Portland Craft
Chocolate Festival
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C4 — Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition
Meet C4 — the Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition at the Portland Craft Chocolate Festival. It’s a celebration of community and one of the world’s most beloved treats, baked with the ingredient we love most: great chocolate. Bring your best batch to the Olympic Mills Building, October 2–4, 2026.
A Cookie for Everyone
The chocolate chip cookie brings people together like nothing else — warm from the oven, shared with friends, and loved across every generation. C4 is our way of celebrating that joy, from first–time bakers to seasoned pros. Everyone has a recipe worth sharing.
Three Divisions
Choose the division that fits you and bake your heart out. Every entry is judged alongside others in its division, so bakers of all ages and experience levels have their moment to shine.
Youth — for our youngest bakers, ages 12 and younger. Bring a parent or guardian and a whole lot of fun.
Home Bakers — for kitchen enthusiasts ages 13 and up. Share the recipe your family asks for again and again.
Professional Bakers — for bakeries, pastry chefs, and culinary pros ready to show off their craft.
How to Enter
Entry is free for our first year! Each entry also includes a single–day festival admission for Saturday, October 3, with 3 PM entry. You may submit one entry per person. Here’s how it works:
Register online by September 15 and choose your division
Bake one dozen (12) chocolate chip cookies in advance — no on–site baking
Label them with your name and division, and note if your entry is dietary–restricted (vegan and/or gluten–free)
Bring them in an air–tight disposable container to Ranger Chocolate Co. (107 SE Washington St) on Friday, October 2, 8 AM – 3 PM
Read the full competition guidelines (PDF)
Awards & Prizes
In every division, our judges award gold, silver, and bronze — one winner and two runners–up — so there’s more than one way to take home a trophy.
Gold — the winning cookie in each division
Silver & Bronze — the two runners–up in each division
Winners receive a trophy, a curated gift box from local makers (chocolate, treats, gift cards, swag), and bragging rights
Runners–up take home a smaller trophy and surprise treats
Key Dates
C4 takes place across the festival weekend at the Olympic Mills Building. Mark your calendar:
Tuesday — September 15
Registration deadline — sign up online before this date
Friday — October 2
Cookie drop–off at Ranger Chocolate Co.
107 SE Washington St, 8 AM – 3 PM
Saturday — October 3
Judging during the day; winners announced in the afternoon
Your entry includes festival admission with 3 PM entry