Beaver Creek, Colo.- Nov. 24, 2010-Beaver Creek’s seventh annual World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition featured 5,000 freshly baked cookies that were sampled by opening day skiers and snowboarders. Beaver Creek Resort Company officials announced that Catherine Giancamili of Brighton, CO is the winner of the 2010-2011 World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition and her recipe will serve as the resort’s official cookie for the 2011 season. Giancamili, along with four other finalists, baked 1,000 cookies each that were quickly gobbled up during the annual contest which occurred at 2 p.m. today. It was the perfect way to wrap up a powdery opening day.
A record 125 entries were received and the five finalists, all from Colorado, were Catherine Giancamili of Brighton; Betsy Seeger from Avon; Kelly Weistroffer of Highlands Ranch; Stephanie Klocke of Vail; and Allison Helfer of Avon. The finalists served their top chocolate chip cookie recipe to an eager crowd during a festive celebration in the village. The winner received $1,000; second was awarded $500; and third place received $250. Second place honors went to Seeger and Klocke rounded out the top three.
“Today could not have been a more fantastic start to the 2010-2011 winter season here at Beaver Creek,” said Tim Baker, Executive Director of the Beaver Creek Resort Company. “Being the cookie connoisseur that I am, topping the day off with the enjoyment of five of the best cookies I have ever had was such a perfect finish to another epic opening day at Beaver Creek Resort. Congratulations to Catherine Giancamili as the winner along with all the finalists; my taste buds and tummy are forever grateful! ”
Winning Recipe: Caramel Explosion
Recipe by: Catherine Giancamili
Ingredients:
· ½ C Butter, softened
· 1 C Brown Sugar
· 3 tbl Granulated Sugar
· 1 Egg
· 2 ½ tsp Vanilla
· 2 C Flour
· ½ tsp Baking Powder
· ½ tsp Baking Soda
· ½ tsp Salt
· 1 ½ C Chocolate Chips (milk or semi-sweet)
· ¼ lb Chocolate Caramel Bar or Soft Caramels
Method:
· Preheat oven to 350?F.
· Cream butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla.
· Gradually add dry ingredients.
· Stir in chocolate chips.
· Cut chocolate/caramel bar into ½” x ½” pieces.
· Scoop about 1tbl of dough on cookie sheet, add caramel in the center and add another 1tbl of dough on top.
· Form into ball.
· Bake for about 9 minutes. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet.
· Enjoy!
Beaver Creek’s Cookie Time chefs serve fresh chocolate chip cookies to guests each day at 3 p.m. throughout the winter season. For more information about Beaver Creek Cookie Time or other upcoming events visit
www.beavercreek.com.
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PHOTO CUT LINE 1: Catherine Giancamili the 2010-2011 winner of the Beaver Creek World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition. Photo courtesy of Dan Davis, Beaver Creek Resort.
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