The Inimitable Experience of Attending the Pillsbury Bake-Off

You guys...not to show off, BUT...I got to go to the Pillsbury Bake-Off this year in Orlando.

What's the Pillsbury Bake-Off, you ask?

Well. It's a baking contest run by Pillsbury, celebrating home cooks, which has been run since 1949. Cooks can't be professionals, and must employ Pillsbury products in the finished products. When it first started, the prized was $50,000--nothing to sneeze at.

Today, it's even bigger: One. Million. Dollars. 

Along with my friend Rachel (you may know her as Coconut & Lime), I was invited to attend this awesome-fest in its home at the Peabody Hotel of Orlando. 

And now,  I will tell you about the experience of going to the Bake-off (you can also view a video of the experience as put out by Pillsbury, here).

First, a week before,  I received a packet in the mail. It included a program, a booklet with all of the recipes of the finalists, and general info.

On Saturday, March 23, I took a flight to Orlando. When I arrived, there was a fellow holding a sign that said "J. Oleson". I said "Hey, that's my name!" and he told me to get into his car. Sadly, he offered me no candy. But he did give me a ride to the hotel. And when I arrived, I stopped and got some ice cream before checking in. I also learned of a regional specialty: coconut patties!

When I got to the hotel, I ran into Brigitte Nguyen (oh, you know, I met her while I was on book tour for my amazing book, CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life) who complimented my Hello Kitty jeans and told me she was a judge. A JUDGE! Serious business.

I was there with a group of other "press" people, including magazine and newspaper writers, news people, writers for grocery store publications, and a sprinkling of bloggy types.

That night, we had a really great dinner at a place called Luma on Park. We ate a bunch of delicious savory stuff to warm up for the real highlight, rosemary panna cotta with strawberry sorbet and black pepper sable cookies for dessert. They paired it very nicely with a dessert wine called "Sweet Bliss", which made me smile thinking of my dessert wine tasting with Jameson Fink.

The next day, Sunday, we were delivered breakfast in bed. It included yogurt, topped with an edible wafer with the bake-off logo. Also: I don't want to alarm you, but at the Peabody Hotel, which has a storied past with ducks, they mold their butter to look like little ducks.

BUTTER DUCKS!

After cooing at the ducks for like 2 hours, I attended something called the Food News Seminar. This was an action-packed day of learning. The first part of the day I learned that family meals matter (I already knew this, because it's the best way to warm up an appetite for dessert), that flavor trends include healthy substitutes, international flavors.

I took very good notes, especially on the size of the silverware we used to sample the flavor trend tastes.

Then we had lunch, which included more butter ducks (!) and some panna cotta. There was other stuff too, but I think you know what I care about.

(hint: butter ducks)

Photo: Julie DeilyJeff, a newspaper writer in Tampa, really loved the butter ducks. Like, he ate an entire one loved them. Related: I like Jeff.

After lunch, we got to meet several of the higher ups at various Martha Stewart publications. They talked about Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. You know, internet stuff.

After that, we got treated to a delicious pitch for the new line of ranges by GE. They were smart, because instead of just telling us about them, they demonstrated them with a famous chef who then fed us, then they gave us his book. Now that's a smart way to make me like a stove. I want one--if you'd like, please buy me one. I'll totally owe you.

After that, we had a short break then met for more food--at a restaurant owned by Emeril Lagasse. Guess who was there too--Martha Stewart! That is kind of like having dinner with the Queen, made by the King. 

Now, since you couldn't be there, I'll show you a picture of what it was like when I met Martha Stewart. So glad someone caught this on camera, but it kind of made me regret eating all those butter ducks the day before.

But back the dinner! There was not one dessert, but three. Coconut Creme Brulee, Kahlua Chocolate Cake, and Fresh Apple Strudel. The whipped cream had little candied apple peel bits in it. Thank you, Martha, Emeril, and Pillsbury!

But you know what...after we got back, we discovered that they had another treat I hadn't yet seen at the hotel: duck cookies. They were butter cookies topped with preserves, then piped with more butter cookie dough, then dipped in chocolate. Score!

After this, we all waddled off to bed (not unlike a butter duck would). 

