Holiday baked good bracket: Voting kicks off to choose the ultimate winter treat

CBC Calgary's The Homestretch is hosting a fierce competition this holiday season — a serious showdown to determine the ultimate holiday baked good.

Columnists and members of The Homestretch team have each chosen the one holiday treat they would feel lost without during this time of year.

Sixteen baked goods are going to face off online, two-by-two, March Madness-style, until only two baked goods are left standing.

Voting takes place daily Dec. 10-17, with finals on Dec. 18 and 19, and the chosen treat revealed on Dec. 20.

Let the best baked good win.

For day one, we have two matchups:

Gingerbread vs. Butter tarts

Doug Dirks, The Homestretch's host, has chosen a holiday classic: gingerbread, the spicy cookies that can either be chewy or snap with a satisfying crunch — and make for adorably decorated tiny houses.

But he has stiff competition from Terri Campbell, The Homestretch's producer, with a Canadian staple: butter tarts. The sweet pastries have a crunchy top, and can either have no fillings, or raisins added — the varieties are always a subject of debate.

(Can't see the poll below? Click here to vote for gingerbread vs butter tart. Voting closes midnight Monday, Dec. 10.)

Olliebollen vs. Vinaterta

Kim Linekin, The Homestretch's pop culture columnist, ventured out of the box with her pick. Ollibollen are a type of dutch pastry, similar to a donut, that are fried and filled with raisins.

The Homestretch naturalist Brian Keating also got creative, with Vinaterta or Vienna Cake. The cake is made of alternating layers of biscuit, spiced jam and crushed walnuts, that look like a baked Nanaimo bar when cut into — served with black coffee.

(Can't see the poll below? Click here to vote for olliebollen vs. vinaterta. Voting closes midnight Monday, Dec. 10.)