Presenting the Winners from Our Big-Batch Summer Contest

Grand Prize: Watermelon Cupcakes

My granddaughter and I bake together each week. She was inspired by her mommy’s flavored syrups, so we came up with these watermelon cupcakes. If you are not going to pipe the frosting, you can reduce the amount of frosting by half. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington

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1st Place: Tex-Mex Potato Salad

I created this Tex-Mex potato salad for one of my cooking classes, and it was a hit. It’s perfect for a cookout or potluck. The secret ingredient is pickled jalapenos—they add so much interest and flavor! Add a can of black beans for more protein. —Dianna Ackerley, Cibolo, Texas

2nd Place: Hummus Pasta Salad

This hummus pasta salad is a hearty side dish, but it could be a nice meatless main dish as well. Add the dressing while the pasta is still warm to allow the pasta to absorb some of the dressing. —Michelle Morrow, Newmarket, New Hampshire

3rd Place: Spicy Cowboy Beans

These spicy cowboy beans are a perfect contribution to a potluck buffet any time of year. Instead of hours on the stove, they cook quickly in the pressure cooker and there’s no need to pre-soak the beans. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Runner-Up: Coleslaw Waldorf Salad

Potlucks tend to have a lot of heavy dishes, so this bright, fresh Waldorf salad coleslaw recipe is a welcome addition. I came up with this recipe as a way to serve something crunchy and fruity with a touch of sweetness. Sometimes I add shredded coconut and use toasted pecans instead of walnuts. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Runner-Up: Easy Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

These easy chocolate pecan pie bars are made extra special with caramel sauce and chocolate whipped cream. For a decadent treat, serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, too. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin

Runner-Up: Mustard Barbecue Shaved Ham

This recipe makes enough ham sandwiches to feed a crowd and is so easy to put together. Have your butcher slice the ham very thin. I like to make this on the stovetop and serve it from my slow cooker. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota

Runner-Up: Lemony Layer Bars

One of my favorite cakes is a white chocolate cake with coconut lemon filling, dark chocolate frosting and almonds. This version of a seven-layer bar combines all those flavors into an easy-to-eat treat. Using soda cracker crumbs makes the bars a little different. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

Runner-Up: Nectarine Fruit Salad with Lime Spice Dressing

This fruit salad with lime dressing is extra special. It’s a crowd pleaser as a side dish or as a light and healthy way to end an outdoor meal with friends. Mix and match fruit with what’s in season. —Paula Hudson, Cary, North Carolina

Runner-Up: No-Bake Chocolate Rice Krispie Bars

These chocolate Rice Krispies treats are crowd pleasers! The secret to making them soft and chewy is bringing the sugar mixture just to a boil and then cooking for only one minute. If it boils too long, they tend to be firmer and can become crumbly. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

Runner-Up: Tomato Cobbler

I make this tomato cobbler recipe during the height of summer, when tomatoes are abundant and super flavorful. The topping is a cross between that of a crisp and a cobbler. It’s a delightful way to use up fresh garden produce. —Mohammad Abdullah, Fremont, California