Food - Midwest Living Cookies

The best cookie bakers from across the state put their top creations to the test in the Midwest Living Cookies competition judged Tuesday, August 16 and Wednesday, August 17, at the 2022 Iowa State Fair.

Margaret Stoffregen of Des Moines won First Place Overall and a $250 cash award.

Cyndy Erickson of Des Moines claimed Second Place Overall and $150. Cheryl Ashwill of Des Moines earned Third Place Overall and $100.

Ashwill and Judy Kiburz-Harrison of Tingley tied for the Sweepstakes award.

Additional results follow:

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Apple Bars (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Blondies

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Brownies, Flavored (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

2) Alissa Puffett, West Des Moines

3) Belinda Myers, Osceola

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Brownies (frosted, with or without nuts)

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Larry Stohr, Altoona

3) DeeDee Kennedy, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Brownies (unfrosted, with or without nuts)

1) DeeDee Kennedy, Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Rita Cashman Becker, Fort Madison

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Butterscotch Bars

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

3) Larry Stohr, Altoona

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Jam Bars

1) Diane Rauh, Des Moines

2) Phyllis Olson, Newton

3) Michelle Wennerstrum, Ankeny

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Lemon Bars

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Brian Keul, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Peanut Butter Bars

1) Ann Feilmann, Ankeny

2) Julie Petersen, Knoxville

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Pecan Bars

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Larry Stohr, Altoona

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Pumpkin Bars (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

2) Julie Petersen, Knoxville

3) Kathy Poetting, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Rice Krispy Bars

1) Larry Stohr, Altoona

2) Brian Keul, West Des Moines

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - One-Layer Bar Cookie Other Than Named

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Julie Petersen, Knoxville

3) Lynn Kumagai, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Two-Layer Bars Other Than Named

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Lucille Yedlick, Walker

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Three-Layer Bars Other Than Named

1) Margaret Stoffregen, Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Bar Cookies - Four-or-More-Layer Bars Other Than Named

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Coconut

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Phyllis Olson, Newton

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Crackles/Crinkles (any flavor)

1) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Filled Cookies

1) Pam Van Essen, Ottumwa

2) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Gingersnaps

1) Heather Collier, Des Moines

2) Michael Kephart, Carlisle

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Molasses

1) Megan Ford, Ankeny

2) Diane Rauh, Des Moines

3) Christina Mccleary, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Peanut Blossoms

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Heather Collier, Des Moines

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Peanut Butter

1) Heather Collier, Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Shortbread, flavored

1) Olivia Smith, Winterset

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Margaret Stoffregen, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Shortbread, plain

1) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Snickerdoodles

1) Diana Barker, Indianola

2) Cindy Blubaugh, Des Moines

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Snowballs

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Spritz

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Sugar (not rolled or cut)

1) Maria Fay, Des Moines

2) Heather Collier, Des Moines

3) Kim Van Patten, Indianola

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Thumbprint (any filling permitted)

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Cindy Blubaugh, Des Moines

3) Tasha Wells, Pleasant Hill

Midwest Living Cookies - Molded or Pressed - Cookie Other Than Named

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

3) Maria Fay, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Ethnic Cookies - Biscotti (any flavor)

1) Jeffrey King, Newton

2) Vicki Heiken, Des Moines

3) Karen Pavlik, Waukee

Midwest Living Cookies - Ethnic Cookies - Chinese Almond

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Taylor Kooker, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Ethnic Cookies - Italian

1) Kim Van Patten, Indianola

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Ethnic Cookies - Macarons (French-style)

1) Jodi Brady, Runnells

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Pam Van Essen, Ottumwa

Midwest Living Cookies - Ethnic Cookies - Scandinavian

1) Shannon Walderbach, Des Moines

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Jill Gilbert, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Ethnic Cookies - Ethnic Cookie Other Than Named

1) Valerie Singer, Altoona

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Chocolate Base

1) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

2) Larry Stohr, Altoona

3) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Chocolate Chip (traditional, no nuts)

1) Heather Collier, Des Moines

2) Kathy Poetting, Des Moines

3) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Chocolate Chip (traditional, with nuts)

