Ballotpedia Holiday Cookie election, 2019

Ballotpedia held a general election for Official 2019 Holiday Cookie from December 9th to December 12th. The filing deadline for this election was December 6, 2019. The race was decided by ranked-choice vote counting.

In the ninth and final round of counting, Chocolate chip cookie defeated Sugar cookie.

Candidates and election results

Official Holiday Cookie, ninth round, 2019
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Chocolate chip cookie	51.62%	143
	Nonpartisan	Sugar cookie	48.38%	134
	Nonpartisan	Gingerbread cookie	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Snickerdoodle	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Chocolate peppermint bark cookie	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Peanut butter blossom	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Oatmeal raisin cookie	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Chocolate Crinkle	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Kolatki	0%	0
	Nonpartisan	Snowflake	0%	0
Total Votes				277
Source: Ballotpedia.org

Full ranked-choice voting results may be viewed by clicking [show] at the right.

Official Holiday Cookie, eighth round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 38% 122      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 31.78% 102      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 30.22% 97      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 0% 0      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 0% 0      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 0% 0      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 0% 0      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 0% 0      Nonpartisan Kolatki 0% 0      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 321 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, seventh round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 31.61% 110      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 27.3% 95      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 25.29% 88      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 15.8% 55      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 0% 0      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 0% 0      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 0% 0      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 0% 0      Nonpartisan Kolatki 0% 0      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 348 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, sixth round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 27.22% 98      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 25.28% 91      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 21.11% 76      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 13.33% 48      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 13.06% 47      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 0% 0      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 0% 0      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 0% 0      Nonpartisan Kolatki 0% 0      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 360 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, fifth round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 24.18% 89      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 22.28% 82      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 19.29% 71      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 12.23% 45      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 11.14% 41      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 10.87% 40      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 0% 0      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 0% 0      Nonpartisan Kolatki 0% 0      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 368 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, fourth round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 22.28% 84      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 19.36% 73      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 18.3% 69      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 11.67% 44      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 10.34% 39      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 9.55% 36      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 8.49% 32      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 0% 0      Nonpartisan Kolatki 0% 0      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 377 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, third round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 21.41% 82      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 17.49% 67      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 17.23% 66      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 10.97% 42      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 9.66% 37      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 8.88% 34      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 8.09% 31      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 6.27% 24      Nonpartisan Kolatki 0% 0      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 383 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, second round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 21.09% 81      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 17.19% 66      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 15.63% 60      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 10.68% 41      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 8.85% 34      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 8.33% 32      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 7.55% 29      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 6.25% 24      Nonpartisan Kolatki 4.43% 17      Nonpartisan Snowflake 0% 0 Total Votes 384 Source: Ballotpedia.org Official Holiday Cookie, first round, 2019 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Nonpartisan Sugar cookie 21.09% 81      Nonpartisan Chocolate chip cookie 16.93% 65      Nonpartisan Gingerbread cookie 15.1% 58      Nonpartisan Chocolate peppermint bark cookie 9.64% 37      Nonpartisan Peanut butter blossom 8.59% 33      Nonpartisan Snickerdoodle 8.33% 32      Nonpartisan Oatmeal raisin cookie 7.29% 28      Nonpartisan Chocolate Crinkle 4.69% 18      Nonpartisan Kolatki 4.43% 17      Nonpartisan Snowflake 3.91% 15 Total Votes 384 Source: Ballotpedia.org

Candidate profiles

The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Chocolate chip cookie

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Wakefield. The recipe first appeared in print in 1938. The cookie was originally created to accompany ice cream. Wakefield sold the recipe and naming rights to Toll House in 1939. There are several variations of the story behind how the cookie was created but according to a profile in The New Yorker, Wakefield intentionally developed the chocolate chip cookie herself, contrary to several creation myths stating that the cookie was created accidentally. Since it's creation the cookie has grown in popularity and according to The New Yorker has become an American staple, similar to the "the hot dog, the grilled-cheese sandwich, and the milkshake."

Key messages

• The classic

• How can voters go wrong with chocolate chip? Answer: They can't.

Chocolate Crinkle

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: Chocolate Crinkles are fudgy chocolate cookies covered in powdered sugar.

Key messages

• Chocolate Crinkles represent the snows of winter and are also really fun to make with kids.

Chocolate peppermint bark cookie

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: According to Epicurious, chocolate peppermint bark cookies contain a shortbread base with "dark chocolate, chopped peppermint candies, and a drizzle of white chocolate" topping.

Key messages

• I'm a playful minty treat for your holiday parties!

• As one of my supporters said, "What's not to love?"

Gingerbread cookie

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: The term gingerbread has been applied to desserts containing honey, treacle or molasses. According to PBS, gingerbread cookies, as we know them now, have been around since the 15th century. However, the recipe for the gingerbread used to build gingerbread houses can be traced back to Greece in 2400 BC.

