Cookie showdown: Ann Romney vs. Michelle Obama

The first lady and the woman who could take her title in November are throwing down to win a much more sensitive title: best cookie recipe.

Michelle Obama and Ann Romney are participating in this year’s “Presidential Cookie Bake-Off,” a tradition hosted by Family Circle magazine. This year, the magazine is getting their Facebook fans involved, asking for votes on the two submitted recipes. Obama has submitted a recipe for white and dark chocolate chip cookies, while Romney’s chosen treat is M&M cookies.

According to the magazine, “all but one [bake-off] winner went on to live in the White House,” suggesting American taste buds just might be prophetic.

While Obama is known for her healthy eating initiative, her cookie recipe actually contains three kinds of chocolate chips: white, milk chocolate, and mint chocolate. According to her description of the recipe, the Obamas only indulge as a “special treat.”

“Every evening, Barack, the girls and I sit down for a family dinner with good conversation and healthy food. If we want to splurge, these White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies, created by the girls’ godmother, are the perfect special treat,” she wrote.

Romney, who — judging by the recipes she shares on her Pinterest page — also tends to be a health-conscious chef, includes peanut butter and oatmeal in her cookies along with chocolate chips and M&M candies.

“Mitt and I love spending time with our children and grandchildren. Whenever we get together you can be sure that we’ll mix up a batch of our family favorite M&M’s Cookies. They smell delicious coming out of the oven—our grandkids can’t resist them!” Romney wrote in her recipe description.

Whatever other differences these two women might have, their recipe descriptions show they both associate good cookies with family time.

Both recipes are available on the Family Circle Facebook page, where readers can use the recipes to make a batch of both and vote on their favorite. Obama is already stumping for votes, tweeting about the contest on Tuesday.

Family Circle magazine has run the same contest since 1992, when Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton each submitted a cookie recipe. All of those recipes are available on the magazine website.

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