Sykesville Resident First-Ever Male to Win
Farm Show Cocoa Classic Baking Contest
Harrisburg – Michael Zaffuto, the Sykesville Ag and Youth Fair finalist, was the first male ever to best entries from across the state in the Hershey’s® Cocoa Classic Cookie, Brownie or Bar Contest held Saturday, Jan. 7, at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Zaffuto’s Strawberry Shortcake Brownies recipe topped 79 entries and won him a $250 prize. As the first male to win the grand prize, the 13-year-old said, “I made it up. I wanted to do something different.”
Second place and $100 prize was awarded to Dannah Robosson of Fulton County. Matthew Brown of Elizabeth, Lancaster County took third place and $50 prize. Fourth place went to Jada Yanek of Allentown, and fifth place went to Marlana Knab from the Claysburg Farm Show, Blair County.
A panel of five judges sifted through entries scoring them on flavor, texture, creativity and inside and outside characteristics.
Winning Recipe:
Strawberry Shortcake Brownies
Ingredients:
Bottom Layer:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup Hershey’s® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
Top Layer:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. Philadelphia® Cream Cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
Bottom Layer:
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Melt Hershey’s® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in microwave or double boiler. Add to previous mixture. Combine the flour and salt; add to creamed mixture until blended.
Spread into a greased 9X13 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Do not over bake). Cool in pan or on a wire rack.
Top Layer:
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; add to creamed mixture until blended.
Spread into a greased 9X13 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Do not over bake). Cool in pan or on a wire rack.
Using two different size round cutters, cut pieces of both brownies.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
In mixer, cream the cream cheese, add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
Using 1 cup Hershey’s® Milk Chocolate Chips; melt in double boiler or microwave. Dip fresh strawberries and set on wax paper to harden.
To assemble brownies:
Spread a layer of frosting on the bottom layer, add a layer of thinly sliced strawberries top with top layer. Drizzle some of the melted chocolate on top of this layer, garnish with a chocolate covered strawberry.
Pictured, top, judges take a bite into the many entries during the Hershey’s Cocoa Classic Cookie Contest held on Saturday during the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show held in Harrisburg. Michael Zaffuto of Jefferson County proudly shows his $250 check after winning the Hershey’s Cocoa Classic Cookie Competition.
Provided by PA Department of Agriculture
Zaffuto’s Strawberry Shortcake Brownies recipe topped 79 entries and won him a $250 prize. As the first male to win the grand prize, the 13-year-old said, “I made it up. I wanted to do something different.”
Second place and $100 prize was awarded to Dannah Robosson of Fulton County. Matthew Brown of Elizabeth, Lancaster County took third place and $50 prize. Fourth place went to Jada Yanek of Allentown, and fifth place went to Marlana Knab from the Claysburg Farm Show, Blair County.
A panel of five judges sifted through entries scoring them on flavor, texture, creativity and inside and outside characteristics.
Winning Recipe:
Strawberry Shortcake Brownies
Ingredients:
Bottom Layer:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup Hershey’s® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
Top Layer:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. Philadelphia® Cream Cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
Bottom Layer:
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Melt Hershey’s® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in microwave or double boiler. Add to previous mixture. Combine the flour and salt; add to creamed mixture until blended.
Spread into a greased 9X13 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Do not over bake). Cool in pan or on a wire rack.
Top Layer:
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; add to creamed mixture until blended.
Spread into a greased 9X13 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Do not over bake). Cool in pan or on a wire rack.
Using two different size round cutters, cut pieces of both brownies.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
In mixer, cream the cream cheese, add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
Using 1 cup Hershey’s® Milk Chocolate Chips; melt in double boiler or microwave. Dip fresh strawberries and set on wax paper to harden.
To assemble brownies:
Spread a layer of frosting on the bottom layer, add a layer of thinly sliced strawberries top with top layer. Drizzle some of the melted chocolate on top of this layer, garnish with a chocolate covered strawberry.
Pictured, top, judges take a bite into the many entries during the Hershey’s Cocoa Classic Cookie Contest held on Saturday during the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show held in Harrisburg. Michael Zaffuto of Jefferson County proudly shows his $250 check after winning the Hershey’s Cocoa Classic Cookie Competition.
Provided by PA Department of Agriculture
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