The Herald-Mail announces Cookie Exchange winners

We couldn't do it without our judges

Thirteen judges helped The Herald-Mail select a winner and five runners-up in the 20th Cookie Contest. The nine included professional bakers and chefs, home cooks and dessert aficionados.


Thanks to:

•  Kris LeHardy, chef at Aqua 103 restaurant, north of Hagerstown
•  Rebecca Rush of Hagerstown, co-organizer of Our Taste of History, a Civil War food festival in Buckeystown, Md., in September
•  Kelly Wilhelm of Hagerstown, cookbook author and former restaurant reviewer
•  Jennifer Chapman Smith, collections and exhibitions manager at Washington County Museum of Fine Arts and a pastry chef
•  Steve Weiss, chef-instructor at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg, W.Va.
•  David Layton and Norma Kolson, home cooks and co-owners of DatAchieve in downtown Hagerstown
•  Julz Lawrence-Naylor and Rande Naylor, home cooks and residents of Hagerstown
•  Laura Radiker, home baker, and Bryan Atherton, dessert lover, both Hagerstown residents
•  Elois Jenkins, New Orleans native and owner of Gumbo Elois Catering in Hagerstown
•  Bob Mandley, project coordinator at Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission and a cookie lover

THE WINNER: German Chocolate Cake Sandwich Cookies


Cookies:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sweetened coconut

1 cup pecans, chopped

4 ounces German chocolate, chopped