Company Announcements

Pillsbury is calling on fans nationwide to help crown the $50,000 winner and name this year’s Most Valuable Baker

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2026-- The Pillsbury Doughboy and America’s favorite football mom Donna Kelce have huddled to reveal the four final contenders in the 53^rd Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest competing for $50,000 and bragging rights for their game day dishes.

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Pillsbury opens fan voting to choose the winner of the 53rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest, hosted in partnership with Donna Kelce.

The beloved Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest is closing out with an epic “Sweet” vs. “Savory” showdown with two final contenders in each category. January 10 through January 25, the Doughboy and Donna are calling on fans nationwide to vote for their favorite recipe and help decide who will take home the $50,000 grand prize and earn the coveted title of Most Valuable Baker (MVB) — the first time fans can vote since 2014.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the stands and on the sidelines, so I know that game day food has to keep up with the excitement,” said Donna Kelce. “You need something easy, crowd-pleasing, and packed with flavor so you can get right back to the action, and that’s why I’m such a fan of Pillsbury. I usually reach for something sweet, but this year’s Bake-Off recipes made it nearly impossible to pick a favorite. Whether you’re Team Sweet or Team Savory, the final contenders are built to score big on game day.”

From pre-game savory snacks to post-game sweet treats, home bakers across the country brought their A-game, crafting touchdown-worthy recipes inspired by football season and their tailgate traditions. Now, the top four final contenders are taking the field and serving up their best, most delicious plays, including:

Sweet Final Contenders:

• Kickoff Kettle Corn Bars: A sweet victory in every bite! These bars pair Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with caramel, dark chocolate, kettle corn and toffee for the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
• Big Win Cookie Bark: A family tradition turned game day favorite, this crisp, chocolate bark starts with Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough rolled thin for a lighter crunch that always scores big with the home team.

Savory Final Contenders:

• Blitz It Beef Bites: Packed with bold Chicago-style flavor and game day spirit these savory biscuits are stuffed with savory beef, melted cheese, and a kick of tangy relish for a bite that’s built to score big.
• Tailgate Pimiento Swirls: Inspired by a family recipe, these flaky, sweet-spicy cheesy pinwheels combine Pillsbury crescent dough with a classic Southern dip: pimiento cheese, and a touch of pepper jelly for a winning savory twist.

“The Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest has always celebrated the creativity of home bakers who turn everyday moments into something special,” said Michelle Odland, VP, Business Unit Director for Pillsbury at General Mills. “Our final contenders really ran with this year’s theme and brought that game day spirit, transforming classic Pillsbury biscuits, crescents and cookies into recipes that deserve a spot at any MVP-worthy spread. We can’t wait to see who comes out on top!”

The fun doesn’t stop at the table — it’s also hitting the sidelines! The Pillsbury Doughboy is helping fans suit up for game day with a limited-edition Poppin’ Fresh Game Day Tee, available exclusively at shop.pillsbury.com starting January 12 in both adult and youth sizes.

Inspired by this year’s game day theme, the tee blends a vintage ’90s sports look with timeless Doughboy charm. Crafted in a soft, heavyweight cotton with a blue-jean wash, it features retro game day artwork and is designed to be a true collector’s piece. With so many families already cherishing Doughboy items across generations, giving him a moment on a game day tee felt like a natural extension of that fan love.

The winner of the 53^rd Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest will be announced on January 29, just in time for the Big Game. Fans can check out the final contenders and cast their votes by visiting Pillsbury.bakeoff.com.*

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Voting in the 53rd Pillsbury Bake-Off^® Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 21+. Results determined solely by public voting (Sweet vs. Sweet: Jan 10–11; Savory vs. Savory: Jan 17–18; Sweet vs. Savory: Jan 25). For Official Rules, visit pillsbury.bakeoff.com.

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, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. General Mills generated fiscal 2025 net sales of U.S.$19 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S.$1 billion.

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Andrea Larson
andrea.larson@edelman.com

Source: General Mills