And the Presidential Bake-Off Winner Is: Michelle Obama (but Just Barely)!

The results are in, and the winner of Family Circle magazine's Presidential Cookie Bake-Off is: First Lady Michelle Obama. But just barely.

Related: How to make cookies on your stove top

Only 287 votes separated the two recipes -- the smallest margin ever, according to the magazine's editors. Out of the more than 9,000 readers who weighted in, 51.5 percent chose the first lady's White and Dark Chocolate Chip cookies over Ann Romney's M&M's cookies, which won 48.5 percent of the vote.

"If we want to splurge, these White and Dark Chocolate Chip cookies, created by the girls' godmother, are the perfect special treat," Obama said when she submitted her recipe in June.

But readers -- who baked, tasted, and voted from June 27 through August 15 -- also loved Romney's recipe, which she said is a family favorite.

"They smell delicious coming out of the oven," Romney told Family Circle. "Our grandkids can't resist them!"

Related: Amazing guilt-free cookies

The magazine has held the contest since 1992, when Hillary Clinton's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies beat out Barbara Bush's Classic Chocolate Chip cookies.

Oddly enough, the bake-off winner's husband has gone on to win the White House every year except 2008, when Cindy McCain's Oatmeal-Butterscotch cookies won over Obama's Shortbread cookies. You can find all of the past winning recipes at FamilyCircle.com, but if you want to start making this year's contenders right away, we've got them both for you right here:

Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Submitted by Michelle Obama)
Makes 5 dozen cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 stick butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup mint chocolate chips (Or Andes mints pieces)
2 cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, whisk toothier flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

On low speed, beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts by hand.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

M&M's Cookies
(Submitted by Ann Romney)
Makes 3 dozen cookies

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
6 ounces chocolate chips
2/3 cup M&M's candies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream sugars, butter, peanut butter, and corn syrup with an electric mix until well combined.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix together oats and baking soda. Stir oat mixture into peanut butter mixture until combined, then mix in chocolate chips and M&M's.

Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets and bake at 325 degrees for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.