Rivers Casino Pittsburgh announced the winners for its second annual “Cookie Table Recipe Contest” on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Winning recipes will be featured in a 2019 Rivers Casino cookie table calendar.

Photos by John Altdorfer

In honor of Pittsburgh’s “cookie table” wedding tradition, for the second year in a row, the wedding services team at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh sponsored a Cookie Table Recipe Contest. The 12 winners were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Photos and recipes of their creations will be spotlighted in a special 2019 Rivers Casino cookie table calendar.

“Pittsburghers know a good cookie when they taste one,” said Shannon Redmond, vice president of marketing for Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. “We had a great response to this fun contest and would like to thank all the bakers who participated as well as our judges.”

Contest judges were representatives from Pittsburgh Technical College, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Manchester Bidwell Corporation, as well as chefs from the casino. Recipes were judged on appearance, clarity of instructions, creativity, taste and cookie table “wow” factor.

Contest winners were Cindy Velt’s Dream Catcher Sugar Cookies, Cindy Hickok’s Linzer Cookies, Patricia Kirkwood’s Horseshoe Nut Rolls, Joannie Jenkins’ Shortbread Cookies, Jane Trimble’s Raspberry Shortbread, Christine Reese’s Old-Fashioned Butter Cookies, Joyce Valiquette’s Kolaches, or Apricot and Nut Cookies, Rosemarie Porco’s Amaretti, or Almond Macaroons, John Wills’ Fudge Marble Chocolate Chips, Crystal Beahr’s Chocolate Butterscotch Crispy Cookie Bars, Sue Polojac’s Caramel Tassies and Anne Gasperich’s creation called Jane’s Chocolate Mint Cookies.

For more information about the Rivers Casino Pittsburgh “Cookie Table Recipe Contest” and past winners, visit the Rivers Casino website.