Scottsdale, Arizona – Muffuletta Mini Pies Jif® Peanut Butter Award: won by Brenda Watts of Gaffney, South Carolina – Macaroon-Peanut Butter-Chocolate Tartlets Crisco is Cooking™ Award: won by Greg Fontenot of The Woodlands, Texas – Grilled Potato and Roasted Salsa Verde Pizza Eagle Brand® Signature Recipe Award: won by Barbara Estabrook of Rhinelander, Wisconsin – Peanut and Pretzel-Peanut Butter Thumbprints Pillsbury® Gluten Free Award: won by Merry Graham of Newhall, California – Herbs and Seeds Parmesan Crackers Pillsbury® Clever Twist Award: won by Marie Valdes of Brandon, Florida – Spinach Dip-Stuffed Garlic Rolls Watkins™ Vanilla Award: won by Antoinette Leal of Ridgefield, Connecticut – Very Vanilla Lemon Tarts Reynolds® Baking Magic Award: won by Elizabeth Bennett of Seattle, Washington – Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels

Broadcast

Location held

*1949–56, 1958, 1962, since 2018: Manhattan, New York, NY *1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1967: Los Angeles, CA *1960: Washington DC *1964, 1980: Miami, FL *1966, 1975, 2000: San Francisco, CA *1967, Century City, CA *1968, 1996, 2008: Dallas, TX *1969: Atlanta, GA *1970, 1984, 1988, 1994: San Diego, CA *1971: Honolulu, HI *1972: Houston, TX *1973, 2004: Hollywood, CA *1974, 1990: Phoenix, AZ *1976: Boston, MA *1978: New Orleans, LA *1982: San Antonio, TX *1986, 1992, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012: Orlando, FL *2013: Las Vegas, NV *2014: Nashville, TN

Grand Prize Winners

References

External links

Pillsbury websitePillsbury Bake-Off website
{{General Mills Cooking competitions in the United States General Mills