MAIN Cooking Cooking Contests Pillsbury Bake-Off

In the world of cooking contests, the Pillsbury Bake Off is a big one.

The contest has been around for more than fifty years, the inaugural bake off taking place in 1949, and today the grand prize at the Pillsbury Bake Off is an amazing one million dollars.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

For the first twenty years of Pillsbury Bake-Off history, the cooking contest was held once a year, and the prize money, although significant, was set at a (whopping, by the day's standards) $50,000.

Eventually, contest came to be hosted bi-annually. In 1996, the Grand Prize became the one million dollars that it is today plus $50,000 in runners-up prizes.

Along with firmly establishing their baking prowess, national fame is also bestowed upon lucky winners in a nationally televised event that has featured such notable hosts as Bob Barker, Art Linkletter, Alex Trebek, Marie Osmond and Oprah Winfrey.

2012 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest Rules

The 2012 Pillsbury Bake-Off grand prize competion is scheduled to be held at the Peabody Orlando Hotel in Florida from March 25 to March 27, 2012.

How the big prize will be announced and televised has yet to be finalized, but keep watching for updates as the contest heats up. Meanwhile, all eligible entries must have been submitted by April 18, 2011 either by snail mail or online at pillsbury.com/BakeOff - the contest's official site.

The twist to the Pillsbury Bake Off is that contestants must use at least two products from a list of products made by Pillsbury. Beyond that, they aren't many regulations, and past winners have made a wide variety of dishes — from cookies to pies to paninis.

Another secret ingredient to a winning bake-off recipe? Avoid the overly-complicated in favor of 'ease and speed', say bake-off veterans.

Finalists who send in their recipes and make it through the judging process will have their recipes hosted on the official bake-off website where they are judged by visitors. Past winner and finalist recipes are also hosted on the website, along with detailed cooking instructions, ratings, reviews, and plenty of mouth watering pictures.

2010 Pillsbury winners

Semi-final category winners were announced in mid-April 2010.

They included: Sue Compton of Delanco, NJ (Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups in the "Sweet Treats" category); Niki Plourde of Gardner, MA (Tomato-Basil Eggs Alfredo in Bread Baskets in "Breakfast & Brunches"); Kellie White of St. Louis (Zesty Lime-Fish Tacos, "Dinner Made Easy"); and Evelyn Henderson of Roseville, CA (Salmon Pecan-Crusted Tartlets, in "Entertaining Appetizers").

Several days later, on April 14, 2010 on a special edition of the Oprah show it was announced that Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups was declared the winning recipe of the 44th annual competition — with its creator Sue Compton named the $1 million grand prize winner!

More about the 2012 Pillsbury Bake-Off around the Web:

Will your recipe have a chance to win the grand prize in the 2012 Pillsbury Bake-Off? You'll never know unless you try. So, hey, get baking and ... best of luck!

Pillsbury Bake-Off - The official site featuring submission tips, entry form, FAQ, photos and featured recipes from contests past.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest Offers Fame/Fortune - Feature story with complete entry and eligibility rules, recipe categories, and judging criteria.

Pillsbury Bake-Off - Advice from the contestants - Knox News with a feature a video offering interviews with recent bake-off contests, related stories.

The Pillsbury Bake-Off - About.com guide with insider details and complete recipes from past winners.

Pillsbury Bake-Off - Wikipedia - Brief overview with a list of every recipe that took the grand prize from 1942 to the present, with related references and resources.

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