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Holiday Cookie Bake-off

Six SUNY Oneonta employees went spatula-to-spatula for the second annual battle of baking!

By SUNY Oneonta

December 10^th, 2019

The Rules

On Monday, Dec. 9, six brilliant bakers gathered together at Mills Dining Hall's MyKitchen to go spatula-to-spatula for the college's second annual Holiday Cookie Bake-off, hosted by Sodexo.

The rules were simple: using the ingredients given and the help of an assistant of your choosing, bake the BEST holiday cookie.

Bill Harcleroad

Bill Harcleroad, director of Campus Activities and Leadership, returned this year to defend his title with another recipe inspired by his grandmother, who taught him to cook. His cookie, "Cuccidati," was vegan and gluten-free and used figs, dates and cherries. He said his grandma always soaked the figs in brandy, but he went with orange juice!

Bill's assistant was Director of New Student Services Monica Grau, who competed last year.

Dr. Morris

College President Barbara Jean Morris's goal this year was to offer some diversity and bring a piece of her home, the Southwest, to the Northeast with her "Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies." The cookies, reminiscent of a Mexican hot chocolate, contained paprika!

Laura Lincoln

Each year, Director of Alumni Engagement Laura Lincoln and her husband, Emergency Manager Dave Lincoln, bake hundreds of holiday cookies together for friends and family. For the bake-off, they decided to try a new recipe that would represent them, something festive and fun: "Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies."

Brent Mcgrady

University Police Department Officer Brent McGrady and his wife, Melissa, made "Twix Cookies" with the help of their little daughter, Leanna. Twix is one of Brent's favorite candy bars.

Tyler Miller

Tyler Miller, director of Residential Community Life, says Hanukkah "isn't really a cookie holiday," so he made "Sufganiyot Shortbread Cookies," a cookie version of a chocolate-covered jelly doughnut, with gelt on top. His wife, Kari, and three of his daughters helped out and had a lot of fun.

Eileen McClafferty

Wearing her mother's apron, Director of Academic Advisement Eileen McClafferty made "Jamaretti Cookies" using a Martha Stewart recipe she and her mother found. The cookies were reminiscent of ones she ate as a child while visiting her grandparents in Queens, NY. She offered three different versions - one with raspberry jam filling, one with biscotti cream filling, and one with chocolate cream filling.

behind the scenes

judging Time

Judges this year were (from left to right) Campus Bakery Manager Chris Consler, Food and Nutrition Lecturer Oscar Oberkircher and Oneonta Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon. They weighed each cookie's taste, creativity, presentation and decor.