Cookoff Champs
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How to run a Christmas cookie contest
A cookie contest works for a party, an office or a church hall. The trick is setting the rules early, and keeping the tasting short enough that people can still stand up.
The short version
- Set the rules. Decide how many cookies each baker brings, whether they must be homemade, and whether the recipe has to be a secret.
- Choose how to judge. Either guests vote, or a few judges score. Many contests do both: a judges' prize and a people's choice.
- Plate and number. Put a few of each cookie on a plain plate with a number. Hide the baker list.
- Score or vote. Judges score each plate before moving on. Guests mark their favourite on a ballot.
- Add it up and break ties. Total each row on the score sheet. If two cookies tie, use the tie-break you agreed on beforehand.
- Announce and share. Announce the winners, then let everyone eat what is left.
Rules worth setting early
- Quantity: a dozen is plenty, and enough for every judge to taste one.
- Homemade only, or bought dough decorated at home: decide which and say so on the invitation.
- Allergens: ask for a note on nuts, dairy and gluten, and put it on the plate.
- One entry per baker keeps the table to a size people can taste.
Categories
A cookie swap table has lots of kinds. Categories stop sugar cookies from competing against gingerbread.
- Best classic: sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, shortbread.
- Best decorated: icing and sprinkles.
- Most creative: the one that surprises.
- Best chocolate: because there will be several.
Blind judging and a score sheet
Judges should not know who baked what. Number the plates and keep the list with the organizer.
A simple score sheet works well. Score each cookie from 1 to 5 on taste, texture, looks and holiday spirit, then add the row. Taste can count double if you want flavour to matter most.
Ask judges to score each plate before talking about it. Once one person says "wow", everyone's score drifts up.
Breaking ties
Agree on the method before the scores come in.
- Highest taste score wins: the simplest tie-break and the one most people accept.
- A re-taste of the tied cookies by the judges, with a show of hands.
- Co-champions, with two prizes.
- Let the people's choice vote decide between the tied cookies.
Kids' entries
Cookie baking is the one contest where children can truly compete, and often win on looks.
- Give the kids their own category, with its own prize.
- Let them decorate: a plain cookie with icing and sprinkles is an entry.
- Make a children's panel of judges for the kids' category, if you have enough older children.
- Give every child entrant a ribbon or a sticker, win or not.
Questions people ask
How many cookies does each baker need to bring?
A dozen is enough for most contests. Judges need one each, and guests need a taste for the people's choice vote.
Should we have judges or let guests vote?
Both works well. A small group of judges with score sheets picks the best cookie, and a guests' vote picks the favourite.
What should the judges score?
Taste, texture, looks and holiday spirit, each from 1 to 5, is a simple set that is easy to explain. The printable score sheet uses it.
How do we keep it fair for allergies?
Ask bakers to label nuts, dairy and gluten, and put the label on the plate. Judges with allergies can skip a plate and score the rest.
More guides: How to run a Thanksgiving pie contest · How to judge a chili cookoff
Run it in the app
Cookoff Champs is free for family and friends. Set up your event, add each entry, print the QR poster and let guests vote on their phones, blind. When you are ready, the reveal shows third, second and then first place, one click at a time.