L.A. Times Holiday Cookie Bake-Off Reveals 2024's Top 10 Festive Treats

The L.A. Times Holiday Cookie Bake-Off has once again showcased the best of Southern California's home baking. This year, over 150 recipes poured in from readers eager to share their festive treats. A panel of judges, including L.A. Times journalists, narrowed down the entries to 25 finalists before crowning the top 10.

The competition, coordinated by deputy Food editor Betty Hallock, has been a yearly tradition since at least 2014. While details about participant numbers, jury makeup, or media reach remain limited, the event continues to highlight creative holiday baking. This year, students and faculty from Los Angeles Trade-Technical College's culinary arts programme brought the 25 shortlisted recipes to life.

Among the standout winners was Vanessa Galindo's Sweet Potato Whoopie Pie with Maple-Orange Cream Cheese Filling. The cookie impressed with its cakey texture and warm holiday spices. Roxanne Lecrivain's Clementine Stollen Cookies also made the top 10, featuring candied clementine segments for a bright, citrusy twist.

Jake Hagen's Winter Cookie with Cardamom, Citrus and Almond rounded out the selection. Known for its snowy appearance and aromatic cardamom flavour, it joined past favourites like spiced molasses cookies in the bake-off's history.

The bake-off's top 10 recipes will be featured in the L.A. Times, offering readers a taste of this year's most inventive holiday treats. From spiced whoopie pies to citrus-infused stollen, the winners reflect the diversity and creativity of Southern California's home bakers. The tradition, now in its second decade, remains a festive highlight for both participants and cookie lovers alike.