The recipe for success belongs to Beth Royals of Richmond , Virginia , who won this year 's 47th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest and a $ 1 million payday with her Peanutty Pie Crust Clusters on Wednesday . Four finalists competed for the grand prize , which was announced during ABC 's cooking-themed daytime series `` The Chew . '' Each year , amateur home bakers and cooks flock to the contest for the prize money and to show off their skills in the kitchen . `` It 's inspiring to see the creativity and originality from home cooks across the country , '' said Lynn Blanchard , the contest 's head judge and Better Homes and Gardens test kitchen director . `` We were truly impressed by the caliber of each dish submitted . Each category finalist showed how creative , simple and delicious home cooking can be . '' In November , 100 competitors won a trip to Nashville to participate in the Bake-Off in four recipe categories : Simply Sweet Treats , Savory Snacks and Sides , Amazing Doable Dinners and Weekend Breakfast Wows . The dishes were judged equally on taste , appearance , creativity and consumer appeal by a panel of food professionals , including `` The Chew '' co-host Carla Hall . The winners in each category were Courtney Sawyer of Bellingham , Washington , with Cuban-Style Sandwich Pockets for Doable Dinners ; Jody Walker of Madison , Mississippi , with Creamy Corn-Filled Sweet Peppers for Snacks and Sides ; Royals ' Peanutty Pie Crust Clusters for Simply Sweet Treats ; and Megan Beimer of Alexandria , Virginia , with Chocolate Doughnut Poppers for Breakfast Wows . The three runners-up were each awarded $ 10,000 and $ 3,000 in GE kitchen appliances . To qualify for the Doughboy 's top honor , a recipe must have no more than seven ingredients ( minus salt , black pepper , water , cooking spray or a dusting of flour to minimize sticking to a pan ) , take less than 30 minutes to prepare and contain at least two products from Pillsbury and/or its partner brands . The judges ' score accounted for 55 % of the total , with 45 % left to an online public vote -- which ended Tuesday . The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest started in 1949 and began awarding its signature $ 1 million dollar prize in 1996 . Here 's the winning recipe in case you want to try your hand at making it : . Peanutty Pie Crust Clusters . Ingredients . 1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust , softened as directed on box . 1 bag ( 12 oz ) white vanilla baking chips ( 2 cups ) 1 tablespoon Crisco Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening . 1 tablespoon Jif Creamy Peanut Butter . 1 cup salted cocktail peanuts . ⅔ cup toffee bits . Instructions . Heat oven to 450°F . Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper . Unroll pie crust on work surface . With pizza cutter or knife , cut into 16 rows by 16 rows to make small squares . Arrange squares in single layer on large ungreased cookie sheet . Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until light golden brown . Remove squares from pan to cooling rack . Cool completely , about 5 minutes . In large microwavable bowl , microwave baking chips , shortening and peanut butter uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds , stirring once , until chips can be stirred smooth . Add pie crust squares , peanuts and toffee bits ; stir gently until evenly coated . Immediately drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto lined cookie sheets . ( If mixture gets too thick , microwave on High 15 seconds ; stir . ) Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until set . Store covered .
The winner of the National Bake - Off Contest was announced on ` ` The View '' The recipe for Thin - Crust Clusters won the $ 1 million grand prize . The contest is now in its 47th year .