1) Brian Keul, West Des Moines

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Coconut Macaroons

1) Phyllis Olson, Newton

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Aaron Barker, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Dried Fruit (other than Oatmeal Raisin)

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Frosted Drop (any flavor)

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Margaret Stoffregen, Des Moines

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - M&M

1) Larry Stohr, Altoona

2) Brian Keul, West Des Moines

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Meringue Drop

1) Emily Akkermann, Prescott

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Monster

1) Melissa Vaughn, Des Moines

2) Barb Finney, Pella

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - No-Bake

1) Kris Davis Johnson, Altoona

2) Anna Williams, Ames

3) Colette Wortman, Urbandale

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Oatmeal Butterscotch (with or without nuts)

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Larry Stohr, Altoona

3) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (with or without nuts)

1) Lashelle Woods, Newton

2) Jenna Brady, Runnells

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Oatmeal Raisin

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Oatmeal (other than named)

1) Diana Barker, Indianola

2) Dana Edleman, Cambridge

3) Larry Stohr, Altoona

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Peanut Butter Base

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Brenda Phillips, Urbandale

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Potato Chip

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Kris Davis Johnson, Altoona

3) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Ranger

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Heather Collier, Des Moines

3) Lynn Kumagai, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - White Chocolate

1) Michael Kephart, Carlisle

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Drop Cookies - Drop Cookies Other Than Named

1) Anna Williams, Ames

2) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

3) Karen Stafford, Elkhart

Midwest Living Cookies - Health Cookies - Cookies Made with a Sugar Substitute

1) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Health Cookies - Gluten Free

1) Lynn Kumagai, West Des Moines

2) Diane Rauh, Des Moines

3) Kaitlyn Beaman, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Health Cookies - Whole Grain

1) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Midwest Living Cookies - Refrigerated and Rolled - Icebox (sliced)

1) Terri Treft, Sioux City

2) Heather Collier, Des Moines

3) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

Midwest Living Cookies - Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Gingerbread

1) Heather Collier, Des Moines

2) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

Midwest Living Cookies - Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Sugar (frosted)

1) Cyndy Erickson, Des Moines

2) Heather Collier, Des Moines

3) Bri Simonton, Urbandale

Midwest Living Cookies - Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Sugar (unfrosted)

1) Cyndy Erickson, Des Moines

2) Heather Collier, Des Moines

3) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Refrigerated and Rolled - Sandwich Cookies

1) Sharon Lesan, Ankeny

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Erin Wilgenbusch, Story City

Midwest Living Cookies - Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Cookies Other Than Named

1) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

2) Diana Barker, Indianola

3) Heather Collier, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Cake Mix Cookies - Bar (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Lucille Yedlick, Walker

2) Diana Barker, Indianola

3) Terri Treft, Sioux City

Midwest Living Cookies - Cake Mix Cookies - Drop or Shaped (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Renee Olsen, McCallsburg

2) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

3) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Bar Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Annika Akkermann, Prescott

2) Ava Praska, West Des Moines

3) Ralph Cownie, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Bar Cookie (age 13-17)

1) Paige Hilgerson, West Des Moines

2) Michael Ross, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Drop Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Isabel Just, Des Moines

2) Caitlin Caffrey, Ankeny

3) Mia Frangopol, Mingo

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Drop Cookie (age 13-17)

1) Michael Ross, West Des Moines

2) Paige Hilgerson, West Des Moines

3) Benjamin Herbst, Johnston

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Rolled Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Ellie Akkermann, Prescott

2) Isabel Just, Des Moines

3) JH Cownie, Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Rolled Cookie (age 13-17)

1) None awarded

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Unbaked Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Ellie Akkermann, Prescott

2) Aubrey Ginther, Urbandale

3) Brantley Nelson, Polk City

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Unbaked Cookie (age 13-17)

1) Paige Hilgerson, West Des Moines

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Cookie Other Than Named (age 12 and under)

1) Annika Akkermann, Prescott

2) Kaitlyn Beaman, Des Moines

3) Mia Frangopol, Mingo

Midwest Living Cookies - Youth - Cookie Other Than Named (age 13-17)

1) Sylas Schelker, Pella

2) Paige Hilgerson, West Des Moines

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 128 divisions, 615 classes and nearly 6,300 entries at this year’s Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Urban Air Adventure Park.