Baking memories, from our cookie contest

Yes, the recipes are the major takeaway in our 12th annual Taste Holiday Cookie Contest. But the contestants' traditions and stories behind those recipes? They're priceless. We had almost 300 entries, and the excerpts that follow are just a sampling from the letters we received. Find more than 60 terrific cookie recipes at startribune.com/cookie, as well as this year's winner, Italian Almond Cookies.

"One thing that I find so great about baking — especially around the holidays — is that it ties generations together. I have many fond memories of standing on tippy-toes at the kitchen counter, frosting sugar cookies and listening to Christmas music and dancing around with my brother and parents. The kitchen was a mess, the smell of freshly baked cookies filled the house, and I loved every minute of it. It's amazing how with just a few basic ingredients, you can create something that will be enjoyed by the youngest of family members to the oldest."

Josh Person, Minneapolis

"Christmas with my family is a tradition of homemade heritage. While others are planning their Black Friday shopping trips before Thanksgiving, Mom and I are strategizing which cookies to bake and who bakes what. There are the staples: spritz, krumkake, gingerbread and the 2011 winner, Swedish Almond-Chocolate Macaroons, which my husband must have ever since I attempted them the winning year. But every year we try something new, resurrect an old goody from years ago, or put a twist on a staple."

Jena Bushey, St. Paul

"When I retired about 10 years ago, I started to bake cookies before Christmas, giving them away as presents. Most of my recipes come from the Taste Holiday Cookie Contest. Last year I baked over 6,000 cookies, for over 40 cookie bags, 24 different recipes and half-dozen holiday cookie trays. I look forward to your contest winners to try new recipes, and my gift recipients are always excited to receive them, as they're usually too busy to bake. Thank you for hosting this wonderful event!"

Mary Jo Duncan, Brooklyn Park

"This recipe has been a Christmas staple since I can remember, and that's a long time."

Nora Peterson, Chaska

"My mother and three of my aunts — Delores, Edna Mae and Judy — started a family tradition in the 1960s of getting together to make these tarts every Christmas. Each one took turns having it at their home. The hostess would provide lunch for everyone. They took a break to eat and also exchanged small Christmas ornaments with each other. I joined these wonderful ladies as part of the tradition about 15 years ago. Now it is only my mother and me. It is a time to be together, laugh, have fun and of course exchange an ornament with each other. I dream of one day carrying on this tradition of making tarts with my own daughter and granddaughter. I suppose we could invite my grandson if he behaves. I am so very lucky."

Anne Salmela, Minnetonka

"This recipe comes from my mom, Lois Peterson. For as long as I can remember, Mom would make this peanut brittle during the holidays. What made it so special was that she'd not only make it for our family, but she'd also make batch after batch to give away to people like the postman, the milkman and even the school bus driver. I remember taking a bag of peanut brittle down our long driveway on the farm and placing it in the mailbox with a note saying, 'Merry Christmas from the Petersons.' To this day I've kept up her tradition and place a bag in our mailbox for our postal carrier, and one on our front doorstep for our Star Tribune news carrier."

Joy Donley, Maplewood

"My mom and I get together every year to make dozens upon dozens of Christmas cookies. By the time we are done the kitchen is covered in a layer of flour and we have sugar pulsing through our veins from all the taste-testing. Of course we have our favorites that we just need to make, but we also love experimenting with new recipes or adding a twist to one of the classics. We have even found that sometimes all of the recipe planning is just as fun as the actual baking."

Jenna Duesterhoeft, Minneapolis, and Dori Duesterhoeft, Hutchinson, Minn.

"It's interesting to me how a simple cookie can affect a person, but that is the effect it has had on me. Perhaps it is an indicator on how important traditions, no matter what kind, are for a person. Our family certainly has many different traditions, and it is those things that make us feel at home, wherever that may be."

Brenda Darkow, Chanhassen

"This is an old recipe, handed down from one of my great-grandmothers. Even though I never met her, I love the feeling of connectedness I get when I make one of these 100-year-old recipes. This cookie is the one that always marked the beginning of Christmas baking."

Dee Emmerich, Lakefield, Minn.

"Making these bars reminds me of Mom and Dad and family."

Maureen Johnson, Edina

"In 1961, I was newly married and collecting recipes in order to be a good little homemaker. The December 1961 issue [of Woman's Day magazine] had Christmas cookie recipes, and I tried several of them. By far our favorite was one called Greek Christmas Cookies. Although the recipe comes from Woman's Day, I now consider these my own. The wonderful smell of these spicy cookies in the oven is an essential part of our holidays."

Julia Wallace, Minneapolis

"When the scent of anise floats through our home, my family knows that the Christmas holiday season has arrived! It has been that way for decades. My paternal aunt gave the sugar cookie recipe to my mother, who chose to make a softer cookie by adding sour cream to the dough. It has been our go-to cutout Christmas cookie ever since."

Melody Baker, Plymouth

"Gingerbread is such a holiday staple, especially at my house."

Beth Henrich, Edina

"I am happy to be the fourth generation to make this cookie, and can only imagine that Grandma and Aunt Emma would be pleased to be remembered with this recipe."

Ann Garland, Plymouth

"Ever since I was a small child, our family dedicated Thanksgivings to Christmas cookie baking and decorating while my dad worked. We had to hide any unfrosted cookies before Dad got home, so he wouldn't eat them prematurely. This annual tradition gave our family many priceless memories. Like many happy traditions, it's tough to quit. So, I'll continue baking for the holidays."

Jewel Pickert, Hastings

"My cookie story begins 25 years ago with the birth of our first grandchild. I wanted to make fun memories. I would make rollout cookies in the shape of Santa, Christmas trees, snowmen and so on. Decorating day would arrive with lots of smiles. Lots of mess, lots of fun."

Bunny Dunsmore, Ham Lake

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