And the WINNERS are...

Thanks to everyone who voted in this year’s Boga Bake-off and spread the word to their friends and family. Despite our failed attempts to get a re-tweet of the bake-off from @KimKardashian and the @TODAY show, we officially had the highest participation in Boga Bake-off history – 438 votes!

Everyone stepped up their game this year, and we want to give a big shout out to Tim for helping to think of a number of the clever cookie titles. As we know, the cookie title is just as important as the cookie itself. Spoiler alert: the two cookies that Tim made himself got 6 and 11 votes…stick to the copywriting Tim.

And now what everyone is waiting for…the winners! The top three were a great mix of pop culture, art, and romance. And the winners are…

1. Santa Accepts the ice bucket challenge (Robin) 

We have to admit the competitors were surprised with the first place finisher, but it turns out people aren’t tired of the ice bucket challenge yet! This cookie dominated the competition, with a significant lead over the other cookies during the entire voting period.

2. It’s a Picasso (Ellen) 

Cousin Ellen asked if she could bring printed images to the competition this year for "inspiration" and we agreed. Had we known what we know now, we would have said no! Ellen executed perfectly on the famous Picasso painting.

3. He went to Jared! (Robin) 

As many of you know Robin recently got engaged to Patrick (yay!), so of course she had to craft a cookie for the occasion. To clarify, Patrick did not go to Jared, he went to Vishal of Pave Jewelers who did an amazing job. Thanks to everyone who gave the sentimental vote for the cookie.

As you all can see, Robin dominated the competition with two out of the top three cookies (for the second year in a row). She’s been told that she can’t call her streak a dynasty yet…but its getting close.

Close behind #3, was the 4th place winner, “Mia breaks the internet” by Jamie.  With only 3 votes knocking her out of a top three finish, let's just say Jamie was a little bitter.  Perhaps fans weren't that impressed with her combining her baby's likeness with Kim Kardashian.

And we can’t end a Boga Bake-off without giving a nod to the “Bogas in a-” series. Nancy’s inspiration for her locations is always a source of entertainment, and this year she went all the way up to Everest. Unfortunately this cookie didn’t do as well as others in the past…is the franchise fading? We hope not.

The full rankings:

1.  Santa accepts the Ice Bucket Challenge (ROBIN) - 76 votes

2.  It's a Picasso (ELLEN) - 59 votes

3.  He went to Jared! (ROBIN) - 54 votes

4.  Mia breaks the internet (JAMIE) - 51 votes

5. I like my cookies FROZEN! (ELLEN) - 39 votes

6.  Everything is Awesome! (ROBIN) - 36 votes

7.  Bogas on Everest (NANCY) - 32 votes

8.  Mia's first cookie (MIA!) - 23 votes

9.  Sochi Wreath Fail (JAMIE) - 19 votes

10.  Wanna Byte? (ELLEN) - 12 votes

11.  Suarez takes another bite (TIM) - 11 votes

12.  Psychedelic Gingerbread Man (JAMIE) - 7 votes

13.  Pollock 2014 (TIM) - 6 votes

14.  Ghost of Christmas Past (DOUG) - 5 votes

15.  Chicas on a Mountain (BARRY) - 3 votes

16.  Interstellar (BARRY) - 3 votes

17.  Mia the red nose reindeer (NANCY) - 1 vote

18.  Crazed honey bear (NANCY) - 1 vote

Until next year!

VOTE in the Boga Bake-Off 2014

Welcome to Boga Bake-Off 2014!  

This year we brought the Bake-Off back to Santa Fe and once again huddled around the kitchen island with little pots of icing, 15 types of sprinkles, and our implements of toothpicks and mini spoons.  We had full participation this year from all Bogas (including Doug), Tim, cousin Ellen & Barry Libert, and even baby Mia.  Her dexterity with a spoon was inspiring.  

From the Cubist period to the Kardashian era, cookie themes widely varied.  And don't worry, "Bogas in a..." are still here.  We hope you enjoy voting as much as we enjoyed baking :)

Enlarged images are included first below, followed by the poll to vote.  
Select your three favorite cookies in the checkboxes, and vote once. 

