Submit a typed recipe in the online recipe submission form or email a copy (MS Word document, PDF, or text file) of your favorite or special recipe from April 1, 2025 through April 1, 2026 (all entries will receive a Certificate of Entry from Ozark Cookshack with their name printed on it). Write a short note telling why it is your favorite or special recipe (example: “My grandmother made this recipe for me whenever I went to her home” or, “My family really likes it so I make it often” etc.).

 Entries accepted from 12am April 1, 2025, running until 11:59pm April 1, 2026.

Each recipe will be made during the entry period leading up to the final selection in May 2026, and rated in a series of preliminaries that will determine ten (10) finalists. The preliminary series of judging will commence immediately following selected Wednesday Prayer services on the property wherein each recipe submitted is created and judged based on a selected set of rating standards across the board for all entries, with the top ten finalists going to the final round where a separate panel of finalist judges will pick the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize Winners, with the seven (7) runners up also receiving a prize.

 1st place winner will receive a prize of one of two option preferences:

Preference 1: Two-night stay at a Prayer Mountain Cabin for free and/or appear on one of Ozark Nana's CookShack cook show episodes to make your winning recipe (travel not included).

 Preference 2: Gift certificate of the same value as option preference #1 for any available in-stock CookShack merchandise and/or Billye Brim Ministries Prayer Mountain Bookstore merchandise ($200.00 value - no cash exchange).

 2nd place winner will receive the three items listed here:

1. Orange Cookshack Logo apron

2. Orange CookShack Logo cap

3. Green or Burgundy CookShack Logo mug

*Plus a $15.00 Prayer Mountain Bookstore Gift Certificate

 3rd place winner will receive their choice of two of the three items listed here:

1. Orange Cookshack Logo apron

2. Orange CookShack Logo cap

3. Green or Burgundy CookShack Logo mug

*Plus a $10.00 Prayer Mountain Bookstore Gift Certificate

 The 7 remaining runners up will each receive a CookShack Logo Mug.

Dessert categories:

Cakes, cake pops, cupcakes, muffins, pies, cobblers, crisps

Cookies/bars, brownies, fudge

Puddings, custards, mousse, ice cream

Pastries, tarts

Candy soft and hard

JUDGING (total of 25 points):

Entries will be assigned a number and judging will take place before the entrant’s names are identified.

- Overall Appearance/Presentation: up to 5 points

- Flavor (aroma, taste, and balance of flavoring): up to 5 points

- Texture/Consistency: up to 5 points

- Moistness/Crumb (as applicable to category): up to 5 points

- Creativity/Originality: up to 5 points

 SCORING :

Each judge assigns a numerical value for each dessert without consultation with other judges. The dessert with the highest total numerical value is a winner. In case of a tie, judges will judge the ties again selecting the best of the final.

 Winners will be announced during May, 2026; exact date will be confirmed to all finalists.