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Pillsbury Bake-Off

43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Official Contest Rules

Click on a link below to find more information on the Bake-Off® Contest.

What Can I Win?

100 finalists will win trips to Dallas, TX, April 13 to 15, 2008, to compete for cash and merchandise prizes totaling $1,053,000. Trip includes round-trip coach air transportation for finalist from major airport nearest finalist's home, hotel accommodations consisting of one double occupancy room for two nights at the Fairmont Hotel & Resort, Dallas, TX, daily event-sponsored meals, a GE microwave with enhanced cooking performance (estimated retail valued of $460), and a check for $100. Approximate retail value of each finalist package is $2,210.

Recipe Categories

One overall Category Winner will be chosen in each of the following five Recipe Categories:

Breakfast & Brunches

Casual brunch or weekend family breakfast ideas. For example, sweet rolls, breakfast breads or egg dishes.

Pizza Creations

Snack or family pizzas, calzones, panini and more. Must use Pillsbury® refrigerated pizza crust in recipe.

Entertaining Appetizers

Appetizers and snacks to serve at casual gatherings with family and friends or for holiday entertaining. For example, bite-size sandwiches, foldovers or pinwheels.

Old El Paso® Mexican Favorites

Recipes that creatively use Mexican-inspired flavors. For example, burritos, enchiladas or empanadas. Must use an Old El Paso® participating product in recipe.

Sweet Treats

Quick and easy treats for anytime celebrations. For example, cookies, pies, tarts, brownies or bars.

Prize Structure

(1) Grand Prize Recipe Winner receives $1,000,000 and a GE Profile™ Double wall oven with PreciseAir™ convection, plus winner chooses $7,000 in additional GE Profile™ kitchen appliances. Combined retail value of Grand Prize is approximately $1,010,000. (4) Recipe Category Winners each receive $5,000 and a GE Profile™ Double oven range with PreciseAir™ convection and two self-clean ovens. Combined retail value of each Category Prize is approximately $7,000.

Other Awards:

(1) America’s Favorite Recipe Award ($5,000) (1) GE Imagination At Work Award (retail value is approximately $5,000) (1) Jif® Peanut Butter Award ($5,000)

Grand Prize Winner

At the Contest Finals, the judging panel will award one recipe winner for each Recipe Category. One of these overall Recipe Category Winners will be judged the $1 Million Grand Prize Winner. The $1 Million Grand Prize will be awarded as an annuity payable in installments of $50,000 each year for 20 consecutive years, no interest, with the first payment payable on or about April 15, 2008. Grand Prize Winner will also receive a GE Profile™ Double wall oven with PreciseAir™ convection, plus winner chooses $7,000 in additional GE Profile™ kitchen appliances. Combined retail value of Grand Prize is approximately $1,010,000.

Recipe Category Winners

The four remaining Recipe Category Winners will each receive $5,000 and a GE Profile™ Double oven range with PreciseAir™ convection and two self-clean ovens. Combined retail value of each Category Prize is approximately $7,000.

America’s Favorite Recipe Award

Consumers will be invited to go online to www.bakeoff.yahoo.com during early 2008 to view the 100 final recipes and to vote for their favorite recipe. Limit one vote per person 18 years of age or older. The recipe receiving the most consumer votes will receive the America’s Favorite Recipe Award of $5,000. In the event of a tie, the recipe receiving the higher total score from the judging panel during the Contest Finals will receive this Award. All recipes are eligible for this Award, regardless of other Prizes or Awards won during the 43rd Bake-Off® Contest.

GE Imagination At Work Award

The judging panel will award the GE Imagination At Work Award for the recipe the panel deems the most innovative. The GE Imagination At Work Award will be awarded to a finalist who has not won the Grand Prize or a Recipe Category Prize. The GE Imagination At Work Award Winner will receive a GE Profile™ Double oven range with PreciseAir™ convection and two self-clean ovens, plus winner chooses $3,000 in additional GE Profile™ kitchen appliances. Retail value of GE Imagination At Work Award is approximately $5,000.

