Cookies Wars 2012! “And the Winner is…”
The time has come to announce the winners of Cookie Wars 2012!
But wait, wait, wait. Do not scroll down to the bottom yet!
I HAVE to recognize all of these awesome entries first. I was seriously blown away by all of the recipes submitted. When all was said and done there were 21 entries, making our judging very tough.
I really wish I could let all you all know how much it means to me that you put in your time and creativity to enter this contest, and you are all fabulous!
A few of the cookies lined up for tasting!
A few more of the cookies! I wish I would have taken pictures of everything but we got a little too caught up in the hard work of tasting…
I also need to give a big thanks to my husband! He was such a good sport going to 6 (actually maybe 7) grocery stores with me to get all of the ingredients and never complaining once. He is so supportive of me and my crazy blogging endeavors. I should also tell you all that he tasted each recipe and liked them all. THIS is a big complement to you as he is quite the picky eater!
Me (Baker Bettie) and my Husband (Mr. Baker Bettie) ready to host a cookie tasting! (please excuse our terrible kitchen lighting.)
For those of you who have not been following the series, participants were asked to develop a cookie recipe using two ingredients off this list:
- Avocado
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Basil
- Beer
- Coffee
- Cranberries
- Cream Cheese
- Dark Chocolate
- Dried Chilies
- Dr. Pepper
- Fennel Bulb
- Garlic
- Goat Cheese
- Grapefruit
- Greek Yogurt
- Hazelnut
- Honey
- Kumquat
- Maple Syrup
- Marshmallows
- Mint
- Passion Fruit
- Peach
- Poppy Seeds
- Rosemary
- Sour Cherries
- Sweet Potato
- Tomato
Entrants were then judged in the 3 categories of: Taste, Required Ingredient Use and Creativity, and Appearance with the most weight going to the taste category because cookies are meant to be devoured, right?!
And now onto those entries! Grab your cup of coffee or a beer (it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?) and enjoy the cookie magic.
(All entries are listed in order they were submitted)
Entry #1: Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies From: Sue @ The View from the Great Island
Key Ingredients: Coffee, Hazelnuts click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #2: Browned Butter Dark Chocolate and Marshmallow Cookies From: Kayle @ The Cooking Actress
Key Ingredients: Dark Chocolate, Marshmallows click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #3: Dark Chocolate Chunk Sandwich Cookies with a Beer Chocolate Filling From: Jill @ Reini Days
Key Ingredients: Dark Chocolate, Beer, Coffee click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #4: Zesty Shortbread Cookies (Basil and Lemon Shortbread with a Sour Cherry Glaze and Candied Basil) From: Eliza Jane at Pastries and Pairs
Key Ingredients: Goat Cheese, Basil, Sour Cherries click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #5: Hazelnut Shortbread topped with Honey Vanilla Bean Mascarpone and Blackberries From: Shelly @ Vegetarian Ventures
Key Ingredients: Hazelnut, Honey click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #6: Strawberry and Avocado Poppy Seed Softies From: Charity @ Sweets By Charity
Key Ingredients: Poppy Seeds, Avocado click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #7: Peanut Butter, Honey and Banana Sandwich Cookies From: Charity @ Sweets By Charity
Key Ingredients: Honey, Cream Cheese click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #8: Chocolate Oatmeal Surprise Cookies From: Charity @ Sweets By Charity
Key Ingredients: Hazelnuts, Dark Chocolate click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #9: Cheater’s Cranberry Chocolate Cookies (vegan, raw, refined sugar/soy/grain/corn free) From: Lou @ Fridge Scrapings
Key Ingredients: Dark Chocolate, Cranberries click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #10: Passion Fruit Goat Cheese Fresh Mint Cookies with Passion Fruit Glaze From: Assia @ Assia’s Kaleidoscope
Key Ingredients: Passion Fruit, Goat Cheese, Mint click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #11: Not-So-Thin Mints From: Katie @ Veggie and The Beast
Key Ingredients: Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Mint click here for the printable recipe…
Entry # 12: Kumquat and Coconut Cookies (grain free and sugar free) From: Veronica @ Veronica’s Cornucopia
Key Ingredients: Kumquat, Honey, Greek Yogurt click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #13: Gluten Free Kumquat Ginger Snaps From: Abby @ Seaweed and Sassafras
Key Ingredients: Kumquat, Honey click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #14: Coffeehouse Cookies From: Cait @ Cait’s Food Therapy
