Chocolate lovers had plenty to cheer about at this year’s All Things Chocolate Recipe Baking Contest, the sweet kickoff to Zehnder’s Snowfest 2025. Amateur bakers put their skills to the test in three delicious categories—brownies, cakes, and cookies—all featuring chocolate as the star ingredient. Festival-goers indulged in complimentary samples, collected recipe books filled with decadent creations, and cheered on their favorite bakers. Proudly sponsored by Michigan Sugar, with support from Le Creuset® and WSGW 790 AM, this year’s contest was a true celebration of all things chocolate.
Participants with the top treats include:
Cookies Category:
1st Place – Sydney Merrihew from Frankenmuth, Michigan with Triple Chocolate & Cream Cookies
2nd Place – Lois Spruytte from Richland, Michigan with Dark Chocolate Drizzled Toffee Almond Sandies
3rd Place – Joan Gerhardt from Saginaw, Michigan with Chocolate Lava Cookie
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- Cookie Winners – Left to right: Third Place – Joan Gerhardt, Second Place – Lois Spruytte and First Place – Sydney Merrihew
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- First Place: Triple Chocolate & Cream Cookies
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- Second Place: Dark Chocolate Drizzled Toffee Almond Sandies
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- Third Place: Chocolate Lava Cookie
Brownies Category:
1st Place – Mary Lou Reiffer from Grand Rapids, Michigan with Orange Kissed Chocolate Brownies
2nd Place – Katie Reder from Midland, Michigan with Bottoms Up Brownies
3rd Place – Genevieve Connors from Rochester Hills, Michigan with Peanut Butter Dream Brownies
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- Brownies Winners – Left to Right: Third Place – Genevieve Connors, Second Place – Katie Reder and First Place – Mary Lou Reiffer
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- First Place – Orange Kissed Chocolate Brownies
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- Second Place – Bottoms Up Brownies
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- Third Place – Peanut Butter Dream Brownies
Cakes Category:
1st Place – Mary Yelland from North Branch, Michigan with Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Extravaganza
2nd Place – Naomi Toben-Matthews from Ypsilanti, Michigan with Decadent Chocolate Cherry Dream Cake
3rd Place – Pamela Hornbacher-Retzler from Caro, Michigan with Chocolate Raspberry Torte
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- Cake Winners from left to right: Third Place – Pamela Hornbacher-Retzler, Second Place – Naomi Toben-Matthews and First Place – Mary Yelland
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- First Place – Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Extravaganza
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- Second Place – Decadent Chocolate Cherry Dream Cake
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- Third Place – Chocolate Raspberry Torte
Grand Prize Winner – Mary Yelland from North Branch, Michigan with Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Extravaganza
Grand Prize Winner – Mary Yelland