Jif® Peanut Butter Award

The judging panel will award the Jif® Peanut Butter Award to a finalist who is recognized as having the best recipe using at least 1/4 cup of Jif® Peanut Butter. The Jif® Peanut Butter Award Winner will receive $5,000. In the event that no qualifying recipes are selected as finalists, the prize will not be awarded. All contest prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash, except at the sole discretion of General Mills. Each finalist is eligible to win one Grand Prize or Recipe Category Prize, in addition to the finalist package. In addition, all finalists are eligible to win the America’s Favorite Recipe Award and/or the Jif® Peanut Butter Award, even if that finalist has won the Grand Prize, or a Recipe Category Prize. All finalists with the exception of Recipe Category Prize winners and the Grand Prize winner are also eligible to win the GE Imagination at Work Award. All taxes and other expenses, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winners. All appliance prizes listed in the above prize descriptions will be delivered to winner’s home address. Winner will be responsible for all appliance installation expenses. Any and all warranties and/or guarantees on a prize (if any) are subject to the manufacturer’s terms only, and winner agrees to look solely to such manufacturer for any such warranty and/or guarantee. This contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated. All federal, state and local laws apply.

Who Can Enter?

You are eligible if you are 18 years of age or older as of January 15, 2007, and are a legal United States resident residing in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia at the time of the Contest Finals.

You are not eligible to enter and will be disqualified if:

  • You are a food professional, such as a chef, food writer or food home economist who creates recipes for pay
  • You, your spouse, your parent or your child (all regardless of present place of residence) or anyone currently living in your household has been a finalist in three or more Bake-Off® Contests, or has previously been a Bake-Off® Grand Prize Winner
  • You are an employee of General Mills, General Electric Company, The J.M. Smucker Company, Eggland’s Best, Land O’ Lakes, Inc., John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc./Fisher® Nuts, Domino Foods, Inc., Don Jagoda Associates Inc., Yahoo Inc., Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, or any other sponsors of the Contest or any of their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, or any promotion, advertising, judging or public relations company doing business with any of the above, or any of their respective parents, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, or a member of the immediate family (parent, children, siblings, spouse, regardless of where they live) or live in the same household of such employees (whether related or not)

How Do I Enter?

Enter your original recipe that uses two or more different eligible products. The varieties and sizes listed below are the only eligible products. You must use at least 1 ingredient from List A and a second ingredient from either List A or List B in the quantity specified below:

List A

Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers or Homestyle Refrigerated Biscuits (1 can)

  • Grands!® Flaky Layers Butter Tastin® 16.3-oz. (8 ct)
  • Grands!® Flaky Layers Buttermilk 16.3-oz. (8 ct)
  • Grands!® Flaky Layers Original 16.3-oz. (8 ct)
  • Grands!® Homestyle Butter Tastin® 16.3-oz. (8 ct)
  • Grands!® Homestyle Buttermilk 16.3-oz. (8 ct)
  • Grands!® Homestyle Buttermilk 10.2-oz. (5 ct)
  • Grands!® Homestyle Southern Style 16.3-oz. (8 ct)

Pillsbury® Grands!® or Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Icing (1 can)

  • Pillsbury® Grands! ® Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Icing 17.5-oz. (5 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Grands! ® Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing 17.5-oz. (5 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Grands! ® Refrigerated Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls with Icing 17.5-oz. (5 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Icing 7.3-oz. (5 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Icing 12.4-oz. (8 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing 12.4-oz. (8 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Orange Flavor Sweet Rolls with Icing 13.9-oz. (8 ct)

Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls (1 can)

  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls 8-oz. (8 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Garlic Butter Crescent Dinner Rolls 8-oz. (8 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Reduced Fat Crescent Dinner Rolls 8-oz. (8 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Butter Flake Crescent Dinner Rolls 8-oz. (8 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Big & Buttery Crescent Dinner Rolls 10.1-oz. (6 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Big & Flaky Crescent Dinner Rolls 10.1-oz. (6 ct)

Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pizza Crust (1 can) 13.8-oz.

Pillsbury® Refrigerated Breadsticks (1 can)

  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Original Breadsticks (1 can) 11-oz. (12 ct)
  • Pillsbury® Refrigerated Garlic Breadsticks (1 can) 8-oz. (8 ct)

Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crusty French Loaf (1 can) 11-oz.

