For the 52^nd annual edition, the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest celebrates family-favorite holiday dishes and the memories that make them special. This year, the brand enlisted the help of America’s favorite football mom, Donna Kelce, to co-host the contest with the theme “Holiday Family Favorites.”

Home bakers across the country shared their Pillsbury-based recipes, and this year’s $50,000 grand-prize winner is Julie McIntire from Independence, Missouri 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.

McIntire’s first-place winning recipe 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,” says 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.”

Runners-up in the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest were Cinnamon-Cardamom Crescent Twists from Kyla K. and Caramel Apple Tiramisu from Robbin W.

Bakers can find these winning recipes and even more ideas for appetizers, entrees and desserts on Pillsbury's website. Among these recipes is one of Donna 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.

“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,” says 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!”

“We believe baking should be an experience that creates lasting memories and with Pillsbury, the possibilities are truly endless,” says 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.”