A panel of judges has selected the final recipes that will be represented in the eighth National Festival of Breads, sponsored by King Arthur Baking Co. and Kansas Wheat. This year’s virtual event is scheduled for June 1.

QUICK AND EASY: Carol Adamek of Dallas (Texas) is a finalist in the 2023 Virtual National Festival of Breads with her Nutty Pumpkin Cranberry Dinner Rolls in the Quick and Easy category. This is a category for a yeast bread or roll recipe that uses time-saving steps, techniques and ingredients that can be made in four hours or less — including baking time — and a bread machine may be used.

“The National Festival of Breads celebrates the creativity of America’s home bakers,” says Cindy Falk, co-chairperson of the event and nutrition educator for Kansas Wheat. “Join us on June 1 from the comfort of your home as we share the stories behind our finalists’ winning recipes and announce who will be America’s next top bread baker.”

Four finalists have been named for the biennial National Festival of Breads, the nation's only national amateur bread-baking competition. In addition to the four finalists, the judges also selected 23 Honorable Mention award winners.

SAY CHEESE: Gloria Piantek of West Lafayette, Ind., is a finalist in the 2023 Virtual National Festival of Breads with her Cheese Lover’s Barbecue Bread Twists in the Say Cheese category. This category is for yeast breads or rolls that use cheese as an ingredient.

Finalists and award recipients represent states from coast to coast and include:

The biennial National Festival of Breads is open to amateur adult home bakers, ages 18 and older, who submit original yeast bread recipes that were developed by the entrant. Recipes were evaluated by a qualified panel of food experts, and selected recipes were test-baked in the Kansas Wheat Test Kitchen in Manhattan (Kan).

WHOLESOME AND HEALTHY: Susan Wiebe of Pittsburgh is a finalist in the 2023 Virtual National Festival of Breads with her Knotty 7 Grain Rolls in the Wholesome and Healthy category. This category is for bakers who have revamped an older recipe to use healthier ingredients, such as whole grains.

The four category winners will receive a $500 cash prize and a baking bundle worth $250 from sponsors. The overall Best of Breads Champion will be selected from the four category finalists and will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

A People’s Choice winner will be selected from votes collected online May 15 to 26. That winner will receive a baking bundle worth $100.

The National Festival of Breads is sponsored by Kansas Wheat, King Arthur Baking Co., Kansas Soybean Commission, Stafford County Flour Mills Co., HyVee, Texas Wheat, Manhattan (Kan.) Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Kansas Corn Commission.

Source: Kansas Wheat