Kayla Samoy

Kayla Samoy is the editor of the Dining section and works in Arts+Entertainment for the Chicago Tribune. She is a University of Arizona graduate and previously worked for the Associated Press and the Arizona Republic.

The 2024 Chicago Tribune cookie contest winner is Oh Gee! Cookies by Jeanne White, lower left; Second place is Erin’s Thumbprints by Erin Claussen, right; Third place is Bear Claw Snickerdoodles by Jesse Kimball, top. (Brian Cassella and Peter Tsai/Chicago Tribune. Food styling by Shannon Kinsella)

New takes on oatmeal chocolate chip, thumbprint and snickerdoodle cookies win 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest

December 6, 2024 at 6:24 a.m.

This year marks the 38th annual Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest, a holiday tradition that has seen hundreds of recipes submitted over the years and a variety of judges to help...

Oh Gee! Cookies by Jeanne White of Tinley Park won first place, top left, Bear Claw Snickerdoodle by Jesse Kimball of Chicago won third place, right, and Erin's Thumbprints by Erin Claussen won second place, bottom left, in the annual Chicago Tribune holiday cookie contest. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Tribune’s Holiday Cookie Contest 2024: Get the winning recipes

December 4, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The three winning cookie recipes for the 38th annual Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest offer their own takes on classic cookies: oatmeal chocolate chip, thumbprint and snickerdoodle.

Illuminated ornaments hang from a tree on the first night of ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo on Nov. 15, 2024, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Holiday lights around Chicago: Our top 12 displays for 2024, from Botanic Garden to ZooLights

November 21, 2024 at 5:14 p.m.

These annual favorites are lit now for the season or are opening soon. Illumination is back at the Morton Arboretum, as is Christmas Around the World at the Griffin MSI.

Chicago Tribune's Holiday Cookie Contest.

Voting is over! Here are the 13 finalists for the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest

October 28, 2024 at 4:05 p.m.

Voting has ended; here are the 12 recipes that received the most votes, plus this year's "Joe Gray Save."

Spooky tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago. (The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago)

30 restaurant and bar specials for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos

October 23, 2024 at 1:34 p.m.

Chicago restaurants and bars are ramping up for the holiday season, and have plenty of specials on tap.

Just a few days left to vote in the Tribune’s Holiday Cookie Contest

October 22, 2024 at 10:02 a.m.

This year, 35 recipes are fighting to secure enough votes to be in the top 12 and get one step closer to winning one of three cash prizes.

Support your favorite cookie recipe by voting in the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest

October 15, 2024 at 9:58 a.m.

Your recipes are in and now it's time to vote for which mouthwatering treats will make it to the final round of the Tribune's 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest.

There’s still time to enter the Tribune’s Holiday Cookie Contest

October 7, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The clock is ticking but there's still time to pull out your signature cookie recipe and enter the Tribune’s 38th annual Holiday Cookie Contest.

Ready, set, bake! It’s time to enter the Tribune’s 2024 Holiday Cookie Contest

October 2, 2024 at 4:47 p.m.

The Tribune's 38th annual Holiday Cookie Contest is now accepting submissions of your delicious and creative cookie recipes.

The cover of the Chicago Tribune's book "Holiday Cookies, Second Edition." (Chicago Tribune)

Now available: ‘Holiday Cookies, 2nd Edition,’ our updated collection of the best reader-submitted holiday cookie recipes

September 26, 2024 at 7:59 a.m.

An updated and expanded version of the Tribune's "Holiday Cookies" book is now available.

All Stories