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Ballotpedia Holiday Cookie election, 2023
We are stocking up on flour, breaking out the sprinkles, and dusting off the cookie cutters. ‘Tis the season for holiday cookies! Do you have a favorite cookie, maybe one to pair with a cup of cocoa? We will refrain from endorsements because it is once again time to elect this year’s official holiday cookie!
Due to increased cookie candidates, Ballotpedia decided to open this year’s election up to a primary and a general in order to narrow the field.
General election
The three top primary vote-getters advanced to the general election as your nom-nominees. This year's general election was a battle between:
- Sugar Cookie
- Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Gingerbread Cookie
The general election polls opened on December 18 at 8:00am E.T. and closed December 21 at 5:00pm E.T.
These were the final results as of poll closing time at 5pm ET:
- Chocolate Chip Cookie: 39.6%
- Sugar Cookie: 31.5%
- Gingerbread Cookie: 28.8%
Primary election candidates
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 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.[1]
- 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.
- Easily able to represent all shapes, sizes, and colors
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 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."[2]
- I've been proudly representing the voters since my election in 2019, and am well set up for a successful second term.
- How can voters go wrong with chocolate chip? Answer: They can't.
- If it ain't broke. Don't fix it.
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 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.[3]
- I'm a playful minty treat for your holiday parties!
- What's not to love?
Incumbent: Yes
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 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.[4]
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.[4]
- 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.
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 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.[5]
- The 1999 Hall of Fame inductee cookie
- The cookie kids choose first! (And eat top-first.)
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 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."[6]
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."[6][7][8]
- 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!
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 Holiday Cookie
Biography: While there is some debate about the exact origin of the thumbprint cookie, there is no argument about its popularity around the holidays. According to iFood.tv, thumbprint cookies are known by several different names (ex.: bird’s nests, butter balls, and Polish tea cake) and come in many varieties.
After all the necessary ingredients are mixed, thumbprint cookie dough is rolled into a ball and the baker presses down in the center with their thumb, causing a small divot. Either before baking or after, the divot is filled with a sweet treat like jam or chocolate. [9]
- Many names, one tasty cookie.
- If you are looking for a versatile cookie candidate to fit all of your needs, look no further!
Incumbent: No
Political office: Ballotpedia's 2023 Holiday Cookie
Biography: According to Spoon University, the first oatmeal raisin cookie was created by Fannie Merritt Farmer in the late 1800’s; however, rumor has it that the first variations were actually around much earlier and resembled British and Scottish “oat cakes”. It’s no wonder these cookies have grown in popularity as they are often written off as more of a healthy snack than a sweet treat. [10]
- Your guilt-free candidate for holiday cookie enjoyment!
- I am basically a health food...better grab another!
Polls
Most-clicked holiday cookies
General Mills released a report on the “most-clicked” holiday cookies across the U.S., in every state.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
| “ | 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.[14] | ” |
| —Packaged Facts | ||
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Food Network, "Sugar Cookies Recipe," accessed December 7, 2019
- ↑ The New Yorker, "Sweet Morsels: A History of the Chocolate-Chip Cookie," December 19, 2013
- ↑ Epicurious, "Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies," December 2019
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 PBS, "The History of Gingerbread," December 20, 2013
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Peanut Blossom Cookies: The Heartbreaking Tale Of A Delicious Underdog," September 11, 2019
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 MyRecipies, "The Sweet History of the Snickerdoodle," November 29, 2018
- ↑ The Joy of Cooking, "Joy of Cooking," accessed December 7, 2019
- ↑ Grit, "The Sweet Story of Snickerdoodle Cookies", February 9, 2010
- ↑ iFood.tv, "Thumbprint Cookie," accessed December 12, 2022
- ↑ Spoon University, "Where 7 of America’s Favorite Cookies Originated," accessed December 12, 2022
- ↑ Taste of General Mills, "Most-clicked holiday cookies," November 26, 2019
- ↑ Eat This, Not That, "Every Cookie in America—Ranked By Popularity," December 4, 2019
- ↑ Packaged Facts, "Sweet Success: Cookie Sales Continue Growth," February 26 2019
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