Pillsbury® Create ’n Bake™ Refrigerated Cookie Dough (1 roll)

  • Pillsbury® Create ’n Bake™ Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough 16.5-oz. roll
  • Pillsbury® Create ’n Bake™ Refrigerated Peanut Butter Cookie Dough 16.5-oz. roll
  • Pillsbury® Create ’n Bake™ Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough 16.5-oz. roll

Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crust (1 crust) 15-oz. box

Pillsbury® Golden Layers® Refrigerated Biscuits (1 can)

  • Golden Layers® Butter Tastin® 12-oz. (10 ct)
  • Golden Layers® Buttermilk 6-oz. (5 ct)
  • Golden Layers® Buttermilk 12-oz. (10 ct)

Pillsbury® Frozen Oven Baked Biscuits (at least 2 biscuits)

  • Pillsbury® Oven Baked Buttermilk Frozen Biscuits 25-oz. bag
  • Pillsbury® Oven Baked Southern Style Frozen Biscuits 25-oz. bag

Pillsbury® Brownie Mix (1 box)

  • Pillsbury® Caramel Swirl Brownie 14.6-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Cheesecake Swirl Brownie 15.5-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Chocolate Chunk Brownie 15.5-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Chocolate Extreme Brownie 15.9-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Chocolate Frosted Brownie 20-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Classic Milk Chocolate Brownie 19.5-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Double Chocolate Brownie 15.8-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Fudge Toffee Brownie 19.5-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Hot Fudge Swirl Brownie 15.1-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Peanut Butter Swirl Jif® Brownie 13.3-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Traditional Fudge Brownie 19.5-oz.
  • Pillsbury® Walnut Brownie 13.5-oz.

Pillsbury BEST® Flour (at least 1 cup)

  • Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
  • Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Unbleached Flour

Old El Paso® Tortillas or Taco Shells (at least 4 Tortillas or Taco Shells)

  • Old El Paso® Flour Tortillas for Soft Tacos & Fajitas 10.5-oz. (12 ct)
  • Old El Paso® Flour Tortillas for Burritos 11.5 oz. (8 ct)
  • Old El Paso® Stand ’N Stuff™ Taco Shells 4.7-oz. (10 ct) -- excluding Nacho and Salsa flavors
  • Old El Paso® Taco Shells 4.6-oz. (12 ct) -- excluding white corn taco shells

List B

Old El Paso® Chopped Green Chiles or Refried Beans (1 can)

  • Old El Paso® Chopped Green Chiles 4.5-oz. can
  • Old El Paso® Fat Free Refried Beans 16-oz. can
  • Old El Paso® Traditional Refried Beans 16-oz. can

Old El Paso® Salsa or Red Enchilada Sauce (at least 1 cup)

  • Old El Paso® Mild Thick ’n Chunky Salsa
  • Old El Paso® Medium Thick ’n Chunky Salsa
  • Old El Paso® Mild Enchilada Sauce

Old El Paso® Taco Seasoning Mix (1 package)

  • Old El Paso® Taco Seasoning Mix 1.25-oz. pkg.
  • Old El Paso® 40% Less Sodium Taco Seasoning Mix 1.25-oz. pkg.

Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables (1 box)

  • Green Giant® Frozen Niblets® Corn & Butter 10-oz. box
  • Green Giant® Frozen Broccoli & Cheese Flavored Sauce 10-oz. box
  • Green Giant® Frozen Spinach 9-oz. box

Jif® Peanut Butter (at least 1/4 cup)

  • Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
  • Jif® Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter
  • Simply Jif® Peanut Butter
  • Reduced Fat Jif® Creamy
  • Reduced Fat Jif® Crunchy

Smucker’s® Jams, Jellies, Preserves and Fruit Spreads (at least 1/4 cup)

