Donna Kelce and the Pillsbury Doughboy Crown the 52nd Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Contest Winners with Festive Debut of Holiday Recipes

Three cherished creations rose to the top in this year’s “Holiday Family Favorites” contest, inspiring home bakers everywhere to incorporate Pillsbury into their holiday baking traditions

Pillsbury is the go-to choice for holiday baking, making every family gathering deliciously memorable. This year, America’s trusted baking companion, the Pillsbury Doughboy, teamed up with the country’s favorite football mom Donna Kelce to co-host the 52nd Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Contest with the theme “Holiday Family Favorites.”

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Donna Kelce reveals Mini Beef Wellingtons with Smoked Gouda Dipping Sauce as the grand-prize winning recipe of the Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Contest (Photo: Business Wire)

Home bakers across the country shared their treasured recipes, and this year’s $50,000 grand-prize winner, Julie McIntire from Independence, MO, wowed the judges with her Mini Beef Wellingtons with Smoked Gouda Dipping Sauce recipe. This innovative take on a classic holiday dish wraps tender beef in pillowy Pillsbury Crescent Dough for an easy-but-delicious appetizer that’s sure to become a cherished tradition in many households. Runners-up, the simply sweet Cinnamon-Cardamom Crescent Twists from Kyla K., and Caramel Apple Tiramisu from Robbin W., offer delightful twists to holiday favorites.

Families can find these winning recipes and even more delicious ideas for appetizers, entrees and desserts on Pillsbury.com/Bake-Off-Contest, to inspire a season full of tasty memories created over beloved recipes. Among these recipes is one of Kelce’s favorites, affectionately known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. This staple in the Kelce household originated from the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Contest winning recipe, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs.

Kelce knows that Pillsbury can make the holidays even more magical than her famous dinner rolls by freeing up time for families to be together and create memories throughout the season, just like she does with her own family.

“The holidays have always been about time spent together as a family, sharing delicious meals, and for my family, that means beloved recipes like my Mama Kelce Dinner Rolls, which start with Pillsbury,” said Kelce. “I was delighted to see the creativity and love that went into this year’s Bake-Off Contest submissions and all of the ways home bakers incorporated Pillsbury into their favorite recipes. I really enjoyed taste-testing this year’s winning recipe, Mini Beef Wellingtons with Smoked Gouda Dipping Sauce. My family will definitely be adding these tasty creations to our rotation and making even more magic this holiday season with Pillsbury!”

McIntire’s first-place winning recipe, Mini Beef Wellingtons with Smoked Gouda Dipping Sauce, is a take on the beloved spinach casserole her family enjoyed during the holidays growing up.

“Inspired by Mama Kelce’s Bake-Off connection, I decided to create a modern twist on my family’s Spinach Casserole recipe, one that was hearty enough to feed big appetites during the holidays and game day celebrations alike," said McIntire. “Using Pillsbury dough made the preparation even easier and added a delightful, flaky texture to my family’s favorite new holiday appetizer, really transforming it.”

Pillsbury is the perfect kitchen companion for the holiday season and beyond, from Pillsbury Crescent Dough, a shortcut for family-favorite appetizers and desserts, to Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls, sure to be a Christmas morning hit. Skip the prep work and get right to the fun with Pillsbury Cookie Doughs and accompany your turkey and stuffing with warm Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits this fall.

“We believe baking should be an experience that creates lasting memories and with Pillsbury, the possibilities are truly endless,” said Gini Mines, Pillsbury Brand Experience Senior Manager. “Families have relied on Pillsbury for decades to inspire creative recipes that bring them together, and the latest Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Contest winners are a testament to the ways Pillsbury does just that.”

Get baking! Explore the winning recipes now on Pillsbury.com/Bake-Off-Contest to get inspired for your holiday gatherings and create delicious memories with your loved ones this season.

About General Mills

General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to boldly build its brands, relentlessly innovate, unleash its scale and stand for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names like Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. General Mills generated fiscal 2024 net sales of U.S. $20 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1 billion. For more information, visit www.generalmills.com.

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