Cookies take the cake — Maryland cook wins $1 million at the Pillsbury Bake-Off

DALLAS — The heat was on in Dallas last week for Utahns Karry Edwards and DeAnn Hilterbrand.

They were among the 100 finalists at the Pillsbury Bake-Off dicing, mixing, baking and frying their original recipes with hopes of winning a million dollars.

But it was Carolyn Gurtz of Gaithersburg, Md., who ended up taking home the grand prize of $1 million for her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies. Gurtz wrapped peanut butter cookie dough around balls of a sweet peanut butter mixture.

All 100 finalists prepared original recipes for judges in minikitchens set up at the Dallas Fairmont Hotel ballroom. A panel of nine food experts judged the entries on taste, appearance, creativity and consumer appeal.

The awards were announced Tuesday morning by Sandra Lee, host of the Food Network's "Semi-Homemade Cooking." Although neither won a cash prize, both Edwards and Hilterbrand received a trip to Dallas and a GE enhanced-performance microwave oven.

It happened that Edwards' cooking station was next to Gurtz's during the five-hour Bake-Off, and Edwards had high praise for the million-dollar winner, who had entered the contest for the past 10 years but never made it to the finals.

"She is such a sweet person. She told me it was her lifelong dream to get to come here," said Edwards. "I tried her cookies, and I thought they were pretty good."

Edwards had also sampled the Salmon Pastries With Dill Pesto, which earned Edgar Rudger of St. Paul, Minn., a $5,000 award in the Entertaining Appetizers category.

"I thought for sure he was going to win the whole thing," Edwards said.

Edwards said the Bake-Off was a great experience. "They kept us so busy we didn't have time to be nervous. And on the cooking floor, it was like a piano recital. You're nervous beforehand, but once you start playing, it's fine," she said.

Hilterbrand also cooked next to a distinguished contestant, Roxanne Chan of California, a veteran of many national cook-offs. This was Chan's third and last chance at Pillsbury, since the rules limit each contestant and immediate family members to three times as a finalist.

"She's an institution," said Hilterbrand of Chan. "Really, these are the nicest people you could ever meet. Those who have been here for their second and third times are generous with their advice."