When you put aside their views on foreign policy, immigration and health care, there's only one thing that can conclusively decide whether a presidential candidate deserves to enter the White House or not.

Their partner's cookie recipes. 

According to American magazine Family Circle, their Presidential Cookie Poll has correctly predicted who will win in five out of six past elections and has returned this year to help voters find out which First Lady or First Man deserves to enter the White House.

Choc chip cookie | ELLE UKpinterest
Pinterest: m.demotivateur.fr

According to the magazine, the poll stared in 1992 after Hillary Clinton spoke out about continuing her career while her husband ran for office.

'You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life,' she said.

Cue the cookie poll.

Cookie | ELLE UKpinterest
Pinterest: wholebiteblog

Unlike previous polls, this year's is causing controversy from both Clinton and Trump's cookie camps.

Despite being a vegan since 2010, Bill has submitted his family's traditional chocolate-chip-cookie recipe to the competition – with eggs. But for someone who hasn't eaten eggs in six years, voters are worried the former President might not be an expert when it comes to mixture and taste.

Chocolate cookies | ELLE UKpinterest
Gastro Senses//Getty Images

Meanwhile, Melania has called her cookies 'star cookies' (we presume in an attempt to be patriotic to the country of stars and stripes) but has included a recipe that includes egg yolks and sour cream. 

Yup, sour cream.

Voting for the best Presidential cookie recipe starts today. All you have to do is follow the recipes and decide which one deserves the winning title.

Let the best bake win. 

Try out the future first Lady/Man's recipes below:

Melania Trump's Star Cookies

Makes 4 dozen cookies 

Prep 15 minutes 

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes per batch

  • 2          cups all-purpose flour
  • ½         tsp baking soda
  •  6          tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1          cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2          egg yolks
  • 1          egg white
  • 2          tbsp sour cream
  1. Combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
  1. Beat butter and sugar until blended. Add egg yolks, egg white and sour cream. Beat until smooth.
  2. Beat in flour mixture until dough just comes together. Form into 2 disks, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
  3. Heat oven to 350°. Roll out one disk on liberally floured wax paper with a floured rolling pin to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 21/2-inch star cutter, cut out star shapes and place on a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with second disk. Gather up scraps, form into a disk and refrigerate.
  4. Bake 10 minutes per batch, until lightly golden. Slide cookies onto a cooling rack and cool.
  5. Re-roll scraps, cut out additional stars and bake.
Stars | ELLE UKpinterest
flickr.com

Clinton Family's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 4 1/2 dozen cookies 

Prep 15 minutes 

Bake at 350° for 12 minutes

  • 1 1/2    cups unsifted all-purpose flour
  • 1          tsp salt
  • 1          tsp baking soda
  • 1          cup solid vegetable shortening
  • 1          cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2       cup granulated sugar
  • 1          tsp vanilla extract
  • 2          eggs
  • 2          cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1          pkg (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  1. Heat oven to 350°. Grease 2 large baking sheets.
  2. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. 
  3. Beat together shortening, sugars and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, beating until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour mixture and rolled oats. Stir in chocolate chips. 
  4. Drop batter by well-rounded teaspoons onto greased baking sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden. Cool cookies on sheets on a wire rack for 2 minutes. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
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Katie O'Malley
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.