Pumpkin spice is popping up on menus across the city, the leaves are on the cusp of turning colors and the weather is (mercifully) cooling down, so that can only mean one thing — we’re launching the Tribune’s 38th annual Holiday Cookie Contest and are now accepting submissions of your delicious and creative cookie recipes. This year, we’ve once again asked guest judges from across the city to help select our winning recipes. Quinton McNair of StruggleBeardBakery , Dina Cimarusti of Sugar Moon and Emily Nejad of Bon Vivant will sample our finalist cookies and pick our top three winners based on flavor, texture, appearance and originality.
Dina Cimarusti on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Sugar Moon Bakery in Logan Square. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Quinton McNair of Strugglebeard Bakery.
(Amber Marie Green Photography) Emily Nejad of Bon Vivant Cakes. (Meagan Shuptar) New this year, the Christkindlmarket’s namesake, the Christkind, will make a special appearance as an honorary guest judge. The Christkind makes weekly appearances at both Christkindlmarket locations and is the gift-giver to children in German-speaking countries, much like Santa in the U.
S. Recipe submissions close Oct. 13 at 11:59 p.
m. Voting will start Oct. 14, and readers will be able to vote daily for the recipes they want to see make it to our taste-testing round.
After voting ends, the 12 recipes with the most votes (with an option to turn it into a baker’s dozen of finalists, if our team find.