Jams
  • Smucker’s® Blackberry Jam
  • Smucker’s® Concord Grape Jam
  • Smucker’s® Seedless Blackberry Jam
  • Smucker's® Seedless Black Raspberry Jam
  • Smucker’s® Seedless Red Raspberry Jam
  • Smucker’s® Seedless Strawberry Jam
Jelly
  • Smucker’s® Concord Grape Jelly
  • Smucker’s® Strawberry Jelly
  • Smucker’s® Low Sugar Concord Grape Jelly
  • Smucker’s® Squeeze™ Grape Jelly
Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Apricot Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Blueberry Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Cherry Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Peach Preserves
  • Smucker's® Red Raspberry Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Strawberry Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Sweet Orange Marmalade
  • Smucker’s® Low Sugar Apricot Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Low Sugar Red Raspberry Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves
  • Smucker’s® Low Sugar Orange Marmalade
Fruit Spreads
  • Smucker’s® Squeeze™ Strawberry Fruit Spread
  • Smucker’s® Squeeze™ Reduced Sugar Strawberry Fruit Spread

Smucker’s® Ice Cream Toppings (at least 1/4 cup)

  • Smucker’s® Butterscotch Ice Cream Topping
  • Smucker’s® Caramel Ice Cream Topping
  • Smucker’s® Hot Fudge Ice Cream Topping
  • Smucker’s® Pineapple Ice Cream Topping
  • Smucker’s® Strawberry Ice Cream Topping
  • Smucker’s® Microwave Hot Fudge Topping
  • Smucker’s® Caramel Sundae Syrup™
  • Smucker’s® Chocolate Sundae Syrup™
  • Smucker’s® Chocolate Magic Shell®
  • Smucker’s® Chocolate Fudge Magic Shell®

Crisco® Cooking Oil (at least 1 tablespoon)

  • Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
  • Crisco® Pure Canola Oil
  • Crisco® Pure Corn Oil
  • Crisco® Natural Blend Oil
  • Crisco® 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Crisco® Light Olive Oil
  • Crisco® Pure Olive Oil

Eggland’s Best Eggs (at least 2 eggs)

  • Eggland’s Best large white eggs
  • Eggland’s Best large brown eggs

Land O Lakes® Stick Butter (at least 2 tablespoons)

  • LAND O LAKES® Salted Butter
  • LAND O LAKES® Unsalted Butter

Domino® or C&H® Sugar (at least 1/4 cup)

  • Domino® or C&H® Granulated Sugar
  • Domino® or C&H® Light Brown Sugar
  • Domino® or C&H® Dark Brown Sugar
  • Domino® or C&H® Confectioner Powdered Sugar

Fisher® Nut (at least 1/4 cup)

  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Pecan Halves
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Pecan Pieces
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Pecan Chips
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Pecans Chopped
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Pecans Fine Ground
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Walnuts
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Walnut Halves
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Walnut Halves and Pieces
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Walnut Chips
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Walnuts Chopped
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Walnuts Fine Ground
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Almonds Whole
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Almonds Blanched Slivered
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Almonds Sliced
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Almonds Blanched Sliced
  • Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® Almonds Fine Ground
  • Fisher® Mixed Nuts with Peanuts
  • Fisher® Deluxe Mixed Nuts
  • Fisher® Whole Cashews
  • Fisher® Cashews, Halves and Pieces
  • Fisher® Honey Roasted Peanuts
  • Fisher® Party Peanuts
  • Fisher® Spanish Peanuts
  • Fisher® Butter Toffee Peanuts
  • Fisher® Dry Roasted Peanuts
  • Fisher® Lightly Salted, Dry Roasted Peanuts
  • Fisher® Honey Roasted/Dry Roasted Peanuts

To enter, go to www.bakeoff.yahoo.com and submit your recipe using the online Entry Form. Fill in all information requested on the entry form completely and type your recipe, listing each recipe ingredient (including garnishes) with specific flavor, exact measurements or weights, equipment with exact dimensions or sizes and complete preparation instructions. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. (central daylight time) on April 22, 2007. Each entry should be submitted only once. Use of automated processes and devices to submit electronic entries is not permitted. Contest Sponsors are not responsible for any changes or effects caused to the entrant's computer system as a result of submitting electronic entries.

