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Donna Kelse in a Pillsbury Bake Off® jersey with the Pillsbury Doughboy. Text “Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Sweet vs. Savory”.

The Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest Showdown is Coming!

Donna Kelce and the Doughboy can’t pick just one winner—so they’re calling on you, America’s best home bakers, to help decide who takes home the $50,000 grand prize and the title of Most Valuable Baker (MVB)!

It’s time to bake like a fan in the first semifinal showdown of the 53rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest: two top sweet recipes, one ticket to the finals. Fire up your oven, plan your watch party, and get your game-day crew ready to taste, test, and cheer for their favorite treat to move on to the Sweet vs. Savory Finals.

Voting for Sweet starts January 10 and ends January 11 at 11:59 PM CT, so preheat those ovens and get your game face (and apron) on!

How The Pillsbury Bake-Off® Showdown Works

The Pillsbury Bake-Off® Sweet vs. Savory Showdown is heating up! Here’s the full game plan:

  • Sweet Semi-Finals: January 10 (12:00 AM CT) – January 11 (11:59 PM CT)
  • Sweet Finalist Announced: January 13
  • Savory Semi-Finals: January 17 (12:00 AM CT) – January 18 (11:59 PM CT)
  • Savory Finalist Announced: January 20
  • Final Championship (Sweet vs. Savory): January 25 (12:00 AM CT – 11:59 PM CT)
  • Champion Announced: January 29

Each round brings us closer to crowning America’s Most Valuable Baker (MVB)—the fan-favorite home baker taking home $50,000.

Fans nationwide will judge recipes based on 3 key categories: Recipe & Story Connection, Game Day & Crowd Appeal, and Overall Impact & Impression.

Join Donna Kelce and the Doughboy as they rally bakers everywhere. Preheat those ovens and get your game face (and apron) on and help choose who rises to the top!

No purchase necessary. U.S. residents 21+. One vote per bracket. Public voting determines results. No vote solicitation. See Official Rules

The Sweet Contenders

The 53rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Showdown is officially heating up! The spotlight’s on the Sweet Semi-Finals, where two delicious desserts are going whisk-to-whisk for a ticket to the Finals and a shot at the $50,000 grand prize.

From chocolate-drizzled cookie bars to candy-sprinkled team treats, these sweet contenders are ready to bring their A-game to game day.

Get your vote in before voting closes for the Sweet Finals on January 11 at 11:59 PM CT!

Kickoff Kettle Corn Bars

Layers of caramel, dark chocolate, and kettle corn come together for a championship-level combo of crunch and chew.

STATS:

  • •  Prep Time: 20 Min
  • •  Total Time: 1 Hr 50 Min
  • •  Servings: 36
  • •  Ingredients: 8
  • •  Pillsbury Product: Refrigerated Chocolate Chip  Cookie Dough

SCOUTING REPORT:

Known for its caramel crunch and smooth chocolate finish, this bar delivers MVP texture in every layer.

Big Win Cookie Bark

A crisp, chocolate-swirled cookie bark that brings major team spirit. Colorful candies and sprinkles let you customize it to match your squad—perfect for tailgates, bake-offs, or any sweet celebration.

STATS:

  • •  Prep Time: 20 Min
  • •  Total Time: 1 Hr 30 Min
  • •  Servings: 12
  • •  Ingredients: 6
  • •  Pillsbury Product: Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough

SCOUTING REPORT:

A crowd-pleaser known for sweet crunch and vibrant game-day energy. Easy to make, impossible to bench.

Bake + Taste Test: Who’s Your Sweet Finalist?

It’s almost game day in the kitchen! This weekend, when voting opens and the football games kick off, whip up both Sweet Final Contenders and host your own Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest taste test.

Invite your squad over to sample both recipes, then take a vote to see who scores the win in your kitchen. Whether you’re tailgating, watching at home, or replaying the highlights, it’s your chance to taste, judge, and decide who deserves to move on to the Sweet vs. Savory Finals.

Prepare to make it official and crown your household favorite when national voting opens January 10–11. Share your picks and party moments on social using #PillsburyBakeOff53 and tag @Pillsbury so the Doughboy can join your victory dance!

Rep Your Team Doughboy Style

Check out the new Limited Edition Poppin’ Fresh Game Day Tee! This isn’t just merch, it’s a moment in Doughboy history. Inspired by this year’s football-themed Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest, this tee celebrates the spirit of game day: cozy weekends, big bakes, and even bigger cheers.

Crafted for comfort and made to last, it’s the kind of tee that’ll rep your Doughboy pride all football season long, and for many more to come. Available in Adult and Youth sizes, so every fan in the family can join the fun!

53 Seasons. One Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest Legacy
53 Seasons. One Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest Legacy

Since 1949, the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest has brought America’s best bakers together to celebrate creativity, connection, and a love for homemade joy.

Timeless Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest Favorites