Presenting the Winners from Our Cakes & Cookies Contest

Grand Prize: Scotcharookies

I wanted a bakery-style cookie with the rich flavor and experience of a scotcharoo. I searched for recipes but came up empty, so I made my own, starring the classic combo of peanut butter, chocolate and Rice Krispies. —Ellen Mathewson, Bartonville, Illinois

Check out our contest page to learn more about our contests and submit your own recipes for consideration.

1st Place: Cranberry Orange Layer Cake with Rosemary

This special layer cake has a refreshing orange flavor with a hint of rosemary. Since it’s an oil-based cake, it is easy to make and also has a tender crumb. Garnish with sugared cranberries and rosemary for an elevated look. —Lindsay Graham, Conestoga, Pennsylvania

2nd Place: Classic Almond Ricotta Cake

After I started making homemade ricotta cheese, I was inspired to use it in desserts, not just savory dishes. This melt-in-your-mouth cake is full of almond flavor. It is elegant enough to serve as a dessert for guests, while simple enough for a sweet snack during the week. Add ingredients like lemon zest or fresh blueberries for a change of pace. —Carrie Dault, Baxter, Tennessee

3rd Place: Butterscotch Pecan Pound Cake

My father just loves nuts and anything butterscotch flavored, so I’m always on the lookout for recipes that combine these two favorites of his (and mine as well). I altered a cream cheese pound cake recipe to come up with this butterscotch pecan version, and I think it’s even tastier than the original. For more intense brown sugar fIavor, use dark instead of light brown sugar. I’ve also substituted walnuts for pecans with great results. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

Most Innovative: Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies

Cream cheese and red velvet cake go together like bread and butter, so I figured why not make a cheesecake-filled red velvet cookie? The key ingredient here is farmer cheese: a denser, drier cheese similar in texture to feta. It keeps the filling from being too soft and gives the sweet cookie a little bit of tang. —Kristyne Mcdougle Walter, Lorain, Ohio

Runner-Up: Almond Joy Cupcakes

I created these Almond Joy cupcakes for my daughter, Julianna, after our spring break trip to Fort Lauderdale. I wanted to thank her for the “joy” she brought me during our time together. She’s a huge help to me in the kitchen and a big inspiration in my life. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan

Runner-Up: Caramel Apple Toffee Cookies

I had bags of caramel bits and toffee bits in my pantry that I needed to use, and that’s how these cookies were born. The combination of chewy caramel and fresh apple is amazing. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Runner-Up: Cherry Cordial Cookies

This is hands-down my most-requested cookie recipe at holiday gatherings. These cookies are reminiscent of chocolate-covered cherries, so they are a decadent treat. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Runner-Up: Chocolate-Covered-Strawberry Shortbread

I wanted to create a cookie that embraced chocolate-covered strawberries, so I started riffing on shortbread. It took a few tries, but I nailed it with this version! Freeze-dried strawberries lend big berry flavor without making the cookies soggy. Be sure to use good-quality chocolate, too. —Jennifer Nystrom, Pooler, Georgia

Runner-Up: Copycat Samoa Cookies

We love Girl Scout cookies, especially Samoas, but you can only buy those once a year. I started tweaking a tried-and-true no-bake cookie recipe and wound up with this Samoa taste-alike. It’s a great recipe to make with kids! —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky

Runner-Up: Key Lime Pie Cookies

I love baking cookies for family and friends. I was getting bored making the same cookies over and over again, so I decided to come up with my own. My love of Key lime pie inspired these. —Suzy Wade, Deltona, Florida