Photo: Julie DeilyThe following day--Monday--was the Bake-Off! OMG! We got to see 100 bakers at work, simultaneously creating their delicious treats. 

I got to meet all of the contestants whose recipes I'd been covering on this very site. They were all incredibly sweet. A few even recognized me! One, Joanne, even had a unicorn story for me. I like her.

A few of them hugged me, and then one guy even elbow-bumped me. I felt so cool. His name is Brett, and here were some of his thoughts on the contest and his entry:

Then, I saw the most beautiful sight I've ever seen (and I have seen butter ducks, people!): THE PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY. 

We absolutely had a moment. A beautiful moment. It's pictured at the top of this post.

After that, we got to taste some yummy stuff. At first, when we arrived on the floor, there had been these signs up:

...but then, miraculously, they changed to this:

After they were done baking, the entries were all lined up on a delectable table (it was protected by a velvet rope).

And then, we had a dinner and dance party at the hotel. The Pillsbury Doughboy was in attendance.

I also observed that they had a fancy opera cake at the Peabody, with chocolate ducks(!) on top, painted with edible silver paint. Fancy!

The next morning--Tuesday--we got to attend a live recording of the Martha Stewart Show. How cool is this: they actually built a set in the Peabody Hotel (home of the butter duck) just for the show. It was pretty good-looking.

And then Martha announced the winners! 

and guess who the grand prize went to...

it was something sweet...

PUMPKIN RAVIOLI WITH SALTED CARAMEL WHIPPED CREAM!

Oh, what a tasty treat these were. Made by one of the cutest contestants, everyone was very happy to see this deserving dish win the million dollar prize, and I personally felt glad that it went to a dessert. 

After that, we got to attend a little press conference and talk about how awesome the entries were, and to learn more about the winners.

I'm very happy to know that the winner's children will have a nice college nest egg now.

But I'm even happier that I have a million dollar recipe in my repertoire!

oh, and I made sure to get more ice cream before I left. You know, to detox after all those butter ducks (butter ducks!).

When I got home, my pug, Porkchop, was quite pleased to see me.

Thanks so much to Pillsbury for having me as a guest--it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Til the next Bake-Off, stay sweet!

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Strawberries and Cream Butter Cake

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Strawberries and cream, re-imagined gooey butter cake style!

That's the story behind this delicious Bake-Off entry, which starts with store-bought sugar cookie dough. "Sugar cookie dough is the start of an easy-to-make, yummy cream cake with strawberries. Really!" says Laurie Benda of Madison, WI.

Strawberries and Cream Butter Cake

16 servings

• 1roll Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 1/4 cups unsalted or Salted Butter, softened
• 3/4cup granulated sugar
• 3 ggs
• 3 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Unbleached Flour
• 1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/3 cup Smucker’s® Strawberry Preserves
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1lb fresh strawberries, sliced (2 1/2 cups)

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. Spray 13x9-inch pan with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Break up cookie dough in pan; press to cover bottom of pan.
2. In large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and 2 teaspoons of the vanilla until well blended. On low speed, alternately beat in about 1/3 of the flour and 1/2 of the condensed milk, ending with flour addition, until blended. Pour batter over dough in pan, spreading gently to cover.
3. Drop teaspoonfuls preserves onto batter; with knife, swirl preserves into batter.
4. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until edges are golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool until slightly warm, about 1 hour.
5. In small bowl, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form.
6. Serve warm cake with whipped cream and strawberries. Store covered.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Triple The Chocolate Bread Pudding

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Triple the Chocolate Bread Pudding? I take issue with this dish.

I think it should instead be called "Triple the AWESOME Bread Pudding". Why? Well, because it 1) contains cinnamon rolls. 2) contains a ton of chocolate. 3) is baked into bread pudding. What? Delicious!

As the recipe creator, Kristin Walker, of Kennett Square, PA, says: "This is not your grandmother's bread pudding. Pillsbury cinnamon rolls are soaked, topped, and baked in chocolate and finally served with a special whipped cream. Oh my!".

