September 29, 2014 at 2:39 p.m.
Local woman has a chance to win $1 million in Pillsbury Bake-Off
Local woman has a chance to win $1 million in Pillsbury Bake-Off
By Kayla Thomason-
The prize is a staggering $1 million in cash.
Barbara Estabrook has been named one of 100 finalists chosen after judges tasted tens of thousands of recipes.
"When your recipe gets chosen for the Pillsbury you know you've got a good recipe," Estabrook said.
Her cookie creation, Peanut and Pretzel-Peanut Butter Thumbprints, is entered in the Simply Sweet Treats category. She came up with the idea from looking at other cookies and bars.
Contestants were allowed to choose no more than seven ingredients from a list to create their recipes.
There are three sponsors who will give $5,000 to the contestant who uses their product in a unique way.
Estabrook is using Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk, Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter and Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract in her creamy peanut butter caramel.
"The caramel came out good, I really like that caramel," Estabrook said.
Estabrook said the caramel is easy to make and takes no more than 8 to 10 minutes to complete. It can also be made the night before.
Next chopped roasted peanuts and mini pretzel twists are engulfed by peanut butter cookie dough and rolled into 30 balls.
The cookies are baked in an oven for a short while and as soon as they come out indentations are made using the back of a teaspoon.
Once the cookies have cooled Estabrook pours the caramel into a bag and snips the tip off.
Smooth, creamy peanut butter caramel oozes out of the bag to fill the craters in the cookies.
The final touch to round off the creamy crunchy cookie is melted chocolate drizzled on top.
"I [poured melted chocolate in] a plastic bag with a tiny corner clipped off and then just drizzle it back and forth and [then you] just have to let it stand," Estabrook said.
These cookies don't take very long to make. The prep time is about 30 minutes and the final product will be ready to eat about 90 minutes later. If the caramel is prepared the night before the treat can be prepared in approximately an hour.
Estabrook said each cookie has 180 calories.
"[It has] less [calories] than a candy bar and it tastes better than a candy bar, let me tell you. I really like this cookie," she said.
Estabrook stores her cookies in the refrigerator but it isn't necessary, an air-tight container is fine.
Her family and friends really enjoy these cookies.
"They all love it, just love it," Estabrook said. "There hasn't been anyone that hasn't loved it when they tasted it."
This is Estabrook's third time competing in the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. She previously competed in 2000 and 2004.
Most years, there are approximately 25 contestants in each category. The awards presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 3.
Estabrook's recipe can be found at www.pillsbury.com/recipes/peanut-and-pretzel-peanut-butter-thumbprints/12db1cf1-4d69-4332-9c7d-d9d4db3cdf06.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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