Author: Cyndi Harles

Healthy Nut Buttercups

Healthy Nut Buttercups – If  you want an easy but impressive tasting treat that leaves out the typical “butter” ingredient, look no further than these darlings. They could go by a number of different names, certainly. Peanut Butter Banana Cookies. Chia Chocolate Banana Bites. Or the longest title? Chocolate & Banana Peanut Buttercups with Avocado, Chia Seeds. Whatever you call them, they are delicious. Avocado is the main fat in the cookie, along with the nut butter. As a result, these are healthier than your average cookie.
Find the recipe below for these healthy nut buttercups. They are a flourless mini-muffin treat, thus they are gluten free. You are going to want to make them again and again. They are so easy to make! They have just 7 ingredients and you make the dough in one bowl.
Ingredients

Simple Wholesome Ingredients

You can make theses with your favorite nut butter (almond, peanut etc.) Use sunflower seed butter and they’re perfect for those with nut allergies. Here’s the ingredient list in total.
  • nut butter
  • banana
  • avocado
  • vanilla extract
  • egg
  • chia seeds
  • chocolate chips
These healthy nut buttercups have a slight sweetness to them, because there’s no added sugar among the ingredients. If you like more sweetness, add a sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or agave. A sugar substitute like Splenda Magic Baker also works, for a zero calorie addition.
We also made a bite-size version by baking them in a 9×13-inch pans for about 20 minutes. As a result, we discovered an even easier version to make. We handed out samples at the Minnesota State Fair and they were a huge hit! I created the recipe to celebrate the UnitedHealthcare “Healthy Cookie Contest” we organized. If you want a blue ribbon winning healthy cookie, find the 1st place recipe here.
Cookie Bar Bite-size Healthy Nut Buttercups

 

Cha Cha Chai Energy Balls

These Cha Cha Chai Energy Balls are essentially “healthy no-bake cookie bites.” They come together easily – as in minutes – and have a rich, complex and completely satisfying taste.

With vanilla protein powder, chia seeds, and peanut butter, you have key ingredients that help you power through the day.

They make a both a great daytime snack or a bite-sized after-dinner dessert.

These chai energy balls were inspired by a 2022 Minnesota State Fair blue ribbon winning recipe by Amy Ellenberger, so recipe credit goes to her. 

Chai Spice Blend

To make these chai energy balls, you start with a chai spice blend. I make it in bulk with this combination of ingredients and amounts.

  • 4 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 4 teaspoons cardamom
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons allspice
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground nutmeg
If you make it in bulk, you’ll have the chai spice blend any time you want to make these. And believe me, you’re going to want to make these chai energy balls again and again. You can make them ahead of time and freeze the “dough.” Just bring it to room temperature before rolling them into balls. With the extra chai spice blend, you can use it for an additional batch or put it your coffee. I make a chai iced coffee with it by adding the blend to leftover coffee, and adding half and half or cream, plus some ice. Delish!
Cha Cha Chai Energy Balls Plated
What’s also great about this recipe is you can make it as spicy or mild as you like by increasing or eliminating the cayenne in them. If you wanted to “skip the rolling into balls” step,  you can instead press it into a wax-paper-lined 9″x13″ inch pan. You can easily cut them into whatever size you like.
Enjoy!
-Cyndi

 

Oatmeal Buttercream Sandwich Cookies

Oatmeal Buttercream Sandwich Cookies: If you want to make a blue ribbon winning cookie recipe from one of the top fairs in the country, make this one. You bake thin crispy oatmeal cookies flavored with butter and cinnamon, then sandwich them with a creamy filling in between.

Stack of Oatmeal Buttercream Sandwich Cookies

As a result, the cookies soften and the flavors meld, making them an absolutely delightful to eat. If you have ever had Little Debbie brand’s oatmeal creme cookies, you are going to LOVE these.

Recipe credit for these Oatmeal Buttercream Sandwich Cookies goes to Alexandra Coppinger. She made a jumbo-sized version of this cookie and won first place at the Tulsa State Fair.

They were an immediate favorite and have since become an all-time favorite from our archives.

Jumbo Love!

Giant Oatmeal Buttercream Sandwich Cookie

Key Ingredients

What strikes us is how flavorful these cookies are, without a huge number of ingredients.

