Scotcheroo SnackDown

[Dana Lain] So, Celine, tell us about the Scotcharoo Contest. We're really excited. This is a first time contest. Tell us a little bit about it.

[Celine Hartwig, Scotcharoo Snackdown Judge]  So this is the first time that we've hosted this. My brother is actually a sponsor this year. We're just looking for good, you know, a nice, good taste, good texture. And then how does it look?

[Erin Moore, Judge] Okay, well, I definitely think this is a 10 for appearance. I love the dominoes, that is so adorable. Oh, my gosh. And they have the rules for dominoes on here. That is such a nice touch.

[Darvin Graham, Contestant] Scotcheroos are the most decadent, but the most simple dessert. I have so much nostalgia about them, growing up with them and when somebody shows up with a plate of scotcheroos to a function, that person understood the assignment. Like, they're so. They're just so good. The butterscotch is such a unique flavor, and it just really feels Iowan and it feels just perfect.

[Bill Moore, Sponsor] You know, it's kind of an Iowa thing. We were out on the east coast at a football game and Iowa football game in D.C. in Maryland, and some guy comes up and goes, I heard about these Scotcharoos from Iowa. I gotta have one. So we gave him one, you know, and so that's kind of what triggered this. I think this would be a good idea. Erin thought it'd be a good idea.

Hi, I'm Erin Moore. That was my dad talking earlier. It was a gift to him to sponsor this this year. It was my Christmas gift. So I was saying now I know what to get him every year for Christmas.

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[Dana] What started out as a unique Christmas present has turned into a really cool contest here at the Iowa State Fair.

48 people entered their Scotcheroos into this contest.

[Carrie Mueller, Contestant] I actually never entered a food contest before. And so when I saw it was a new category this year, I was like, well, first time entering, first time category. So it just kind of made sense to try.

[Tony Dahlman, Contestant] This is a recipe I got from my mom. My mom taught me everything I know about baking.

[Judge] And first place goes to Darvin Graham. Please be here. Yay. Come on up. Come on up.

[Darvin] This is my first ever food contest ever. I've been thinking about entering a scotcharoo the last couple of years in, like, a no bake category. And I saw this one come up as a scotcharoo contest. I'm like, I gotta do it.

[Judge] Well, the presentation is beautiful, but that isn't the only reason why you won. The taste is spectacular.

I've been working on a recipe over the last year or so. I've made so many batches of scotcheroos, but it's fantastic.

[Judge] Do you have a scotcheroo tattoo? That's what I thought. Okay.

[Darvin] Just a couple days ago, I got a scotcheroo tattoo on my arm. It's still kind of healing. So scotcheroos have become kind of my thing over the last year.

[Judge] He was committed, so he deserves to win.