Nearly everyone has a favorite Girl Scout cookie. Eight choices are offered each year. Eleven members from Whiteside County Girl Scout Troops used one or more cookie ingredients to create original desserts, in the third Annual Girl Scout Cookie Bake-Off. Judging began at 3:30 p.m., on Sunday, March 3, 2019, a week prior to Girl Scout Week, March 10 through 16.
Resthave Home and Rehabilitation, 408 Maple Avenue, Morrison, IL, was the host venue. Last year the event took place in Sterling, IL; in 2017, Whiteside County did not participate.
The Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Council event originated in 2016. “A Girl Scout had an idea to create a recipe with her cookies, and she brought the idea to the Council,” stated Member Support Specialist Michelle Wiederholtz. Wiederholtz was one of three judges; she judged five Bake-Offs last year, but this was her first in 2019. Morrison Chamber Coordinator Meridith Layne and Chris Lee, Legislative Aide for Representative Tony McCombie, also judged. Council Recruitment Specialist John Jones attended in case a replacement judge was needed.
Each girl was required to design and help make an original recipe and name. Suggested dessert types included cookie, cake, pie, bar/brownie, beverage, muffin/roll, pudding/custard, pastry, doughnut, cheesecake, candy, or “other.”
Entries were open to Girl Scouts in grades Kindergarten through 12. At this event grade levels ranged from Kindergarten-to-grade-five, with Daisy Girl Scouts, Brownie Girl Scouts, and Junior Girl Scouts from four troops in four towns.
In back left-to-right are Annabelle, Morrison troop #1504; Grace, Erie, IL, troop 83; Janea, Lydia, and Caylee, Sterling troop #5250. In front left-to-right are Hailey, troop 83; Emelia, Ava, Lexi, Isabella, and Isabelle, Sterling-Rock Falls, IL, troop 150.
Scoring ranged from one to five (top score) points in these categories: Originality; Use of Cookies; Presentation/Outside Appearance; Inside Appearance; Taste. Top score of 67 out of 75 points went to St. Patrick’s Day Pie created by Isabelle. Second place was Do-Si-Do Cheesecake, made by Lexi. Third place was Savannah Smiles Macaron (sandwich cookie) designed by Caylee. The girls are shown in order with Judges Layne, Wiederholtz, and Lee. Themed prizes included a mixing bowl, Trefoil cookie cutter, and utensils; Girl Scout Trefoil baking pan; Girl Scout cookie tote, respectively. All winners received a Trefoil cookie hang tag.