Key Ingredients: Hazelnut, Dark Chocolate, Coffee click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #15: Chili Dipped Coffee Biscuits From: Jaime @ Jaim’s Kitchen
Key Ingredients: Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Dried Chili click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #16: Almond Poppy Seed Cookies with Lemon and Honey Butter From: Heather @ Free Range Kitchen
Key Ingredients: Poppy Seed, Honey click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #17: Salted Hazelnut and Coffee Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies From: Heather @ Free Range Kitchen
Key Ingredients: Hazelnut, Coffee, Marshmallow click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #18: Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookies From: Laura @ Ring Finger Tanline
Key Ingredients: Cream Cheese, Honey, Dark Chocolate (Basil or Mint as garnish) click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #19: Coffee-Infused Shortbread “French Fry” Cookies (egg, dairy, and gluten free) From: Cara @ Fork and Beans
Key Ingredients: Coffee, Cream Cheese click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #20: Chocolate Hazelnut Cranberry Cookies From: Kristin @ Softer City
Key Ingredients: Cranberry, Hazelnut click here for the printable recipe…
Entry #21: Fruit and Nut Chocolate Cookie Sandwich From: Amrita @ Beetle’s Kitchen Escapades
Key Ingredients: Dark Chocolate, Greek Yogurt, Cranberries click here for the printable recipe…
Whew!
21 Cookies Recipes! Can you say “sugar rush?”
So… does anyone want to come over and eat the rest of these cookies?
I guess you want to know who won…
Let me start with a few recognitions…
“The Most Beautiful Cookie” goes to:
Entry #10: Passion Fruit Goat Cheese Fresh Mint Cookies with Passion Fruit Glaze From: Assia @ Assia’s Kaleidoscope
I mean, seriously. Look. At. These. So amazingly gorgeous! And the flavors are amazing too! I have to say these were almost in the top 3. Like, I mean just a few points behind. Assia, you made some seriously beautiful and delicious cookies girl! Thanks for entering and sharing with us!
“The Most Delicious Use of Ingredients” goes to:
Entry #14: Coffeehouse Cookies From: Cait @ Cait’s Food Therapy
These were a total shocker! Yeah sure they look good. Like a deliciously chewy chocolate chip cookie, and who doesn’t like that. But wait! Once you bite into this incredible cookie you know instantly that is not what it is. It is filled with crunchy dark chocolate covered espresso beans, and ground hazelnuts and french vanilla extract. You are instantly transported to your favorite coffee house. I loved watching the looks on all of the judges faces as they took bites of these. First a look of shock when they realize that chocolate chip is in fact an espresso bean, and then pure enjoyment. Thanks for developing this Cait!
Now for the recipes with the top 3 combined scores in taste, appearance, and creative use of ingredients…
3rd Place goes to…
Entry #21: Fruit and Nut Chocolate Cookie Sandwich From: Amrita @ Beetle’s Kitchen Escapades
Those dark chocolate cookies are perfectly crunchy and taste like the most delicious Oreo you have ever eaten. Paired with the tart cranberry and greek yogurt filling and a hint of saltiness from the nuts, this is the perfect sandwich cookie. So glad you decided to join the contest Amrita!
2nd Place goes to…
Entry #7: Peanut Butter, Honey and Banana Sandwich Cookies From: Charity @ Sweets By Charity
Charity says this recipe was inspired by her favorite childhood sandwich: Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey. And that is exactly what it tastes like. This incredible pillowy soft cookie is the perfect sandwich for the sweet and salty cream cheese and peanut butter filling. Just perfect.
AND THE WINNER OF COOKIE WARS 2012 IS….
Entry #5: Hazelnut Shortbread topped with Honey Vanilla Bean Mascarpone and Blackberries From: Shelly @ Vegetarian Ventures
There she is. Isn’t she pretty?! Let me tell you, this cookie is amazing! Shelly kept it fairly simple because the flavors she choose didn’t need a whole lot of frills. First she choose hazelnuts and paired them with a brown sugar short bread which keeps the cookie more moist than a traditional short bread. The cookie by itself is good, but then she pulled out the frosting with her second required ingredient, honey. Mascarpone + honey + vanilla bean = one of the best things I have ever eaten… Ever. All of the judges agreed this cookie left us wanting more and more. Shelly, your cookies are superb! Thank you for sharing and congratulations for winning Cookie Wars 2012!!!
