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A Baking Legacy

From its 1949 debut to its return to CBS in 2026, explore four moments from the original baking competition that inspired generations of home bakers—and made the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest a part of American baking history.

See the HistorySee the Recipes
  • Black-and-white 1949 photograph shows smiling man holding a microphone between two women during a public event. Blue rounded border and “1949” label frame archival scene, highlighting a notable moment from that year.
    WHERE IT BEGAN

    The First Bake-Off®

    The first contest brought 100 finalists to New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria, with Eleanor Roosevelt attending.

  • Vintage 1969 food advertisement photograph featuring Pillsbury Doughboy demonstrating refrigerated dough preparation. Scene shows dough sheets, crescent rolls, mixing bowl, baking pan, and caption, “Just open the dough and let yourself go,” framed by navy-blue border and 1969 label.
    A PILLSBURY FIRST

    Crescents Make History

    Edna Walker’s winning Crescent Puffs were the first Bake-Off® recipe made with refrigerated dough.

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A Sweet Reunion

Long before she became a household name, Drew Barrymore made her first acting appearance alongside the Pillsbury Doughboy in a 1979 commercial. Watch below!

More than four decades later, she’s back in the Pillsbury family to host the 2026 Bake-Off® Classic—bringing warmth, humor, and a little history to the kitchen.

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