'Tis the season for cookies

The winner of the 2011 Season's Best holiday cookie contest, Jodi Thompson of Jackson, said her Brownie Rubble is so good that it should be against the law.

"They are so sinful," Thompson said.

Readers were invited to submit recipes for holiday cookies and bars until Nov. 30. Then 10 semifinalists were chosen to compete in the contest, which took place Dec. 5. However, only eight of the 10 contestants submitted their cookies for judging.

The cookie's were rated on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the best. The ratings were then added together for each cookie. Of the eight recipes in the contest, Thompson's recipe earned the highest overall score, and three of the four judges rated it as the top recipe.

Thompson said she chose to enter Brownie Rubble in the contest because it is a "killer" recipe.

Christmas wreath hanging from door

The recipe consists of chocolate brownies covered with marshmallows, chocolate chips and peanuts.

Contest participant Gigi Meredith, 9, described Thompson's Brownie Rubble as "really, really good" and said that she could eat a thousand of these brownies a day.

Judge Jowairia Khalid, 9, also described the brownies as good and said she would want her mom or dad to make them at Christmas.

Thompson said she was really surprised her recipe won, because the three times she has entered the contest, the winning recipes were more simple. She said that usually the children involved in the judging go for the gingerbread or more decorative cookies.

"I'd like to think I have a sophisticated palate, but I really don't," Thompson said.

Jodi Thompson's Brownie Crumbles won this year's Best Holiday Cookie Contest. (Laura Simon)

Contest judge Cheryl Sullivan rated Brownie Rubble the top recipe and described it as chewy, crunchy and chocolaty.

Thompson said she makes this recipe, which she got from Rachael Ray, for any occasion with chocoholics. Thompson herself doesn't like chocolate, but said she cooks for her husband.

"My husband is a chocoholic with a capital C. He is insatiable when it comes to chocolate," Thompson said.

Contest participant Susan McClanahan also rated this as the top recipe and said they are "so rich, I would take it easy, start with a small one." She also recommended that the brownies might be good warm.