Triple the Chocolate Bread Pudding

12 Servings

• 1can Pillsbury® Grands!® refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing
• 1can (14 oz) Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/2cup Hershey's® semi-sweet chocolate baking chips
• 1/4cup Hershey’s® baking cocoa
• 1/2cup milk
• 2teaspoons instant coffee granules or crystals
• 2teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 3LAND O LAKES® Eggs
• 2LAND O LAKES® Egg Yolks
• 3/4cup Hershey's® Special Dark® syrup
• 1cup heavy whipping cream

1. Heat oven to 325°F. Generously spray 8-inch round cake pan with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Place rolls evenly in pan; reserve icing.
2. Bake 29 to 32 minutes or until golden brown. Remove rolls to cooling rack. Cool 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, cook condensed milk, chocolate chips and cocoa, stirring constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat. Beat in milk, coffee granules and vanilla with wire whisk. Add eggs and yolks; beat with wire whisk until well blended.
4. Generously spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. With serrated knife, cut cinnamon rolls into 1-inch pieces; arrange pieces evenly in bottom of baking dish. Pour chocolate-coffee mixture over pieces; turn pieces to coat evenly. Let stand 15 minutes. Drizzle chocolate syrup over top of pudding.
5. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center of pudding comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Add reserved icing; beat 15 seconds or until well blended. Serve whipped topping with warm bread pudding. Store covered in refrigerator.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Caramelized Peach Upside-Down Coffee Cake

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Pineapple upside-down cake? So five minutes ago. All the cool kids are eating peach upside down cake, all the better if it's caramelized.

This sweet treat was dreamed up by Brenda Watts of Gaffney, SC, who says "Bake up a new sweet peachy coffee cake delight using Pillsbury sugar cookie dough." If she bakes it, I will come!

 Caramelized Peach Upside Down Cake

8 servings

• 1 roll Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1/4 cup LAND O LAKES® Unsalted or Salted Butter
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced peeled peaches or frozen sliced peaches, thawed
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 LAND O LAKES® Eggs
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 2/3 cup Smucker's® Peach Preserves
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/3 cup Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Pecans

1. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Line 10-inch springform pan with foil. Lightly spray bottom and side of foil-lined pan with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. In 12-inch skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon until blended. Add sliced peaches; cook 4 to 6 minutes or until peaches are tender, stirring occasionally. Spoon and spread peach mixture over bottom of pan.
2. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Add baking powder and eggs. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until well blended. On low speed, beat in half-and-half an additional minute or until cookie dough mixture is smooth and creamy. Pour mixture evenly over peaches in pan.
3. Bake 35 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 2 minutes. Place heatproof serving plate upside down over pan; turn plate and pan over. Remove pan. Carefully remove foil. Cool 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, stir peach preserves and orange juice together until blended. Microwave peach mixture on High 30 to 60 seconds or until warm.
5. To serve, drizzle coffee cake with peach mixture and sprinkle with pecans.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Orange Cream-Macadamia Torte

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

You know what's awesome? Fusion.

And the awesomest kind of fusion? That of delicious desserts. For instance: Orange Cream-Macadamia Torte. It's like creamsicle meets pie, with a fancy nutty filling. 

And it's the reason why I am kind of in love with the inventor of this recipe, Brett Youmans of Reading, PA, who says, "Create a citrus twist for a crowd-sized dessert. Start with an easy sugar cookie crust and add a creamy filling."

OK, Brett. Here's how.

Orange Cream-Macadamia Torte

Serves 16

Torte

• 1 roll Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/4 cups flaked coconut, toasted*
• 1 1/4cups Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Macadamia Nuts, toasted**
• 3 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
• 1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 tablespoons butter

Icing

• 1 cup Hershey's® premier white baking chips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable Shortening

Garnish, if desired

• 1 large orange, cut into 16 thin slices

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Add 1/4 of the cream cheese and vanilla; beat with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add 1 cup of the coconut, 3/4 cup of the nuts, 1 tablespoon of the orange peel and 1 tablespoon of the lemon peel; beat until well blended. Spread evenly in bottom and up side of ungreased 10-inch nonstick tart pan with removable bottom.
2. Bake 18 to 23 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, in 2-quart heavy saucepan, add condensed milk, orange juice, butter, remaining cream cheese, orange peel and lemon peel. Cook over low heat, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring constantly with wire whisk, until mixture is bubbly and thickened. Remove from heat; spread over cooled crust. Refrigerate until cooled, about 1 hour.
4. In small microwavable bowl, combine icing ingredients, microwave on High 30 to 40 seconds, stirring every 10 seconds, until smooth. Drizzle over cooled torte to cover. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup coconut and 1/2 cup nuts, lightly pressing into icing. To serve, cut into 16 wedges; top each with orange slice. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Peanut Butter Boston Cream Cake

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Talk about a tasty prospect: Boston's classic dessert gets a peanut buttery upgrade. And is titled "cake" instead of "pie"...and then uses cookie dough. Confusing, but delicious!

