Enter the Copycat Favorites Recipe Contest by December 31 and you could win $500!

Copycat recipes—they allow for all the deliciousness of dining out but from the comfort of your own kitchen. We call that a win-win!

If you’ve mastered your favorite fast food restaurant’s waffle fries and dipping sauce, we wanna try! Your oh-so-tender take on that regional chain’s dinner rolls is seriously tempting us. And your homemade version of a beloved store-bought breakfast pastry sounds mighty yummy, too.

Send us your brilliant renditions of restaurant menu items with 12 ingredients or fewer.

Judging – The winner of the Contest will be determined by judging all qualifying entrants’ submissions based on the following criteria
Taste 25% – Does this recipe taste great with every bite? Does it have mass appeal? Would you want to make this recipe over and over again based on taste alone? Does it contain interesting, yet gratifying flavor combinations?
Visual Appeal 25% – Does this recipe present beautifully on a plate or in a baking dish? Do your eyes make you want to eat this before you even smell or taste it?
Creativity 25% – Is the recipe your original idea? Is the recipe reflective of unique twists to ingredient usage? Have you incorporated your personal touch to this recipe?
Crowd Appeal 25% – Does your recipe appeal to fellow home cooks everywhere? Does the recipe have easy-to-find everyday ingredients and is it easy to make? Does the recipe have a story that will inspire many others to make it?

All entries will be judged using the criteria stated above. In the event of a tie, the highest scoring entry in the Creativity category will be the winner. All judging will be accomplished by a panel of Taste of Home food experts. Decision of the judges is final and binding on all matters relating to this Contest.