24 Hometown Bakers Revealed for the "Pillsbury Bake-Off® Classic" on CBS

Baker and Author Amirah Kassem Joins the All-Star Cast as Sideline Reporter for the Thanksgiving Week Special Airing Nov. 23 

CBS and Pillsbury today unveiled the 24 exceptional home bakers from across the country selected to compete in the return of the PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF® CLASSIC, a beloved American tradition airing Monday, Nov. 23 (7:00-9:00 PM, CT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+ (Premium). Joining host Drew Barrymore and celebrity chef judges Christina Tosi and Dook Chase is celebrated baker and author Amirah Kassem, who will serve as the special’s roaming sideline reporter. Kassem will capture the energy of the competition, bringing viewers real-time reactions from the bakers, their families and the audience.

The 24 contestants are divided into four groups of six, with each group competing in its own head-to-head round themed around an iconic holiday staple: cookies, cakes, pies, or biscuits. The top baker from each round will advance to the “Best in Bake” finale, where they will create “Edible Festive Wreaths for the Holidays.” The winner will be crowned the 2026 PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF® CLASSIC Champion, taking home a $25,000 cash prize, a complete KitchenAid equipment package and the Pillsbury Golden Rolling Pin trophy.

These bakers join the ranks of many home bakers before them in the 53 previous PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF® competitions, dating back to 1949. The 2026 PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF® CLASSIC competitor roster by round includes:

Biscuit Round:

• Alakananda Krishnan (Woonsocket, R.I.)

• Daniel Will (Chicago, Ill.)

• Dillon Evans (Gainesville, Ga.)

• Emma Watkins (Arlington, Va.)

• Lauriel Pera (Phoenix, Ariz.)

• Rod Herrenbruck (St. Louis, Mo.)

Cake Round:

• Aida Ahmed (Las Vegas, Nev.)

• Amy Webb (Huntsville, Ala.)

• Biobele Braide (Boston, Mass.)

• Collin Helms (Warwick, R.I.)

• Kathy Cargill (Cary, N.C.)

• Legenia Bearden (Little Rock, Ark.)

Cookie Round:

• Brittney Williams (New Haven, Conn.)

• Kareem Youngblood (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

• Katie Siu (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

• Layla Rostami (Houston, Texas)

• Sam McCabe (New Orleans, La.)

• Scott Luft (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)

Pie Round:

• Amy David (Bradenton, Fla.)

• Dayvid Field (Delran, N.J.)

• Dionna Humphrey (Orlando, Fla.)

• “Mamaw” Gail Morris (Dorton, Ky.)

• Nivek Anderson-Brown (Lawrenceville, Va.)

• Travis Gilmore (Austin, Texas)