Voting ends Friday, 12/26 at 6pm EST. We'll reveal the winners on Friday! Thanks for voting :) 

Santa accepts the Ice Bucket Challenge 

Mia breaks the internet

Chicas on the mountain

Interstellar

Bogas on Everest

Ghost of Christmas past

Wanna Byte?

Everything is awesome!

Psychedelic Gingerbread Man

He went to Jared!

Suarez takes another bite

Mia the red nose reindeer 

It's a Picasso

Crazed Honey Bear ?$#!

Pollock 2014

Mia's first cookie

I like my cookies FROZEN!

Sochi Wreath Fail

Boga Bake-Off Winners: Miley Dominates, Mia Congratulates

Another year in the books!  We had a lot of fun doing the Boga Bake-Off on the East Coast, and one advantage of having it at home was that we were able to facilitate a round of live voting the evening we finished our cookies.  We won't disclose the votes of our close friends, but it was fun watching everyone pick their favorites.  And by watching, we mean staring as each person nervously selected their top three in front of the Boga women who had worked so hard on their designs...

After that first night, we already had an idea of the cookie that would take home the win.  Call it home field advantage, call it pop culture arbitrage, call it jealousy for now having the most Boga Bake-Off wins...but ROBIN has captured the "W" for the 2013 Boga Bake-Off with her Miley-inspired cookie, I came in like a Wrecking Ball.  And she won by a fairly large margin (69 out of 300 total votes).  Congrats, Bobs.

I can't say I'm proud we're giving the already over-exposed Miley even more attention, but I guess it's our own fault for creating the Wrecking Ball cookie.  I, in fact, had grand plans for a cookie of the same theme, but when I saw Robin's well-proportioned figure, I just felt I couldn't compete.  Plus, even if I wanted to, Robin created a new rule DURING the Bake-Off that once one person started a cookie "theme", another person couldn't use that same "theme". Interesting.  We did, however, make one exception to that new rule...

The Mia category!  It was apparent that the Mia cookies split the Mia votes, as none of them placed in the top three (though their collective votes would have earned a third place finish).  Robin also claimed the Mia victory with Snowbaby, with my Mia's First Christmas cookie getting the second most Mia votes.  Hilariously, Mom's Lil Bebe Mia only gained 4 votes, the least of ANY cookie in the Bake-Off:

Snowbaby Mia (Robin) - 30 votes

Mia's First Christmas (Jamie) - 19 votes

Snowbaby Mia (Nancy) - 4 votes!

Robin rounded out her submissions with R.I.P Paul Walker, and the 3rd place finisher, It's a Dick in a Box! with 38 votes.  I was sure the voters would find that one outdated, and not that clever.  I overestimated the voters.  I guess people are a sucker for J. Timbs and the Christmas themed skit.

What about the "Bogas in a" franchise?!  Mom made a comeback this year, getting a well deserved second place with Bogas in Outerspace (49 votes).  Her Gravity inspired design included the four Bogas plus Mia floating in space, complete with space helmets.  

While Doug usually just watches from the sidelines, he submitted one design this year:  Duck Dynasty.  While not the  most technically sound cookie, it got a few laughs and a kinda respectable 11 votes.  Good job, Dad.

And me?  My best performer was It's a Minion (4th place with 34 votes).  While Sharknado performed well during initial live voting, it only got 19 more votes.  I thought that one had a chance!  Until next year...

Here are the complete rankings:

1st:  I came in like a Wrecking Ball (Robin) - 69 votes

2nd:  Bogas in Outerspace (Nancy) - 49 votes

3rd:  It's a Dick in a Box! (Robin) - 38 votes

4th:  It's a Minion! (Jamie) - 34 votes

5th:  Snowbaby Mia (Robin) - 30 votes

6th:  Sharknado (Jamie) - 22 votes

7th:  Mia's First Christmas (Jamie) - 19 votes

8th:  R.I.P Paul Walker (Robin) - 16 votes

9th:  Duck Dynasty (Doug) - 11 votes

10th:  Seventh Generation (Robin) - 8 votes

11th:  Lil Bebe Mia (Nancy) - 4 votes