Celebrating the Best-Ever Shortbread Contest
For generations, the Minnesota State Fair has been a showcase for the creativity, skill and traditions of home bakers from across the state. This year, Land O’Lakes became part of that legacy in a new way by sponsoring the fair’s inaugural Land O’Lakes Best-Ever Shortbread Contest, inviting Minnesotans to put their favorite butter-forward recipes to the test.
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Land O'Lakes Test Kitchen
by
Land O'Lakes Test Kitchen
The Contest
The contest drew 140 entries from bakers of all levels, with competitors putting their own spin on the classic shortbread cookie using Land O Lakes® Butter as the star ingredient. Contest entries ranged from classic style shortbread to a huge variety of flavor combos featuring pistachio, cardamom, citrus, fresh herbs, and much more. They were judged through the Minnesota State Fair’s traditional baking competition process, and winners were announced on the opening day of the fair.
The Winners
Taking home the blue ribbon was Joanne Holtmeier of Edina, whose Aperol Spritz Shortbread cookie stood out among the field of entries. Inspired by the popular Italian cocktail, her winning recipe incorporated Aperol into both the dough and glaze, earning top marks from judges. In second place was Randi Madden of St. Paul with a Sicilian Sunrise cookie, and third place went to Jaime Rook of Minneapolis with a Speculoos Shortbread cookie.
The Demo
The celebration continued Sept. 3 in the Minnesota State Fair's Creative Activities Building, where fairgoers had the opportunity to meet contest winners and attend live baking demonstrations of Land O’Lakes’ popular Browned Butter Toffee Pecan Cookies, hosted by baking creator Jackie Thesing of @SweetGirlTreatsMN. The event gave attendees a chance to see our butter in action and learn more about what makes the product a star ingredient in the kitchen directly from Land O’Lakes culinary experts. (Watch a glimpse of the day’s activities here!)
The Best-Ever Shortbread Contest celebrates something that has always been at the heart of Land O’Lakes: bringing people together through great food and time-honored traditions,” says Catherine Fox, VP of Enterprise Marketing. “We were proud to see so many talented bakers put their creativity on display, and were honored to play a role in one of Minnesota’s most beloved State Fair experiences.” The contest generated strong media interest throughout the summer, earning coverage from local newspapers and television outlets.
As a Minnesota-founded, farmer-owned cooperative, Land O’Lakes' presence at the State Fair reflects a deep-rooted appreciation for agriculture, food and community. The success of the first-ever Best-Ever Shortbread Contest not only showcased the creativity of Minnesota bakers, but also highlighted Land O’Lakes’ storied connection to kitchens across the state and country.
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