The 6 Things All Winning Bake-Off® Contest Recipes Have in Common

Created July 10, 2018

Since the very first Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 1949, hundreds of thousands of home cooks have submitted their recipes, and Pillsbury has awarded millions of dollars in prizes. Follow these tips as you create your original recipe, and you could be the next person to make Bake-Off® Contest history.

6. Creativity

The most important ingredient in any winning recipe? Your imagination. Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest winners see new possibilities in familiar recipes and ingredients.

(Seen above) Where others saw a can of crescent dough, Barbara Gibson of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, envisioned Easy Crescent Danish Rolls—a finalist recipe at the 26th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 1975.

5. Crowd Appeal

A winning Bake-Off® Contest recipe brings everyone to the table—and keeps them coming back for more.

(Seen above) No one can resist these Quick Crescent Pecan Pie Bars! Created by Albina Flieller of Floresville, Texas, this recipe won the 24th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 1973.

4. Taste

Practice makes perfect, so we recommend taste-testing your recipe a few times and adjusting ingredients as you go. Before sending your recipe to our judges, see if it passes the “yum” test with your family first.

(Seen above) At the 46th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 2013, Glori Spriggs of Henderson, Nevada, took home the grand prize for these “amazing” and “delicious” Loaded Potato Pinwheels.

3. Appearance

Talk about a feast for the eyes! They say you only get one chance to make a first impression—is your Bake-Off® Contest recipe ready for its close-up?

(Seen above) Betty Cooper of Kensington, Maryland, created this gorgeous French Silk Chocolate Pie for the 3rd (ever!) Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 1951.

2. Originality

Same old, same old? Not at the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest. From recipe mash-ups to clever cooking hacks and new techniques, “surprise and delight” is the name of the game.

(Seen above) Mini Mexican Gorditas, created by Gary Smith of Santa Rosa, California, fused traditional Mexican pastry and American comfort food and landed among the top 100 finalists at the 47th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 2014.

1. Your Story

The best recipes of all are more than delicious—they also tell a story about the people who made them. Let your favorite memories and family food traditions inspire you to create an unforgettable recipe of your own.

(Seen above) The 48th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest grand prize went to Bejeweled Cranberry-Orange Rolls, created by Amy Nelson of Zionville, North Carolina. Amy’s winning recipe was inspired by memories of her mother’s legendary holiday cranberry salad and special breakfasts with her family. What memories will you bring to life with Pillsbury?