Beth Sojourner was declared the winner of the 3rd annual Cookie Contest Saturday at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library and it was her Coconut Pecan Dreams that did the trick.

Sojourner was one of those who competed in the event that welcomed competitors from 11 years-old all the way to those above 50.

Victoria Moorehead took first place in the 11-to-15 age group with her hot cocoa cookies, with Jonathan Lance taking second with his Chewy Chocolate with Peanut Butter Chips cookies. 

Leah Larson, with her Rudolph cookies, took first place in the 16-to-19 age group.

For those in the 20-to-50 age group, Brook Herman and her chocolate brownie cookie won first place, with Rebecca Meakin’s Storybook Gingerbread Man taking second place. Christine Lance’s nutmeg log cookie finished third.

David Clement swept the 51-plus age group with his first-place soft ginger cookies and the oatmeal date cookies that claimed second place.

Clement also won the “Not A Cookie” category with his chocolate fudge.

The contest was judged by Mad Baker owner Felicia McKnight and Shel’s Sweets owner Shelly Carr.

 Below is the recipe for the winning Coconut Pecan Dream cookies:

Coconut Pecan Dreams

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup butter
• 7 ounces coconut, divided
• 1-1/2 cup flour
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• Pecan halves

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cream butter; add sugar and egg, beat.

Add 1 cup coconut, flour and baking soda; beat.

Divide dough in to six pieces and roll into logs; roll each log in remaining coconut.

Wrap logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Remove logs from plastic wrap and thinly slice, crosswise.  Place slices on greased cookie sheets.

Whisk egg yolk and milk.  Brush tops of cookies and top with a pecan half.

Bake for 25 minutes, watching closely the last five minutes to avoid overbrowning.