Just a few days remain to get your votes in and help decide which reader recipes will advance to the final round of the Tribune’s 39th annual Holiday Cookie Contest.
Readers can vote once a day until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
More than 30 cookie recipes are vying for a chance to be crowned this year’s winners, ranging from classic chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies to fruit balls and biscotti. The recipes play with a variety of flavors, including Dubai chocolate, Earl Grey tea and eggnog creme brulee. Many are recipes that come with fond memories of family and friends and have been tweaked to perfection over the years.
Once voting is closed, the 12 recipes with the most votes will be baked by Tribune staff for judging. The food team has the option to turn that into a baker’s dozen of finalists if we believe one recipe merits addition via the “Joe Gray Save,” named after a former dining editor.
Guest judges Justin Lerias of Del Sur, Reema Patel of Sarima Cafe and Asa Balanoff Naiditch of Blame Butter will decide our winning cookies. Judging will take place Oct. 29, and winners will be notified by Oct. 31.
Winners will be announced to the public on Dec. 3. First place wins $250 cash; second place, $150; third place, $50.
If you don’t see the voting form below, try refreshing the page or going to chicagotribune.secondstreetapp.com/Holiday-Cookie-Contest-2025.
For recipes for additional sweet treats that have won in previous years, check out “Holiday Cookies, Second Edition” at chicagotribune.com/holidaycookies.
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