This sweet treat was created by Mary Beth Mandola of Houston, TX, who says "Turn Pillsbury peanut butter cookie dough into a yummy cake. Really!".

Peanut Butter Boston Cream Cake

 12 servings

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup peanut Butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 roll Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
• 1/4 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup Hershey's® milk chocolate baking chips
• 2 tablespoons chopped Fisher® Lightly Salted, Dry Roasted Peanuts

1. To make filling, in medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup whipping cream and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Add 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla and peanut butter; beat on low speed just until blended, being careful not to overmix. Refrigerate.
2. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 2 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans with Crisco® No-Stick Butter Spray. In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed, about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Break up cookie dough into eggs; beat on low speed until creamy. Add remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat on low speed until blended.
3. In small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add flour mixture gradually to egg mixture, beating with electric mixer on medium speed, until blended. Add sour cream; beat on low speed until mixed. Divide batter evenly between pans.
4. Bake 18 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Carefully invert cake layers from pans onto cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, to make ganache, in small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream and chocolate chips on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Set aside.
6. To assemble cake, place 1 cake layer, bottom side up, on serving plate. Spread peanut butter filling on top to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with remaining cake layer, rounded side up. Spread ganache over cake, covering top and allowing ganache to run down side of cake. Sprinkle peanuts around top edge of cake. Refrigerate 1 hour. Store covered in refrigerator.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Lemon Crumb Tart

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Dessert for twelve? Check. This lemon crumb dessert is not only easy to make, but a lovely marriage of all things carbohydratey: crumb, crust--met with a deliciously tart lemon filling.

"Dessert for 12? Four ingredients and 15 minutes is all you need to make this dessert...wow!" says the inventor, Jackie Termont Ruther of Glen, Virginia.

Lemon Crumb Tart

12 servings

• 1 roll Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 cup Hershey’s® premier white baking chips
• 1 jar (10 oz) lemon curd

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. In large bowl, knead cookie dough and flour with hands until well blended. Stir in white chips. Reserve 1 cup of the mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture in 10- or 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom.
2. Bake 13 to 18 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool 5 minutes. In small microwavable bowl, microwave lemon curd on High 20 to 30 seconds or until softened; stir until smooth and of spreading consistency. Spread to within 1 inch of crust edge. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top of tart.
3. Bake an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. To serve, cut into 12 wedges. Store covered.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Cranberry-Orange Baklava Pinwheels

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Baklava is already pretty great, but when you make it easy and even more interesting, it's a true winner. It's one of the finalists in the Pillsbury Bake-Off; as the recipe creator, Carrie Hudkins, of Wichita Falls, TX, says, "Change up classic Greek baklava with an easy, flaky Pillsbury® pie crust version drizzled with honey."

Well, ok! Here's how you do it.

Cranberry-Orange Baklava Pinwheels

20 servings

• 1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
• 2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
• 1 1/4 cups sweetened dried cranberries (6 oz)
• 1 cup Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Pecans
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 1 LAND O LAKES® Egg
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/2 cup honey

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper or lightly spray with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Unroll pie crusts; press each into 10 1/2-inch square. Brush squares with melted butter.
2. In food processor, place cranberries, pecans, sugar, cinnamon and orange peel. Cover; process with on-and-off pulses until mixture is finely chopped. Spread half of mixture on each pie crust square.
3. Roll up each pie crust into a log; pinch edge tightly to seal. In small bowl, beat egg and water until blended. Brush egg mixture over each log. Using serrated knife, cut each log into 10 slices. Place slices, cut sides up, 1 inch apart on cookie sheet; replacing any filling. Reshape slices, if necessary.
4. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove pinwheels on parchment from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Spoon about 1 teaspoon honey on each slice. Serve warm or cool.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Pumpkin Ravioli with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

Ravioli is awesomer when it's filled with dessert. Case in point? Pumpkin Ravioli. With. Salted Caramel. Whipped Cream. It tastes even better without the periods inserted, but I needed to pause to take bites and swallow. You understand, right?

