~ Gingerbread Cookie Contest! ~

The winners of the second annual Gingerbread Cookie Contest have been announced

Barbara Hughes, owner of Narnia Studios, which sponsors the contest, announced the winners Friday during her studio’s annual Christmas Open House.

As you enter Hughes’ business, instead of the wonderful floral sent you normally get, the air is filled with ginger and a feeling of Christmas.

Hughes said she received 63 entries this year, well over the amount she received last year.

In the traditional category, Rheta Merrell of Hendersonville won with an oversized gingerbread boy decorated with fondant icing created to look like dark brown lederhosen and a quilted vest with intricate enhancements.

Sam Bailes of Hendersonville won in the most unusual category with a penguin gingerbread cookie. This cookie was decorated with black and white icing — naturally — and the orange part of a single candy corn was used for the beak.

Two brothers, Chris and Richard Martin of Fletcher, claimed the “bakers under 13” category. The judges, from McFarland’s Bakery and Cake’s De Jour, said they felt the boys’ entries were equally good and they shared the prize for the category. Both boys chose to make three-dimensional gingerbread cookies, one with a racing theme and the other in the theme of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Just In Time For The Holidays!

Narnia Studios of Hendersonville announced the second annual, Gingerbread Cookie Contest, just in time for Christmas.

"Bakers of every age are encouraged to create their best gingerbread man or woman, boy or girl! We are looking for the most artistic creations the entrants can cook up," said Barbara Hughes, owner of Narnia Studios. "There are three categories: traditional, unusual, and a special category created by bakers 13 and under", added Hughes.

The rules are simple: they must be 100% edible and the deadline is December 1st. "We will announce the winners during the first night of our Christmas Open House on December 5th and have all the cookies on display throughout that weekend.

The top winner in each category will be awarded a $50.00 floral gift certificate from Narnia Studios. For more information, call Hughes at 697-6393. Narnia Studios is located at 315 N. Main Street in downtown Hendersonville.