Submitted by: Ella Gamache 1st Place Un-Iced Cake- Youth

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, divided

• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

• 1/4 cup light corn syrup

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

• 1 box butter flavored cake mix

• 3 large eggs

• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. Add half of the butter, the brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, and pecans to a pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside.

3. Melt the remaining 1/2 cup of butter. Add it to a large bowl with the cake mix, eggs, and water. Beat for about 2 minutes to combine. Pour the pecan mixture in the bottom of your baking dish. Bake for45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

4. Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes then place a large plate and carefully flip it over to turn the cake out onto the plate.

Photography by: A Table Full of Joy

Submitted by: Abby Eden 1st Place Bar Cookie- Adult

Ingredients

Cookie Layers

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking powder

Filling

6 Tbsp. butter

6 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp. corn syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 Tbsp. heavy cream

1 1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix to incorporate. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and baking soda. Slowly add dry ingredients to butter and mix until combined. Divide in half. Press half the dough into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.

3. While bottom layer is baking, make pecan filling. Combine butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and boil gently for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, heavy cream and pecans.

4. Pour pecan mixture over hot bottom cookie layer. Top with remaining dough and bake for 15 minutes or until cookie layer is set.

Photography by: A Table Full of Joy

Submitted by: Elizabeth Gravenstein 1st Place Iced Cakes- Youth

Servings : 12

Author : Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup salted butter softened

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp pure almond extract

5 large eggs

1 cup whole buttermilk

14 oz package sweetened flaked coconut divided

1 1/2 cup pecan pieces toasted divided

Frosting:

2 [8] oz cream cheese softened

1 cup [2 sticks] butter softened

2 lb powdered sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp pure almond extract

reserved coconut toasted

1/2 cup reserved toasted pecans

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 3 [9] inch round cake pans or spray with baking spray. Set aside.

Sift the flour, baking soda and baking powder together.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pure vanilla and almond extracts. Beat until creamy and light beige in color, around 3-4 minutes

Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk. After all has been added, increase the mixer speed and beat until fully combined.

Mix in 1/2 of the coconut and 1 cup of toasted pecans by hand.

Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean. Cool completely on a cooling rack.

For the frosting: Cream together the cream cheese and butter until light, fluffy and pale yellow in color. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until creamy and smooth.

Line the edge of the cake plate with wax paper strips.

Frost the cake between the layers sprinkling each with reserved toasted pecan pieces. Add the final layer and frost the top and sides.

Press toasted coconut on the sides. Decorate the top as desired with the remaining chopped pecans.

Store chilled until serving.

Notes

a) To toast the pecans: Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in a 350°F oven for 6-8 minutes. Cool completely before adding to the batter.b) “How to” for toasting the coconut here) Alternative frosting technique: Mix the toasted pecans into the frosting by hand and spread onto the top and sides of the cake.

Photography by: A Table Full of Joy

Submitted by: Sana Handley 1st Place Candy- Adult

½ cup shortening

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 ½ cup flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup chopped pecans

1 ounce package chocolate chips

Preheat waffle iron. Spray with non-stick spray. Scoop dough by 2 Tablespoon balls into waffle iron. Close the lid and cook for 1 ½ minutes. Carefully remove from waffle iron when set and golden brown. Place on a wire cooling rack.

Photography by: A Table Full of Joy