I’ll be the first to admit that, like most fans of Taylor Swift, I had no idea who Donna Kelce was until last year when her son and Kansas City Chiefs’ player, Travis Kelce, started dating the world-famous pop star. Beyond her single-degree of separation from Blondie, though, Mama Kelce is renowned in her own right for raising not one but two professional athletes (including retired Philadelphia Eagles’ Center Jason Kelce), and making some damn good food. In addition to Travis’ viral phone call asking for her gnocchi from the Chiefs’ sideline, Kelce also went viral for her food after Jason mentioned her famous “Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls” in a 2023 interview, and had fans salivating for the decades-old recipe that’s her riff off a Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest winner.
Now, just in time for the holiday season, The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest is back for the 52nd iteration, and this time, the Doughboy is enlisting help from Pillsbury fan, celebrity mom, and home baker Donna Kelce to celebrate family-favorite holiday dishes and the memories that make them special. Kelce, a lifelong baker and holiday host, knows a thing or two about whipping up tasty bites for the whole family to enjoy.
“There’s something so special about a recipe that stands the test of time and brings joy to the table every holiday season,” said Kelce, who has been baking her family’s favorite holiday dishes for decades. Her football-loving family can’t get through the holiday season without enjoying multiple batches of Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls, her famous crescent roll recipe that’s based on the Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs from 1969. Her sons, Jason and Travis, have said the cinnamon-sugar sprinkled crescent rolls are a must-have on the Kelce table.
Ahead of the holiday season and announcement of the annual Pillsbury Bake-Off winner, we caught up with Mama Kelce to chat about all things holiday hosting, game day traditions, and what it’s like to raise two professional athletes.
Spoon University: We know you love baking, especially during the holidays. What’s your favorite holiday tradition to celebrate with your family?
Donna Kelce: I just love gathering the family to bake together in the kitchen! Holidays are all about spending time with family, and I love sharing this time to make memories over food — creating our tried-and-true family recipes with Pillsbury and testing out new ones as well. Pillsbury fosters these special moments by making it easy to create delicious dishes that everyone loves, and the Pillsbury Bake-Off™ Contests always give me great ideas to try out at home and inspire me to create new recipes as well.
SU: How do you handle the stress of holiday planning and cooking? Any tips for staying organized?
DK: When it comes to holiday planning and cooking, I do things like prep in advance, but I also rely on the convenience of Pillsbury rolls, biscuits and cookie dough to help me with shortcuts in the kitchen that still allow me to feel good about delivering the taste and feeling of homemade dishes to my family. This allows me to make plenty of delicious food and focus on enjoying the time with family. My tip for staying organized is to plan ahead: make a list of what you need and schedule out your cooking days. It takes a little pressure off and makes the whole process more enjoyable!
SU: What’s your go-to comfort food to bake or cook, and why does it hold a special place in your heart? What’s your favorite holiday dish to prepare, and what makes it so special for your family?
DK: My favorite comfort food to bake is my chocolate chip cookie recipe because it brings me memories of spending time in the kitchen with my loved ones. Some Christmas cookies I make completely from scratch, but I also love using Pillsbury cookie dough to give me a head start so I can spend more time having fun in the kitchen with my family, especially as my granddaughters get older and can help me bake and decorate cookies.
My favorite holiday dish to make is my famous Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls made with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls — my sons can’t get enough of them and these are a staple at our holiday dinner table. These rolls are based on the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest winning recipe, Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs — an irresistible blend of cinnamon-sugar and a flaky crescent crust. And they’re not just for Thanksgiving, I like to make them ‘just because,’ too.
SU: What’s it like having two sons who have played in the NFL? How have you balanced your support for both of your sons, especially when they played against each other?
DK: Being a football mom is definitely crazy, especially when you have two sons involved! But as a mom, I am so glad to see them live out their dreams. When both Travis and Jason were playing professionally, game days were hectic, but so much fun, I learned to embrace the excitement of the rivalry while cheering for them both.
SU: Thanks to the Chiefs Instagram page, we know that Travis loves your macaroni (or gnocchi) and cheese post-game. What are Travis’ and Jason’s favorite meal or dish you make?
DK: Every year for the holidays they always ask for my Dinner Rolls. Jason is always the first to reach for savory dishes, so I’m also excited to make him this year’s Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest winning recipe, Mini Beef Wellingtons with Smoked Gouda Dipping Sauce to see if we can add a new favorite to the roster for him.
SU: Speaking of advice, do you have any tips for holiday hosting on a college budget?
DK: First, plan ahead. Make a list of what you need for food, decorations, and activities. This helps avoid last-minute splurges. Use what you have and get creative with what’s already in your pantry or fridge. Look for recipes that use what you already have so you don’t have to blow your budget at the grocery store.
Embrace simple meals and focus on easy-to-make desserts and apps that are sure to be a crowd favorite. Pillsbury makes it easy to cut down on baking time, so you can spend more time with friends and less time in the kitchen.
[Lastly,] DIY decorations! Host a decorating party and enlist your friends and roommates to help with making homemade garlands or string lights. Be sure to blast some fun holiday music while you work!
SU: Those are incredible tips, and great to keep in mind for the holidays! Thanks, Donna. Last but not least…Is there anything you’d like to add?
DK: Remember the holidays are about family, memories and reliving your favorite traditions — have a sweet one!