The Chamber of Commerce’s Cookie Contest has a new champion this year, but Tammy Jobbins has retained her crown in the candy division.
Maria Chambers edged out Jobbins with her “Strawberry Almond Dreams” cookies, taking first place in the adult division. Jobbins came in second with her “Cherry Almond Thumbprints.”
Judges filled their paper plates with colorful fudges, drops, brittles and other sweets Dec. 13, sampling 17 entries to determine the winners. Judges Barb Blood, Christa Clayton and Ed Bryant tried seven adult cookie entries, three youth cookie entries, six adult candy entries and one child candy entry.
Blood said Chambers’ cookies won because they had “plenty of sugary, buttery stuff” in them.
In an interview Tuesday, Chambers revealed her secret ingredient: strawberry habanero jelly, gifted to her by friend and fellow chef Floy Manning. “I think the jelly had a real nice zing to it where you tasted it after you ate the cookie, plus the almonds had a little crunch,” Chambers said.
The shortbread cookie, which had almond extract in it, featured a dab of the strawberry habanero jelly, almond glaze and chopped almonds on top.
Though Jobbins didn’t get to keep her cookie title, she won the candy category once again with her “Sensational Truffles,” little dollops of chocolate festively decorated with white, green and red sprinkles.
“The texture was a good texture and it had the pretty sprinkles on it. It was Christmasy,” Blood said.
Sherry Nason’s “Coconut Peaks,” mountains of chocolate and coconut, took second place in the adult candy competition.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Natalie Jobbins took first place in the youth cookie competition with her “Cinnamon Polar Bears” cookies. She also took first place in the youth candy competition – there was only one entry – for her “Glittery Christmas Balls.”
Taylor Ganey snagged second place in the youth cookie competition with her “Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies.”
Last year, Tammy Jobbins took first and second place in the adult candy category; she also won first place in the adult cookie category.
Participation in the Cookie and Candy Contest was down from last year, from 26 entries to 17.