Reporting by Leah

Cupcakes for breakfast, not a bad way to start the morning. Duncan Hines held its Duncan Hines Red Carpet Cupcake Challenge at the Cupcake Cafe in New York City on July 29, 2010 at 9am. Attendees were the first to taste the award-winning dessert that will be served to the stars at this year’s Emmy Awards Performers Nominee Reception. An elite judging panel selected the winner of the Duncan Hines Red Carpet Cupcakes Challenge from 10 finalists’ Red Carpet Cupcake entries after more the 200 entries made its way into this Challenge after an estimated 250,000 votes.

A distinguished panel of judges included: Tara Bench, Food and Entertaining Editor at Ladies Home Journal; Betsy Andrews, Senior Editor at Saveur Magazine; Kitty Morgan, Executive Editor at Better Homes and Garden; Ann Warren, owner of New Yorks own Cupcake Cafe; Alan Richardson, co-author of New York Times best-sellers, Hello, Cupcake and Whats New, Cupcake?; and Chef Joe DiPaolo, Duncan Hines Corporate Pastry Chef. The judges’ voting was based on taste, creativity, appearance of the cupcake and its ease to bake. The judges tasted each component, noted how they mixed together, the texture, and appearance.

As the official dessert sponsor of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Governors Ball, Duncan Hines invited consumers to enter their most award winning recipe and photo for a chance at the Grand Prize, which includes a trip for two to Los Angeles, a seat on the Red Carpet to see all the pre-Emmy excitement, and have their winning cupcake recipe served to the stars at the Performers Nominee Reception.

Here’s how the contest worked. In the past few weeks, creative bakers submitted their most decadent cupcakes for the chance of a lifetime. From over 200 entries, the Top 10 finalists were chosen to move on to the judging event. The Top 10 were selected by most accrued votes throughout the contest period.

The winner was announced at the Red Carpet Challenge and was Katie Rousonelos of Madison, WI. Katie was named Grand Champion in the first ever Duncan Hines Red Carpet Cupcake Challenge for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. Selected from hundreds of recipe entries, Katies Red Carpet Glamour earned the prestigious baking title. Duncan Hines announced that this year the brand will be the official dessert sponsor of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Awards Governors Ball.

About Duncan Hines

A household name for decades, Duncan Hines is one of Americas most recognizable brands. The brand was started by a man named Duncan Hines who was a traveling salesman, food critic and book author in the 1940s. Today, the Duncan Hines product line includes over 80 different mixes ranging from cakes and brownies to muffins and cookies as well as ready-to-spread frosting. With a relentless commitment to quality, every product and recipe is developed in celebration of Duncan Hines inventive spirit and passion for baking. For more information on Duncan Hines please visit www.duncanhines.com.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, founded in 1946 at the birth of the medium, is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunication arts, sciences and creative leadership. Known for recognizing outstanding programming through its Primetime Emmy Awards, the Television Academy also publishes emmy magazine. Its charitable Foundation operates the Archive of American Television, College Television Awards, acclaimed student internships and other educational outreach programs. For more information on the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, its many industry-related programs and services, including year-round events, please visit www.emmys.tv.