Home bakers and everyone who loves fresh-from-the-oven cookies! Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest invites you to the 2nd annual Christmas Cookie Challenge on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 1:30 p.m., in AEkeir Brew Pub, first floor, 111 Main St., Wiscasset Village.

About a dozen home bakers will be bringing in a platter of their very favorite holiday cookies to put on display. The movable tables in AEkeir Brew Pub will be arranged for showing off the cookie submissions, and the tap room will be decorated for the season. The scene will be set to welcome the panel of judges, all local, professional bakers.

The CCC organizers, Monique McRae and Ann Clifford, both of whom work at First National Bank in Wiscasset, know what to expect. In 2023, the bake-off venue “was buzzing when the judges arrived to sample and judge the cookies,” recollected Clifford. “Spectators were eagerly waiting for the judges to finish, especially the kids, so they could begin purchasing the cookies (by donation). The winning cookie was gone within minutes of the Challenge wrapping up.”

Last year’s judges “all took their judging very seriously,” said McRae. Clifford agreed. “The judges tried each cookie, deliberated a bit, and scored each cookie on their individual score sheets. Each judge took time to judge not only the cookie, but the display in which the cookie was presented. For the most part, the scores were consistent amongst all the judges.” In 2023, the judges were Anthony Weismann, a baker at Jodie’s Restaurant; Daphne Cromwell, a well-known local baker under the name Dezerts by Daphne; and Brad McCary, a baker at Treats. According to McRae, two of the judges will be returning with a third new judge in 2024. 

The suggestion of adding a Christmas Cookie Challenge to Marketfest weekend came up while brainstorming during a Marketfest planning meeting, but Clifford had a slightly deeper interest. “I’m addicted to the Food Network,” she said, “and watch all the baking competitions.” So as soon as the CCC was floated, she was on board. Noteworthy for Clifford was the variety and creativity, and the broad age range, of the bakers. In fact, it was a teenager, Emma Goodenow, who won the 2023 competition with her Peanut Butter Filled Sandwich Cookies.

McRae is looking forward to the excitement of watching the cookie entries come in and seeing the bakers’ creativity, watching how seriously the judges take their task, and being awed by the speed of cookie sales. “Also,” she said, “of knowing the cookie sale donations are going to a great cause, Feed our Scholars.” “Plus,” added Clifford, “the very friendly hosts for the event. No one wows a crowd better than us!”

FMI about the Marketfest schedule of events, www.WisassetHolidayMarketfest.com. Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest Lead Sponsor is Ames True Value. Major Sponsors are Carriage House Gardens, First Federal Savings, First National Bank, J. Edward Knight & Co., Jodie’s Café & Bakery, Midcoast Federal Credit Union, Red’s Eats, Rock Paper Scissors, Sherri Dunbar/Tim Dunham Realty, and Water St. Kitchen & Bar. Additional support is from AEkeir Brewing, Bradbury Art & Antiques, M.W. Sewall, Red Bull Antiques, Sprague’s Lobster, and Water Lily Flowers & Gifts. Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest is a program of Wiscasset Creative Alliance.