Chefs compete in Challenge Butter event

Dublin, Calif.-based butter brand, Challenge Butter, has kicked off its inaugural “Recipe for Caring Holiday Celebrity Chef Challenge,” where three celebrity chefs compete for cash to donate to charities of their choice.

Hosted on the Challenge Butter website, the contest profiles three chefs alongside their specially created holiday recipe. The winning chef will receive $5,000 to donate toward his or her charity; the runners-up will receive $2,500. Prizes awarded to voters include a $2,500 grand prize, as well as coupons and one of 10 holiday Good Cook Bakeware prize packs.

“Challenge Butter has played a role in holiday recipes and traditions for more than 100 years,” said Tim Anderson, SVP of Retail and Food Service for Challenge Dairy Products, Inc. “This holiday season we look forward to a new tradition of giving back while celebrating the holidays.”

The three participating chefs include Gale Gand, founding executive pastry chef and partner of the restaurant TRU in Chicago, and host of the Food Network series, “Sweet Dreams”; Jon Ashton, food correspondent for “The Daily Buzz,” and contributing editor for PARADE and Dash Magazine; and Avery Pursell, owner and executive chef of “All Diced Up,” the L.A.-based private dining and restaurant consultation service.

Gand’s recipe is Coconut Pecan Butter Crunch Cookies, and her charity of choice is the West Deerfield Food Bank; Ashton’s recipe is Savory Olive & Parmesan Scones made with Lindsay Olives, and his charity is Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee; Avery’s recipe submission is Apple Pie with Hot Buttered Rum Sauce, and her charity is HIS KIDS, an organization that helps families affected by childhood cancer.

Fans can vote daily for their favorite recipe by visiting Challenge Butter’s website or Facebook page through Jan. 15, 2013.

As the largest butter brand in the West, Challenge Butter's products are available in 25 states nationwide.