With its rich, gooey center, it’s no surprise that the Tunnel of Fudge cake rose to prominence. Though it didn’t win first place at the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 1966—it came in second place—Ella Helfrich’s chocolaty creation took over the hearts and kitchens of bakers across the United States.
The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest, originally titled the Grand National Recipe and Baking Contest, started in 1949 as a way for the Pillsbury family to celebrate the company’s 80th birthday and to promote its brand of flour. Bakers from all over the nation submitted their recipes, but just 100 lucky bakers were selected for a chance to win $25,000—equivalent to more than $315,000 today! The bakers were flown to New York City to compete at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. This was not an easy feat, since in 1949, the hotel did not have the ability was an immense success, becoming an annual event, drawing in followers from around the country, each vying for their chance to win the cash prize or simply wanting to bake the winning recipe. At the 1966 Bake-Off®, one contestant would come in second place, but her recipe would forever live on in cookbooks and recipe cards by bakers everywhere.
