At the first-ever Patch Holiday Bake-Off on Dec. 2, which was co-sponsored by the San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce as part of their holiday luncheon, a festive crowd of chamber members and friends met for lunch and sweet treats at the San Francisco Theological Seminary.   

Eight entries were submitted to the bake-off, ranging from holiday sweets like Viennese almond crescents and gingerbread to traditional American desserts like apple pie and chocolate chip cookies.   

The three judges, San Anselmo Mayor Barbara Thornton, San Anselmo Chief of Police Charles Maynard and Fairfax Mayor Larry Bragman, tasked to select a universal favorite, put flavor above politics. They each sampled all the desserts, without knowing who had submitted what, before selecting their three favorites.

"I tasted the lighter flavor desserts first," said Thornton, "then tasted everything a second time."  Chief Maynard, an admitted "chocolate mousse guy," had a sharp eye out for visual appeal and texture as well as flavor.   

After a short huddle among the judges, Patch Editor Kelly Dunleavy announced the winners. First place went to a lemon bread, submitted by Sarah Shideler of San Anselmo, who also writes the About Town column for Patch and runs a catering business -- Sarah Shideler Cooking and Hospitality. (You can get the recipe for the lemon bread here.)

"It was moist and light, and full of great lemon flavor," said Maynard. "The lemon was not overpowering, it was very refreshing," said Thornton. 

Second place went to Wind Chime of Marin in Kentfield for their Chocolate Crackle Cookies, which the residents of the facility actually helped bake. (The recipe for which is at the bottom of this article.) And Honorable Mentions went to a number of other desserts, including San Anselmo's Susan and Grace Jensen's snowballs and apple pie and Mary Denton's holiday cookies.

Look for all of recipes as well as local chef favorite recipes here.

Barbara's Chocolate Crackles

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. oil
• 4 sq. (4 oz.) chocolate
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 c. flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 c. powdered sugar

Melt chocolate in double boiler. Remove and blend in oil, chocolate and eggs (one at a time), beat well after each. Add vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and mix thoroughly. Chill several hours until dough is hard enough to handle. Roll into 1" round balls. Roll in powdered sugar until covered. Bake on greased sheet for 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.