Chocolate Chip Mint wins Gazette cookie contest

CEDAR RAPIDS - A common cookie with an added twist tickled the judges' taste buds at The Gazette's Holiday Cookie Contest last week.

Rudolph's Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies submitted by Kym Wroble of North Liberty won first place.

“Adding mint to chocolate chip cookies pumps up the holiday quotient,” says judge Diana Nollen, Gazette arts and entertainment writer.

Wroble, 24, has been working with the basic cookie recipe for a while. The original recipe called for more butter, sugar and chocolate chips, the Hy-Vee dietitian says.

“They are indulgent; not a dietitian's dream,” she says.

To make the cookies more festive, she added mint extract and swapped plain chocolate chips for mint-flavored ones.

This was the first time she tried the hint of mint, and is pleased it paid off.

The Gazette will donate $50 to the charity of Wroble's choice, Feeding America, formerly known as Second Harvest.

The second-place winner was Chocolate-Covered Cherry Delights from Cindy Petersen of Cedar Rapids.

“The chocolate flavor exploded in my mouth and I went back for seconds,” says judge Dave Rasdal, Gazette columnist.

Jane Zeaske's Brown-Butter Pecan Shortbreads came in third place.

“Shortbreads are always a holiday tradition in Great Britain and have been part of our family celebrations as well,” says Zeaske, of Hiawatha.

Contest judges were Nollen; Rasdal; Cecelia Hanley, features content editor; Todd Dorman, columnist; and Angela Holmes, food and community writer.