It's An LA Cookie Tasting Party! Here's How You Can Take A Bite

Calling all cookie monsters…

You know what’s better than a freshly baked cookie? A freshly baked cookie for a good cause.

At least that’s how I’m justifying all the delicious carb calories I plan on diving into at BakeCamp Los Angeles, a cookie-tasting blowout that will take place over three days in October — which happens to be National Cookie Month. And the event benefits PawWorks.Org, a local animal rescue organization.

The sweet details

BakeCamp will see amateur and pro bakers from across L.A. serve up their signature cookies for a panel of L.A. foodie judges — and ticket holders who can taste it all. There are more than 50 bakers scheduled for each event, all vying to be named L.A.’s favorite cookie baker, and a chance to have their cookie on the menu at TheCravory.com, which ships cookies nationwide and has a handful of bricks-and-mortar outlets in Southern California.

At any one time, there will be 10,000 cookies in the room, said organizer Babette Pepaj, who is also the L.A.-based founder of BakeSpace.com, launched in 2006 as the first food-themed social network and recipe swap.

“Cookies make people happy,” Pepaj said. She has been dazzled by the variety of cookies that are being served up. “The recipes are really a reflection of how unique LA is.”

One example: A gluten-free churro cookie made with Mexican vanilla and homemade dulce de leche by baker Ashley Gomez of Naughty Bake Haus Bakery (her mission in life is proving that gluten-free doesn’t have to be boring). These cookies "will send you to heaven," she said.

As you might expect, the lineup includes plenty of variations on the CCCs. Such as mint marshmallow chocolate chip. A funfetti chocolate chip. A triple chocolate chip. A deluxe triple chocolate chip…

No one can believe these walnut chocolate chip cookies are dairy free, said baker Jacqueline Ruiz.

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Jacqueline Ruiz

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And online baker Jacqueline Ruiz of Granada Hills, who dreams of opening her own bakery shop someday, is putting her unique spin on this favorite with organic and dairy-free chocolate chip cookie bars. "A lot of people are surprised" when they learn her cookies are dairy free. "But so many people are grateful because they have intolerances."

Custom macaron maker Lucy Tomkiewicz of @_FromLu is making Barbenheimer Macarons: One is hot pink with a pink lemonade and lots of edible sparkles, while the others are a tie-dye bright orange, black and pink, and pack a spicy, smoky hot chocolate punch. “It’s got some kick to it,” she said.

She recently moved to Hollywood from Denver and said she signed up for the competition because she’s a dog lover, and she's been searching for a "bake-minded community in L.A.”

Custom macaron maker Lucy Tomkiewicz of Hollywood put a sweet spin on the Barbenheimer sensation of the summer.

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Lucy Tomkiewicz

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BakeCamp Los Angeles

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The details

Tickets start at $28 (which will get you seven cookie tastings of your choice) and go up from there.

There’s a $65 “Cookie Bliss Pass” that includes 25 tastings and no waiting in lines. And there’s also a $125 pass for all three weekends. (To the person who buys this all access pass: I salute you.) Ticket holders also get to cast their votes for best amateur baker and best professional baker.

While the event is not open to pets, Pepaj said, there will be puppies: Paw Works, which is known for its work with noted animal lover Kaley Cuoco, will have several puppies at the front door, in the hopes that a few cookie lovers will want to begin the process to take one of them home.

Where and when

Saturday, Oct 7th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Location: First Presbyterian Church, 1760 N Gower St

Saturday, Oct 14th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Location: Pacific Palisades Woman's Club, 901 Haverford Ave, Pacific Palisades

Sunday, Oct 22nd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Location: Valley Relics Museum, C3 & C4 Entrance on, 7900 Balboa Blvd, Stagg St, Van Nuys