Presenting the Winners from Our Recipes Across America Contest

Grand Prize: Cuts-Like-Butter BBQ Brisket

This brisket cuts like butter—no joke! With just a few ingredients and steps, the recipe is nearly impossible to mess up. The thin, fall-apart-tender slices are delicious on their own but also make everything from tacos to Frito pies taste better. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas

Check out our contest page to learn more about our contests and submit your own recipes for consideration.

1st Place: Block Island Littlenecks with Chorizo

This clam stew highlights the fresh, sweet and salty clam flavor, with the chorizo adding a little kick. Fresh Swiss chard greens from our garden, corn and cannellini beans round out the flavor profile. The best part, though, is dipping crusty bread into the delicious broth! —Pamela Gelsomini, Wrentham, Massachusetts

2nd Place: Huckleberry Bear Claws

Beware: Bear claws may lead to bear hugs! My family can’t get enough of these quick, easy pastries made from homegrown huckleberries, especially when the treats are paired with a cup of coffee or tea. Use blueberries if you can’t find huckleberries. —Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana

3rd Place: Southern Bruleed Peach Toasts

These bruleed peach toasts are my creative homage to the beloved southern fresh peach cobbler. It is an upscale presentation with delicious peaches and very easy to prepare. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia

Most Innovative: Michigan Cherry Japanese-Style Cheesecake

Michigan is known for its amazing cherries, especially the tart ones, so we have plenty of opportunities to find new ways to try and use them. They became my muse for this recipe—a twist on the traditional American cheesecake recipe. I decided to make use of the extraordinary texture and unique taste found in a Japanese-style cheesecake, which is light and melts in your mouth. —Laura Kurella, Wellston, Michigan

Runner-Up: Buckeye Doughnut Holes

Ohioans love buckeye nuts so much, they created a quintessential lookalike treat that’s in every candy shop and on every dessert spread! I put my own twist on the confection by turning it into a doughnut hole. The fried balls are filled with peanut butter cream and coated in chocolate. —Rebecca Woollands, North Ridgeville, Ohio

Runner-Up: Rib Shack Copycat Mashed Potatoes

Idaho is well known for being the potato state–even our license plates say “Famous Potatoes”! This is my version of the scrumptious smashers that are served at a local barbecue joint. Everyone who tries them there begs for the recipe, which the place won’t give out, so I made my own copycat version. These can be made ahead and kept warm in the slow cooker. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Runner-Up: Rock N Rye Pork Roast Sandwiches

Detroit’s Faygo Rock & Rye soda (or, as we call it, pop) gives these pork sandwiches a signature flavor with notes of vanilla and cherry. The sassy, saucy stacks are always a hit, and Faygo brings back fond memories of growing up in Michigan. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan

Runner-Up: Shrimp Puff Pastry Triangles

Shrimp de Jonghe was invented in Chicago. It is usually baked and served in a casserole dish, but my shrimp puff pastry version is a handheld. The shrimp filling is perfect with crunchy pastry dough. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

Runner-Up: Slow-Cooker Poblano Pork Loin

We love seasonal poblano peppers, so this easy dish with many southwestern seasonings is a family favorite. It can be served in a variety of ways, too. It’s great with rice and beans, or in a taco with hot sauce. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Runner-Up: Smoked Bluefish Spread

Growing up summers on Block Island, Rhode Island, we would surf-cast off the shores for bluefish. Its strong flavor makes it a great candidate for smoking. Use smoked filets to make a creamy spread to serve with crackers. This is a snack that brings back memories of warm summer afternoons and cool ocean breezes. —Pamela Gelsomini, Wrentham, Massachusetts

Runner-Up: Southern-Style Meat Loaf

When my husband and I moved to the South, we discovered our love for pimiento cheese! Its addition lends a southern flare to this tried-and-true meat loaf recipe. —Patricia Getson, Wilmington, North Carolina