  • butter
  • brown sugar
  • white sugar
  • egg
  • vanilla
  • flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • oats

The buttercream filling has even fewer ingredients:

  • butter
  • powdered sugar
  • heavy whipping cream
  • vanilla
  • ground cinnamon

Make these blue ribbon cookies and you will immediately know why they won. Wow! They melt in your mouth and are magnificent!

p.s. If you’re looking for another epic cookie from the Tulsa State Fair, try this baklava recipe.

–Cyndi

 

Turtle Brownie Cheesecake

This Turtle Brownie Cheesecake is a delightful dessert that is super impressive, yet quite easy to make. 

You start with a chocolate almond flour crust.

It creates a nice sturdy base for this cheesecake.

It’s also fun to press it into the pan.

Crust of Turtle Brownie Cheesecake

On top of the crust layer, goes the layer featuring dark chocolate chips. (Both Hershey’s and Lilly’s have good options.) Next, you add chopped pecans and sugar-free caramel. An ice cream topping, such as Smucker’s, works great for this layer. The fourth layer is the cheesecake layer. Then you bake it. It takes just over an hour. An internal 150 degree temperature is perfect for knowing it’s done.

Do not be alarmed when it comes out darkened. It will resemble a Basque-type cheesecake that looks burnt. It’s not.

You top Turtle Brownie Cheesecake with more pecans and caramel drizzle. The pecan halves are so visual. So is the caramel drizzle. As a result, you’ll have a mouth-watering look to this dessert. Finish it with a sprinkling of sea salt or flaked salt and the flavor will really pop.
This is an example of a chocolate dessert you could compete with in the Splenda Magic Baker “Low-To-No-Sugar Showdown at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair. Learn more about the 2023 special contests here.

Vegan Key Lime Pie Cookie Bites

These Vegan Key Lime Pie Cookie Bites have a creamy, silky texture and a vibrant flavor you are going to absolutely love. The surprise ingredient in them is firm tofu! You puree it in a food processor. As a result, this creative cookie is packed with protein. The cookies also have vegan cream cheese and a pudding mix in them, adding to their richness. Honey provides a boost to the sweetness. So between the honey and the tofu, these, these vegan key lime pie cookie bites are a healthy alternative to typical cookies, as well as typical key lime pie!

Make these today! You’ll get your hands dirty, rolling the chilled “filling” to shape them, but will totally be worth it. You will roll them again, this time in crushed graham crackers that have been toasted with coconut oil.

Trust me, these lil’ treats will be a hit with ALL your friends and family, whether they are vegan or not.

Healthy Cookie Contest

This is an example of cookie one could enter in the UnitedHealthcare “Healthy Cookie Contest” at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair. Learn more about the 2023 special contests here.

-Cyndi

 

2023 “Top 30 State Fairs” List

2023 “Top 30 State Fairs” List  

As long-time state fair baking/cooking contest managers, the Blue Ribbon Group is excited to share, for the first time publicly, our 2023 “Top 30 State Fairs” list. With this list we offer our answer to the often-asked question: What are the best state fairs in the United States?

This new compilation is based exclusively on two factors: per day attendance numbers (total 2022 attendance divided by total days open) and their baking competitions (history of past Blue Ribbon Group special contests).  All 30 fairs have higher per day attendance than any other U.S. state fairs happening July to October each year.

2023 "Top 30 State Fairs" List

Top 10

Topping this 2023 “Top 30 State Fairs” list is the Minnesota State Fair, followed by the Tulsa State Fair, State Fair of Texas, Iowa State Fair, and Wisconsin State Fair. Here are the top 10, listed in order, followed by the complete list noting each fairs’ dates and attendance numbers. 

  1. Minnesota State Fair
  2. Tulsa State Fair
  3. State Fair of Texas
  4. Iowa State Fair
  5. Wisconsin State Fair
  6. North Carolina State Fair
  7. Oklahoma State Fair
  8. Ohio State Fair
  9. New York State Fair
  10. Illinois State Fair

Best State Fairs w/ Blue Ribbon Baking Contests

Awesome Attendance Numbers

  • Attendance numbers in 2022, ranged from 26,224 to 153,519 for per day averages, and 287,367 to 2,500,000 for overall total attendances.
  • All take place between July and November, with the majority happening in August, September and October. 
  • All are official state fairs with two caveats. The Tennessee State Fair and Wilson County Fair essentially merged in 2021, with the Wilson County Fairgrounds location becoming it’s home. The Salem Fair is the largest in Virginia with a 350,000 attendance in 2022.  

