GALETTA – Despite giving out a first place for best treats, there were certainly no losers at the Galetta Cookie and Square Exchange.

Last Thursday Carol Lacroix and Lana Dean, on behalf of the Galetta Community Association (GCA), hosted the sixth (or seventh) annual event, a night when budding bakers bring out their best treats to be taste-tested, shared and brought home by all in attendance.

Participants had the opportunity to bring in 40 cookies and/or squares, their recipe and a container to bring a variety of the different treats home.

Some treats are put aside for judging, and the rest are put on display. Participants form a semi-orderly line and get to grab a few baked goods from each participant’s entry to bring home. Organizers give a first prize out for best cookie, best square and best Christmas costume, why not?

Lacroix said she thought it was going to be a lonely night.

“We weren’t expecting anyone,” Lacroix told West Carleton Online from the Galetta Community Centre Thursday, Dec. 12 evening. “And now it’s the largest one we’ve ever had.”

There were 26 advance entries, “but I think we probably have a few more.”

All in attendance wore a holiday-themed costume, sweater and/or hat.

Fitzroy Harbour’s Judy Gravel, who was awarded the prize for best costume, made an old family recipe for the event – marma-date squares.

There’s a crust on the bottom, marmalade, milk, eggs and red and green cherries.

“It’s a real Christmas tradition,” said Gravel who hails from Nova Scotia. “My mom used to make this and I though I would give it a try.”

It was Gravel’s first time participating in the cookie exchange after hearing about it earlier in the year at the Galetta’s rummage sale.

“I just wanted to give it a try,” she said. “Mom (Hattie Betts) was pretty well known for making squares. I wanted to do something that would make her proud.”

Alex Dean and Matthew Skebo were brought in to judge the treats and had the enviable position of trying more than 30 different treats and picking their favourite. Harder than it sounds.

“I’m thirsty all right,” Dean said.

When the crumbs had finally settled, Galetta’s Sandra MacIntyre was winner of the best square with her Reese’s peanutbutter squares and Arnprior’s Madison Rump and Brittany Vadneau won for best cookie with their peppermint cookie dipped in white chocolate with candy cane sprinkles.