A major contender is bowing out of the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Cookie and Candy Contest this year, opening the field for challengers to fight for the crown.
Barb Blood, who has won both the adult cookie and candy contests over the course of her baking career, will be out of town visiting family.
“I’m going to be in Fairbanks with my grandkids,” Blood said.
Entries for the contest are due by 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the Haines Visitor Center on Second Avenue. There are adult cookie, adult candy, youth cookie and youth candy categories. Entrants must submit at least two dozen samples.
Following judging, the remaining samples are set out for the Visitor Center’s open house Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 3 p.m. The open house also features free pictures with Santa from 1 to 3 p.m.
Blood, who judged the competition last year, placed second in adult cookies in 2012 with her cranberry pecan drops. Though judges stated they were some of the best tasting cookies they had ever had, the pecan drops ultimately lost points for appearance.
Local cookie and candy connoisseur Tammy Jobbins is another perennial contender. Jobbins swept the competition in 2012, taking three of the top four prizes, and held on to the adult candy title in 2013 with her “Sensational Truffles.”
Interim tourism director Tammy Piper said she can’t remember how long the contest has been held, and neither could Visitor Center employee Linda Moyer.
“They’ve been doing it since I’ve lived here and I’ve been here over 14 years,” Moyer said.
For more information, call 766-2234.