These 10 delectable recipes are the winners in our first Country Home Holiday Cookie Contest. Hundreds of readers sent in their most prized cookie recipes, resulting in a tasty collection that’s sure to dazzle family and friends this holiday season.

Lemon Blackberry Dainties
Teresa Ralston, New Albany, OH
“One of our favorite times of the year is our traditional Christmas-cookie baking extravaganza. Before the big event, my four children and I snuggle by the fire contemplating what we will bake each year.” One of Teresa’s family favorites (and ours) is this pastry-like sandwich cookie filled with lemon curd and blackberry jam.

Granny and Nana’s Peppernuts Cookies  
Elaine Schroeder Ponton, Holtville, CA
“This recipe has been in my family for generations. It came from Germany, written in German.” Our contest judges were smitten with the hearty anise-molasses flavor.

Peppermint-Frosted Chocolate Yummies
Amy Struck, Michigamme, MI
Amy started making these chocolate-drizzled dream cookies as a teen and tweaked them until they became her signature recipe. “It’s a lot of fun to be recognized as the lady who made those wonderful cookies.”
 
Hazelnut Orange Fingers
Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, IL
“We especially enjoy this cookie because it is a fun family project, with my husband and daughter helping crack the nuts, shape the dough, and dip the cookies.” Crisp and almost biscotti-like, these are dipped and drizzled in chocolate and look stunning on a cookie platter.

Luke’s Christmas Love Cookies
Michele Ranard, Roscoe, IL
“These cookies are named for my son Luke, who has been devouring them since toddler-hood. He would stand next to me on a chair at the counter where we cut out stars. My sons are teenagers now, but we still stand side by side and bake them with love.” What’s really fun about them is the billowy marshmallow icing.

Red Velvet Holiday Cookies
Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, CA  
“It’s not just the kids who love this new addition to our holiday-cookie family. The adults have really taken a liking to this new classic.” After all, who can resist red velvet cake—especially in cakey cookie form with a stenciled cocoa snowflake atop?

Cherries Jubilee Cookies
Diane Nemitz, Ludington, MI
“These are equally good with a glass of milk, cup of tea, or glass of wine. They are always a big hit when I serve them to friends and family.” Our tasters were intrigued with the five-spice powder and brandy-soaked cherries.

Cucidata (Italian Fig Cookies)
Rosalie McIntosh, Highland, NY
“These cookies are soft and not too sweet. Each year I mail some to my cousins in Brooklyn, who look forward to it.” We can see why. The raisin, fig, cherry, and orange filling has a lush, old-world taste.

Mexican Chocolate Brownies
Suzanne Burhalter, Carlsbad, CA
“Our family loves Mexican hot chocolate. We especially enjoy it when we are decorating the tree at Christmas.” The rich, hint-of-cinnamon taste of the hot chocolate is captured with great success in cookie form with Suzanne’s fudgy, pecan-studded brownies.

Lemon Raspberry Swirls
Bonnie Massimino, Brookeville, MD
“The kids love the swirl of color in this cookie—it reminds them of an old-fashioned lollipop.” While they are unmistakably whimsical, these swirly sweets win with their fruity-almond goodness as well.