Since 2006, Blue Ribbon Group has managed special recipe contests at large state, county and regional fairs. Find a collection of winning recipes at BlueRibbonGroup.net and featured on BlueRibbonFoodies on Instagram and Facebook. 

2023 Minnesota State Fair Special Baking Contests

2023 Minnesota State Fair Special Baking Contests Celebrate Healthy Cookies, Low-Sugar Chocolate Desserts, Citrus Cakes & More

Minneapolis-St Paul, MN – June 20, 2023 – Minnesota hobby bakers and home cooks are hitting their kitchens to vie for big blue ribbon bragging rights and prizes in our special contest series at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair.

Register by Tue Aug 1, 2023, 4:30pm, All Baking Contests Sat Aug 19, 2023

At the Minnesota State Fair, our hometown fair, look for these new special contests, each with $100 to $200 for first place, plus runner-up prizes. Registration is now open. It closes Tue Aug 1, 2023, 4:30pm CT. All contests happen Sat Aug 19, 2023, drop off 9:30am to 1pm, Creative Activities Building. Winners announced Thu Aug 24, 2023. Having trouble finding what you need? Drop us a line here.

Kowalski’s Markets “Citrus Cake Contest”

Bring sunshine to the table with your best and brightest, citrus-flavored cakes. Feature lemon, lime, orange, or other tangy citrus ingredients in your cake, solo or with any complimentary flavors. Wow the judges and our taste buds. Entries can be any size or shape: layer, sheet, tube, cupcake or bite-sized. Prizes: $100 1st, $50 2nd, $25 3rd (gift cards).

Join Kowalski’s Markets in celebrating opening day of the fair Thursday August 24th, with their Cambria Kitchen “takeover,” an event, not to be missed They’ll feature local growers with demos and off complimentary samples and other giveaways throughout the day.

Splenda Magic Baker “Low-To-No Sugar Showdown” Theme: Chocolate Desserts

Make your favorite chocolate sweet treats for this Low-To-No Sugar Showdown. Use little to no added sugar. Think pies, pastries, puddings, custards, cakes, cookies, or cheesecakes. Sweeten your entry with 1/4 cup or more of any Splenda product, such as Splenda Magic Baker, a new plant-based, zero-calorie sweetener. It measures and tastes like sugar. Use it 1 to 1 for replacing sugar. Prizes: $200 1st, $100 2nd, $50 3rd (gift cards).

UnitedHealthcare “Healthy Cookie Contest”

Make energy bars, on-the-go sweet treats or any cookie that has a health-minded twist or theme. Use “good-for-you” ingredients that help you power through the day, have nutritional value, or are a fit for special diets. Think protein powders, nuts, nut butters, fruits, and seeds. You can even simply “healthify” your favorite cookie to have less sugar, fat or calories. Your entry can be baked or no-bake style. The term “cookie” is open to interpretation and that’s intentional. Prizes: $200 1st, $100 2nd, $50 3rd.

Blue Ribbon Baker Awards

In addition to the Minnesota State Fair Special Baking Contests 2023, we also organized Minnesota State Fair Blue ribbon baker awards for anyone winning 1st place for any cookie and cake classes in general baking. Each will receive a $25 gift card.

 

Key Dates to Remember

  • Competitors Register by Tue Aug 1, 2023, 4:30pm
  • Drop Off Day Sat Aug 19, 2022, 9:30am to 1pm
  • View Winner Displays & Recipe Demos Aug 24 to Sep 4 in Creative Activities Building

First Time Participant or Need a Refresher?

All registration goes through the Minnesota State Fair competition department. Registration is free! Once you’re signed up, there is no obligation if you later can’t participate. Go to the Competitions/Creative Activities/Baked Products section at MNStateFair.org to sign up (under the Participants tab).

