Snow Bake-Off Baking Contest Warms the Hearts as Well as the Kitchen

The Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce added a new activity to Paradise’s Winter Carnival, a Snow Bake-Off Baking Contest and Bake Sale. Winter is an ideal time to heat up the oven and enjoy the fragrance of freshly baked breads, pies, and cookies. The 2016 Bake-Off surpassed all expectations in this first annual event. The baking contest offered two divisions: adult and youth (Aged 18 and under).

Dianne Clark, Snow Bake-Off Chairperson, wanted to provide families and schools an opportunity to utilize this event as a learning and encouragement activity for children as well. Within each division there were three categories: Breads, Pies, and Cookies. The greatest challenge was that no box mix was allowed. This baking had to be completed from scratch. Each entrant had to include their recipe willing to share with spectators.

In the adult division Breads, 1st place went to Penny Clark of Eckerman for her Easy Crusty Bread, 1st Place Pies went to Laurel Graham for her Apple Pie. In the adult division Cookies, Linda Culbert took the cake or rather the blue ribbon for her Molasses Crinkles. Sarah Wilde is pictured here with her ribbon winning Shortbread Cookies. In the junior division there were no bread entries. In junior division Pies, the blue ribbon went to Rachel Holden for her Snicker Doodle Reese Cream Cheese Pie and the Whitefish Township Community Schools Art Class earned the blue ribbon for their Smores Stuffed Cookies. Wyatt Moore is pictured here with his yellow ribbon and chocolate Brownies.

Discussions are already in place for the 2017 Snow Bake-Off; the last Saturday in January, 2017. Put your best foot forward and start practicing. Funds raised in the 2016 Bake Sale will be used to cover costs and prizes for 2017. Thinking in the long term, there is even talk of a 5th Anniversary Snow Bake-Off Cookbook. The Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Chili Cook-Off the last Saturday in February as a part of their Ice Festival activities. You can find details about the contest or festival at www.ParadiseMichigan.org.