Cooking Contests: Overview: Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest

The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest, the premier manufacturer-sponsored cooking contest in America, was first held in 1949. Known initially as the Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest, it debuted at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City; it was held annually (except for 1965) until 1976 and then subsequently every two years. The media christened Pillsbury’s event the “Bake-Off Contest,” and the company soon adopted the name; in 1971 the term “Bake-Off” was trademarked.

Thousands of recipe submissions are reviewed to ensure compliance with Pillsbury’s entry rules and to confirm that the recipes are the unique creations of the contributors. Selected recipes are tested, and one hundred finalists are chosen to prepare their recipes for judging by a panel of food experts. The grand prizewinner receives $1 million.