Quick-start tips:

  1. Find all baking rules, regs, open classes, and cool special contests here and be sure to download the Creative Activities/Baked Goods Premium Book Section. Jump to pages 12-14 for the special contests, page by page.
  2. Sign up for the Competition Department email list here and be sure to choose “Creative Activities” as your email list.
  3. Create your online account here (then be sure your registration clears and is confirmed).
  4. For step-by-step guidance, go here.

Lime Pistachio Bundt Cake

Lime Pistachio Bundt Cake: this cake, with it’s bright tangy flavor and distinct nutty taste is a sure-fire crowd pleaser.

Overhead shot of Lime & Pistachio Bundt Cake

If you’re a fan of citrus, this is the cake for you. We also invite you to compete at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair, in the new Kowalski’s Markets Citrus Cake Contest. Learn more about the 2023 special contests here.

Giant Peanutty Banana Cookie

Go big or go home and bake this Giant Peanutty Banana Cookie! Make an impression with this oversized double chocolate cookie and its delicious toppings: a peanut butter-meets cream cheese layer, peanuts, and chopped candy bar. You finish it with banana slices and a chocolate drizzle.

Toppings on Giant Peanutty Banana Cookie

Not only is this a show-stopper in it’s appearance, the creative cookie is also mouth-wateringly delicious! Are there are dozens of ways you change it up and make it  your own.

Step by Step

It starts simple with an easy dough you spread in a greased 15-inch pan. We used a large non-stick pizza pan, which worked great.

Giant Peanutty Banana Cookie - Base Layer

Once assembled, the base of this Giant Peanutty Banana Cookie bakes in 20 minutes. Then the only hard part is waiting for it to cool. After the toppings are on you have a giant size dessert that will wow anyone who sees and tastes it. You could even call it a “chocolate-peanut butter banana pizza.”

Blue Ribbon Winning Cookie at Carolina Classic Fair

Congratulations to Jennifer Smith who came up with this winner!

Jennifer won first place at the 2015 Carolina Classic Fair (formerly Dixie Classic) with this Giant Peanutty Banana Cookie. It’s another all-time favorite from our archives.

You are going to absolutely love this cookie! And if you’re looking for more recipes with the chocolate-banana flavor combination, don’t miss this blue ribbon winning – and super creative – banana bread recipe.

Enjoy!

-Cyndi

 

Minnesota State Fair Mojito Lime Cookies

These Minnesota State Fair Mojito Lime Cookies are THE citrus sweet treat you need this summer. Have you ever had a Mojito? That delightful Cuban drink with crushed mint and fresh lime? I hope you have. It is one of my favorite cocktails to have on vacation and in warmer temps. The cocktail also served as direct inspiration for these award-winning Minnesota State Fair Mojito Lime Cookies.

Created by hobby baker Greg Boe, these cookies won second place at the 2013 Minnesota State Fair. He cleverly titled them “Incognito Mojitos.”

Stack of Minnesota State Fair Mojito Lime Cookies

My cohort Crystal was the lucky one to remake Greg’s recipe. Find her step-by-step tips below that walk you through baking process. Or if you’re already ready to bake them, hit the “jump to recipe” button.

Every bite of these winning cookies will make you think of sunshine. The texture is light and chewy. Their aroma is magical. The lush lime flavor will transport you to the tropics. Enjoy!

-Cyndi

Step by Step: Minnesota State Fair Mojito Lime Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, with the rack in the middle of the oven. Next, zest your lime and set aside.

Mix together flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Melt your butter in the microwave. In another bowl, put in the sugar and cream cheese, and pour the warmed, melted butter on top. Whisk to combine, making sure there are no clumps of cream cheese visible.

To this mixture, add the oil, egg, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything smooth. Gently fold in the flour mixture until a consistent dough is formed. Roll the dough in balls of approximately 2-3 tablespoons. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until the edges just begin to brown.

Icing Adds a Sweet Minty Finish

Finely chop the mint for the icing and set aside. Mix the milk and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.  Then add/blend in the corn syrup, vanilla extract and chopped mint. Mix until icing is shiny and smooth. Make sure you let the cookies completely cool before applying icing.

Spread the icing onto the cooled cookies. You may want to let the iced cookies sit before serving to give the icing a chance to harden. The hardened icing is like a candy shell on top of the chewy cookie! Yum! Enjoy!

-Crystal