The holiday season got a little sweeter Nov. 14 as Pass Health Foods welcomed local bakers to its annual Holiday Baking Contest, celebrating homemade treats, creative recipes and the use of wholesome ingredients.
The contest invited home bakers to share their favorite holiday desserts made with simple, whole-food ingredients, without chemicals or artificial ingredients. Separate categories were offered for vegan and gluten-free entries, giving bakers with different dietary preferences an opportunity to participate.
“We wanted to make it a fun and delicious day while celebrating wholesome ingredients and creative baking,” said Carolyn Johnson, who owns Pass Health Foods with Liz Ryan.
The competition featured a variety of homemade treats, with Mary Ann Hobin taking home the grand prize for her apple cake. Barb Weber earned second place with her burnt sugar cake.
Other category winners included Chloe, who won the vegan category with her vegan apple crisp cheesecake, and Ann Koepfle, who took top honors in the gluten-free category with her gluten-free cranberry bliss bars.
Steve Flerick received the staff favorite award for his gluten-free Little Debbie cakes, while Hannah Allen won the People’s Choice Award for her banana bread.
The grand prize included a $100 gift certificate. In addition, Hobin’s winning recipe will be featured in The Regional News, as well as on the Pass Health Foods website and in the store’s newsletter.
Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters and Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz served as judges, taking time to sample the entries and select the winners. Organizers extended their appreciation to both mayors for their participation and support.
Each contestant was required to submit a complete recipe with their entry, allowing the store to share the winning creations with the community.
Beyond the competition, the bake-off offered an opportunity for neighbors to come together, share their favorite homemade recipes and enjoy the flavors of the holiday season.
Johnson said the event provided an opportunity for the community to come together, share homemade favorites and enjoy a variety of holiday treats made with wholesome ingredients.