Gingerbread cookies have a role in historical U.S. politics. PBS states that "The cookies were sometimes used to sway Virginia voters to favor one candidate over another." Additionally, Mary Ball Washington, the mother of the first president of the United States, served the Marquis de Lafayette gingerbread cookies, which led to her recipe being renamed Gingerbread Lafayette.

Key messages

• The only cookie tradition dating back to 2400 BC

• You want your elected cookie to have integrity. I have a proven record of structural integrity. Have you ever tried to build a house with a Peanut Butter Blossom?

• A quintessential classic, no matter where you are, the scent of these baking transports you back to your Grandmother’s kitchen.

Kolatki

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: The Kolatki is a Ukrainian Christmas cookie made with cream cheese, walnuts and dark rum.

Key messages

• According to a fan, "Kolotki are so good, they must be hidden, sometimes in car trunks, until Christmas Eve, when they are served on silver plates decorated with holly sprigs. The Kolatki often supplants gifts under the tree as the most anticipated event of Christmas. No fair stealing a plate and eating them secretly in a dark closet."

Oatmeal raisin cookie

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: Soft and chewy, the main ingredients of this cookie are butter, sugar, flour, rolled oats, and raisins.

Key messages

• I'm the only candidate in this race who can pass as a health food.

Peanut butter blossom

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: The peanut butter blossom cookie is a peanut butter cookie with a chocolate kiss on top. According to a Huffington Post piece on the history of this cookie, it came into existence on accident. "Ohio resident Freda Smith intended to make a batch of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and after mixing part of the dough, realized her pantry was without chocolate chips. So, she grabbed a bag of Hershey’s Kisses instead and baked them atop the nutty confection." In 1957, Smith submitted the cookie into the ninth annual Pillsbury Bake-off and placed second.

Key messages

• The 1999 Hall of Fame inductee cookie

• The cookie kids choose first! (And eat top-first.)

Snickerdoodle

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: Snickerdoodles are a cinnamon cookie with a characteristically cracked surface. Dutch-German immigrants are credited with bringing the cookie to the United States. The cookie became popular in the U.S. in 1891 when New York City cooking teacher Cornelia “Nellie” Campbell Bedford published her recipe in a local newspaper. According to Anne Byrn, author of American Cookie, this article led to the cookie being "discussed in newspaper columns daily for the next year." MyRecipes writes that since Bedford's publication, "the snickerdoodle has been a staple of American baking."

There is uncertainty over how the snickerdoodle got its name. The Joy of Cooking credits the German word schneckennudel, which is translated to mean snail noodles for the cookie's name. While an article in Grit says the name "comes from a New England tradition of fanciful, whimsical cookie names."

Key messages

• I'm the cracked top cinnamon cookie you grew up with!

• The official holiday cookie should be one you have fond memories of. Why not choose what MyRecipes calls, "the staple of American baking?"

• Like taking a long soak in the tub, only delicious!

Snowflake

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: Peppermint. Chocolate. Rolled in powdered sugar. When baked, this cookie resembles a snowflake.

Key messages

• The holiday season all baked into one delicious cookie.

• When you can combine chocolate and snow, everyone wins.

Sugar cookie

Incumbent: No

Political office: Ballotpedia's 2019 Holiday Cookie

Biography: As one might guess, sugar is a crucial ingredient in this simple recipe, joining flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and baking soda or baking powder. They can be molded or cut into a variety of festive shapes.

Key messages

• This is the only cookie that can easily be decorated at a kid's decorating party, which is an imperative activity for creating Christmas cheer.

Noteworthy endorsements

On December 9, 2019, Ballotpedia reached out to Cookie Monster to ask if he had endorsed anyone in the 2019 Official Holiday Cookie election. Ballotpedia predicts his endorsement may have a significant affect on election results based on his Twitter following of 438,000.

Polls

Most-clicked holiday cookies

General Mills released a report on the “most-clicked” holiday cookies across the U.S., in every state.

Most popular cookies in America

Nestle Toll House released the results of a nationwide consumer survey regarding the most popular cookies in each state. This poll was not holiday specific. Of the candidates, chocolate chip appeared as a state favorite in 20 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Debates and candidate forums

If you are aware of debates or candidate forums that should be included, please email us.

Potential impact on cookie sales

While no data is available on how this election may affect ingredient sales, the results could impact the seasonal packaged cookie market. According to Packaged Facts' U.S. Food Market Outlook 2019, retail dollar sales of all packaged cookies totaled $11 billion in 2018 and increased at a compound annual growth rate of 2% between 2013 and 2018, though there is no breakdown available by type of cookie.

“	Packaged Facts’ research reveals that taste is the biggest driver of choice, and consumers continue to seek out products that offer new exciting tastes and experiences. Some consumers, especially younger people, want even more indulgent, decadent, and unique choices. Darker chocolates, double and triple chocolate, stuffed cookies, richer cream fillings, and frostings are all part of the decadently delicious cookie landscape.	”
—Packaged Facts

External links

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Footnotes

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