Dr Pepper Celebrates 125th Anniversary With Cake Contest at the 2010 Texas State Fair

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper is challenging Texas bakers to a Dr Pepper-inspired cake competition in honor of the brand's 125th anniversary. State Fair legend Abel Gonzales, along with State Fair officials, will be on-hand to judge entries on imagination, creativity and use of Dr Pepper in the recipe. After the competition, the winning confection will be deep-fried by Gonzales. Call for entries will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 2010; judging will begin at 10:30 a.m.

"Dr Pepper takes the cake – and I'm going to fry it," said Gonzales. "I'm excited to celebrate this milestone with Dr Pepper and be an official judge of the competition. Be sure to prepare your taste buds because I'm whipping up something special with Dr Pepper just for the occasion."

Any entry, from a 10-tiered Dr Pepper can replica to Dr Pepper chocolate sheet cake, is welcome. The first place winner will receive $1,250 and a year's supply of Dr Pepper; second place wins $125 and a six-month supply of Dr Pepper; and third place wins five 12-packs of Dr Pepper.

"This year has been a continuous celebration for Dr Pepper and its fans," said Dave Fleming, director of marketing for Dr Pepper. "We're excited to honor the brand's Texas roots and offer our fans an opportunity to celebrate this milestone with us. And we can't wait to see how contestants incorporate the 23 satisfying flavors of Dr Pepper into their recipes."

Judging will be conducted with the following criteria: Taste (25 percent), Uniqueness and Creativity (25 percent), best use of Dr Pepper in recipe (25 percent) and incorporation of anniversary into overall theme (25%).

Contest Rules:

• Use any flavor of Dr Pepper in your cake recipe (The brand is available in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free and Cherry Varieties).
• One entry per person. Contestants must be 18 years old or older.
• Cake entries must be submitted with a typed recipe on 8 1/2 x 11 inch white sheet of paper with name, address, telephone number and email address on the back, plus the UPC code of the Dr Pepper product used.
• Upon submission, all recipes become property of the sponsor and the State Fair of Texas, which have the right to publish, promote or advertise the recipe and the contestants' names and photographs without compensation. Recipes cannot be used or reproduced for wholesale, retail or any other purpose.
• Judges are selected by the sponsor and the Fair and their decisions are final.
• The Fair and sponsors are not responsible for lost or disqualified entries.
• Taxes, if any, are the responsibility of the winner.
• Contest is void where prohibited or otherwise is regulated by law.
• A year's supply of Dr Pepper is defined as (2) 12 packs per month x 12 months = (24) 12 packs per year. A six-month supply of Dr Pepper is defined as (2) 12 packs per month X 6 months = (12) 12 packs.

About Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper, a brand of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS), is the oldest major soft drink in the United States.  Since 1885, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper have earned legions of fans that enjoy its unique, refreshing taste.  The brand is available in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free and Cherry varieties. DPS is a leading producer of flavored soft drinks, marketing Dr Pepper and 50-plus other beverage brands across North America and the Caribbean.  For more information on Dr Pepper, visit www.drpepper.com or www.drpeppersnapple.com.

SOURCE Dr Pepper