Only entries submitted via the website electronic form will be accepted. Entries submitted via any other method, including but not limited to U.S. Postal Service, facsimile or other express delivery services, will NOT be accepted. Contest Sponsors are not responsible for entries that cannot be processed due to phone, network, electronic or computer hardware or software failure, or technical failures of any kind.

General Mills reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the contest or website; violates the Official Rules; or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner at any time during the Contest, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. By submitting your recipe, you accept all contest rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which will be final. You also agree that your recipe(s) becomes the sole property of General Mills, and General Mills reserves the right to edit, adapt, copyright, publish, transfer and use any or all of them, without compensation.

How Will Recipes Be Judged?

All entries must meet the requirements of the Recipe Category entered. Recipes not meeting contest entry criteria will be disqualified. Entries must be newly created and the original recipe of the contestant. Initial judging will be done by an independent judging agency and home economists for appropriate use of two or more different eligible products in addition to the criteria outlined below for the finalist recipes:

  • Taste
  • Appearance
  • Creativity
  • Consumer Appeal

Judges will disqualify previously published recipes, such as but not limited to those in cookbooks, in magazines, from food companies, on major food or recipe websites and winners in cooking contests, unless the recipe features changes considered significant by the judges. Finalists will be required to certify, on information or belief, that their recipes are their original creation and have not been published or publicized and have not won a cooking contest. Judges reserve the right to assign entries to the Recipe Category they deem appropriate. Final judging will be done by a panel of food experts. Decision of the judges is final in all matters relating to this Contest.

What Happens if I Win?

If you are one of the 100 selected finalists, you will be notified on or about September 30, 2007. General Mills will also select ten alternates. Alternates will not be notified of their selection as alternates. Selected finalists will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility, a confidentiality agreement, and a liability release/assignment of rights and return within 48 hours of receipt of notification. General Mills will advise finalists of further Contest procedures and policies at this time, and all finalists agree to comply with such procedures. Finalists may be required to make themselves available for promotional appearances during the Contest Finals. The Grand Prize Winner will be required to travel to and attend additional promotional appearances at the direction of General Mills during the five days after the Contest Finals. General Mills may also request that the Grand Prize Winner make additional promotional appearances. Method of travel and accommodations for such appearances shall be chosen by General Mills and at its expense. Any finalist who does not comply with these requirements, cannot be easily located at the address or phone number provided, or who is unable to attend the Contest Finals or subsequent promotional appearances will not be eligible for any prize and will not be allowed to compete. If a finalist becomes unable to compete for any reason, General Mills will attempt to replace that finalist with an alternate, provided that the alternate can comply with the conditions stated above by December 31, 2007. If no alternate can comply by that date, the finalist(s) will not be replaced. As a finalist, you will be invited to Dallas, TX, to participate in the Contest Finals where you must prepare your recipe yourself, exactly as submitted (subject to any modifications as addressed below), for final judging between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on April 14th. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for substantiated disabilities at the sole discretion of General Mills. Except where prohibited by law, each finalist will be required to sign a release giving General Mills and its nominees full rights to use the finalist's name, likeness, image and voice for Bake-Off® Contest related advertising and publicity, including such usage on the Internet. General Mills will select and supply the ingredients and cooking equipment to be used during preliminary judging and at the Contest Finals. General Mills reserves the right to substitute comparable products at its discretion. Where possible, those items will be products of Sponsors. General Mills reserves the right to cancel this promotion at its sole discretion. Winners will be posted on the Internet at bakeoff.yahoo.com.

The 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest is sponsored by General Mills, One General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55426; General Electric Company, Appliance Park, Louisville, KY 40225; Eggland’s Best Inc., 2 Ridgedale Ave. Suite 201, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927; Land O’ Lakes, Inc., 4001 Lexington Ave. N., Arden Hills, MN 55126; John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., 1703 N. Randall Road, Elgin, IL 60123-7820; Domino Foods, Inc., 1 Federal Street, Yonkers, NY 10705; and The J.M. Smucker Company, One Strawberry Lane, Orrville, OH 44667.

Questions about the Bake-Off® Contest? Contact Pillsbury This link goes outside of Yahoo!

Bake-Off® is a registered trademark of General Mills © 2007