The Times’ Holiday Cookie Bake-Off 2013: Our 10 favorites

“This is a recipe handed down to me by my grandmother. It brings back many memories of my Slovak heritage. It is easy peasy to make and is a favorite of everyone.” -- Mary Martin  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Czechoslovakian nut bars   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

“Chocolate? Peppermint? What could be better for the holidays than a mash-up of chocolate and peppermint? Everywhere we have lived -- Madrid, Nairobi, Suva [Fiji], SoCal -- we’ve given these cookies as Christmas gifts to friends.” -- Ben Rode  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Chocolate peppermint snaps  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

“I have fond memories of helping my mother bake cookies each year in the kitchen as we would listen to Christmas carols. These holiday crescents were a favorite of hers, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without having a platter of them on the table.” -- Jeanne Kantak  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Mom’s holiday crescent cookies  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

“My mother made these cookies only once a year for Christmas, and somehow, only on Christmas Eve, after she had sent us to bed. They magically appeared in the morning. As time went on and it got to be too much for her, I stepped up and made them for the family.” -- Sheri Miyamoto  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Suzie’s sugar cookies  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

“My family just loves peppermint candy canes. Mandel bread is also a favorite around this time of year, and what better way to combine Christmas and Hanukkah and honor the diversity in our family.” -- Gail Field  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Candy cane chocolate mandel bread  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

“When I first decided to make these cookies, I found I did not have baking chocolate in the house. But I did know the conversion for baking chocolate to cocoa plus fat. Instead of using butter or oil, I used peanut butter and have been making them this way ever since.” -- Carol Gendel  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Chocolate peanut butter crinkles  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

“My neighbor had an overflowing Meyer lemon tree and would leave bags of lemons on my porch. What to do with all those lemons? Meyer lemon lavender shortbread cookies! The perfect combination of sweet, tart and savory.” -- Deb Love  (Christina House / For the Times)

Recipe: Meyer lemon lavender shortbread  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Recipe: Brown butter pecan shortbread  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Recipe: Frosted orange crispies  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Recipe: Pistachio-cranberry icebox cookies  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

From left to right, contest winners Sheri Miyamoto, Deb Love, Mary Martin, Ben Rode, Carol Gendel, Jeanne Kantak and Gail Field.  (Christina House / For The Times)