Or, as the invenotor Christina Verrelli of Devon, PA says, "Create a sweet new twist on pumpkin ravioli with flaky crescent dough, cream cheese and caramel sauce."

Pumpkin Ravioli with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream

Makes: 12 (2 ravioli each) servings

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 packages (3 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1 egg Yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla Extract

1/4 cup sugar

5 tablespoons All Purpose Flour

1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/3 cup chopped Pecans, finely chopped

2 cans Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/8 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons Hershey’s® caramel syrup

4 tablespoons McCormick Cinnamon Sugar

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Brush 2 large cookie sheets with 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and pumpkin with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until smooth. Add egg yolk, vanilla, sugar, 3 tablespoons of the flour and pumpkin pie spice; beat on low speed until blended. Reserve 4 teaspoons of the pecans; set aside. Stir remaining pecans into pumpkin mixture.
2. Lightly sprinkle work surface with 1 tablespoon of the flour. Unroll 1 can of dough on floured surface with 1 short side facing you. Press dough into 14x12-inch rectangle. With paring knife, lightly score the dough in half horizontally. Lightly score bottom half of dough into 12 squares (3x2 1/4-inch each). Spoon heaping tablespoon of the pumpkin filling onto center of each square. Gently lift and position unscored half of dough over filling. Starting at the top folded edge, press handle of wooden spoon firmly between mounds and along edges of pumpkin filling to seal. Using toothpick, poke small hole in top of each ravioli. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut between each ravioli; place 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon flour, dough sheet and filling. Brush ravioli with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter.
3. Bake 9 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat whipping cream and salt with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in 2 tablespoons of the caramel syrup until stiff peaks form. Transfer to serving bowl; cover and refrigerate.
5. Remove ravioli from oven. Sprinkle ravioli with 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar; turn. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar.
6. To serve, place 2 ravioli on each of 12 dessert plates. Drizzle each serving with scant teaspoon of the caramel syrup; sprinkle with reserved chopped pecans. With spoon, swirl remaining 1 tablespoon caramel syrup into bowl of whipped cream. Serve warm ravioli with whipped cream.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Countdown: Dark Cherry-Chocolate Breakfast Pastry

CakeSpy Note: I am beyond ecstatic to announce that I have been invited as a media guest to the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando, Florida! The event will take place in late March; til then, I am going to feature several of the sweets finalists here in anticipation of the big day!

I just want to tell you, I would wake up at 3 a.m. every day if you made me this.

Any takers?

"Wake up sleepyheads with a new breakfast pastry. Six quick ingredients turn Pillsbury crusty French loaf into a fresh fruit chocolate treat", describes this sweet treat the inventor, MaryAnne Salaway of Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania.

Dark Cherry Chocolate Breakfast Pastry

8 servings

• 1 can Pillsbury® refrigerated crusty French loaf
• 4 tablespoons Butter
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1 cup halved pitted dark sweet cherries*
• 1/4 cup Hershey’s mini chips semi-sweet chocolate baking chips
• 1/4 cup Smucker's Sweet Orange Marmalade

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 15x10-inch pan with sides with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Carefully unroll loaf of dough in pan; press dough to cover pan. In small microwavable bowl, microwave 2 tablespoons of the butter on High 15 seconds or until melted. Stir in orange peel. Brush butter mixture over dough.
2. Press 1/2 cup of cherries into half of dough, covering a 10x7 1/2-inch area. Sprinkle mini chips over cherries. Fold plain side of dough over cherries. Pinch edges of dough to seal. Cover top of folded dough with remaining cherries; press into dough.
3. In small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and marmalade on High 15 to 30 seconds or until butter is melted; stir to blend well. Carefully brush mixture over cherries and dough.
4. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cooling rack 15 minutes.
5. Cut into 8 servings. Serve warm.