To all of the participants, Thank you so so very much for entering the first blogging contest I have hosted. It was so much fun to see all of your creativity!
Please stay tuned this week for an announcement of my new blogging series!
30 Comments on “Cookies Wars 2012! “And the Winner is…””
awesome collection! I popped in the first time too late but I’ll be on the lookout for the next fun!
Yeah you should! I’m thinking this cookie contest needs to be annual. But I’ll probably do at least one other contest between now and then!
love it!!! so, cool you did this. wish i could have been a taste tester!
You would have been in heaven! There was not a single bad recipe in the whole bunch!
Great variety! I’m a cookie monster myself, and will definitely be trying some of these. Thanks for sharing.
There are some really good ones in here! I have a few to add to my favorites now thanks to all these awesome entries!
Baker Bettie,
Thank you for coming up with such a FUN contest. From the brainstorming, baking, (eating) and reading this post and seeing all of the photos, it has been such a blast! I can’t believe how much effort went into judging for this contest, I give you and your husband some serious credit! Plus, I am blown away by these gorgeous entries! Amazing guys! I can’t wait to bake the winning recipe it looks incredible. Now when are you doing this again? 😉
<3 Cait.
Thank YOU for entering the contest! We had so much fun taste testing all of the recipes. I’m thinking this particular contest needs to be an anual thing. So much fun!
What a wonderful task you have undertaken! Good job. Thanks for sharing these amazing and creative cookies. Congrats to all 21 entrants.
Harini
Wow what an amazing contest, my head is now filled with so many wonderful combination si can’t wait to try out!
I love the notion of the coffee house cookies, they sound so evocative and i think that’s the beauty of food, it should be able to transport you to places and memories and flood all your senses.
Thanks for all the dedication in setting this competition up and for all you do on the blog,i learn so much from you everytime i come!
Congrats to the winner and all who took part, woner what my netx cookie will look like…
x
Yay!!! I am soooo glad you guys loved my cookies! This contest was super fun to be a part of and I absolutely love looking at everyone’s creations. So many great ideas!
Congrats to all the winners!!! I’m so happy to have been a part of this 🙂
Congratulations winners!! Thanks for organising this contest Bettie, been such fun and great way to learn so many creative cookie recipes 🙂
AHHHH. I’m sorry that I didn’t enter – I meant to. I’ve been rushed off my feet even dealing with my own blog – somehow I have to write two guest blogs this week too! Anyway, it went fabulously – there were some incredible entries. Fantastic.
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Oh wow! Look at all those gorgeous entries! I would’ve loved to be on the taste-testing panel! 😉 Woohoo! I can’t believe I came in at 3rd!! Thank you so much, Kristin, for organizing this…it was tons of fun, though nerve-wracking during the cookie-creation process LOL Can’t wait to try out the other cookies and also see what you’ve got for us next 😀
Congratulations to the winners and all the contestants as they all look very delicious. I am glad that I was not a judge as that would have been a very difficult decision to make. This was a very fun post. Take care, BAM
This was such a fun contest! Thank you so much for hosting. All the cookies look so great, can’t wait to try them.
What a giant venture that looks like so so much fun! Thanks for sharing Bettie – I wish I had entered!
Wow! I can see why you had a tough time choosing! They all were excellent cookies!! Congratulations to all!
Lots of fun here, Bettie! Love all of the finalists and it was exciting to see who’d won.. Every single cookie was a winner, I think!!
I am so impressed that you made 21 batches of cookies to taste test them all! How long did that take? Love that your hubby is so supportive. Mine is too but complaining is kinda his thing-lol. Great entries-congrats to the winners!
Thank you for the honour, Kristin! I’m thrilled to bits! How fun that you made and tasted all these cookies! I’d have given a lot to be a part of this tasting jury: all of these cookies look fantastic and I’m sure they taste delicious too! Congratulations to the other winners! Best, Assia
Looks like you had so much fun cookie tasting. Wow! You must have been so busy…
What a great contest! They all look delicious, can’t wait to try some of them haha!
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I adore passion fruit and the Passion Fruit cookies look amazing, then again so do all of the cookies! It must have been tough judging so many delicious entries!
It is awesome to see so many creative recipes for cookies, deciding on a winner must have been difficult!
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