Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota Press
“The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book,” a 328-page collection of award-winning recipes from two decades of the Star Tribune’s holiday cookie contest, mixes beautiful photographs, tips, essays, and insights for expert and novice bakers alike into a delectably delicious compilation of confections.
In the book, co-authors and past contest judges Lee Svitak Dean and Rick Nelson highlight all things sweet, sugary, and perhaps nontraditional. “There are no snickerdoodles or chocolate chip cookies in this volume,” Svitak Dean says. “We have Maple-Roasted Walnut Delights, Buttery Blueberry Buttons, Cinnamon Cookie-Butter Sandwich Cookies, and so many more surprises for bakers.” Her favorite, though, is the Cranberry Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies recipe, “which introduces a bit of rosemary into the mix as well,” she says. (Meanwhile, Nelson points instead to the Almond Palmiers as his go-to. “They’re incredibly easy to make, but because they’re so elegant, delicate, [and] delicious, they exude a distinct ‘I fussed’ aura.”)
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock/weyo
Homeowners don’t need to feel intimated to pull out the rolling pin and KitchenAid either. “There are recipes for every skill level,” explains Nelson. “We deliberately selected winners and finalists each year that represented a range of techniques. That’s what’s great about baking cookies—it’s a process that appeals to everyone, from first-time bakers to talented veterans.” Svitak Dean adds, “The best part of baking cookies, especially for a novice, is that it is rare for a cookie to be inedible. It might be misshapen, but few people will turn away a less-than-perfect cookie.”
“Baking, and the happy memories that it creates and invokes, has always been a big part of the December holiday season,” says Nelson. “It’s great that this contest has become a part of that cherished tradition.”
