>> FOR MANY MINNESOTANS THE STAR TRIBUNE'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY COOKIE CONTEST IS IIS A FAVORITE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IN 2018 A COLLECTION OF THE AWARD WINNING RECIPES WAS PUBLISHED.

THE GREAT MINNESOTA COOKIE BOOK WAS UPDATED THIS YEAR TO BECOME THE ULTIMATE MINNESOTA COOKIE BOOK.

AUTHORS LEE SVITAK DEAN AND NELSON OVERSAW THE CONTEST FOR YEARS.

AND THEY'RE HERE O DO SOME BAKING WITH US.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

WHAT ARE WE MAKING TODAY?

>> ALMOND PALMIAS HICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES IN THE BOOK.

SHE TOOK A RECIPE SHE EALLY LOVED AND MADE A CHEATER VERSION USING PUFF PASTRY.

AND ARRIVE AT A PARTY WITH IS EVERYBODY THINGS YOU REALLY FUSSED.

BUT IT'S REALLY EASY.

THE MOST DIFFICULT STEP IS ROLLING THE DOUGH.

THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING IN THE ENTIRE RECIPE AND LOOK AT HOW EASY IT IS.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO HAVE IT NEAT MIDDLE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REALLY BEAUTIFUL COOKIE WHICH WE'LL SHOW YOU AT THE END OF THE SHOW.

>> WHILE YOU'RE ROLLING, LEE, WHAT MAKES A MINNESOTA COOKIE?

>> WELL, FOR OUR PURPOSES IT WAS BAKERS MOSTLY FROM MINNESOTA WHO SENT IN THEIR ENTRIES AND SO MOST OF THE RECIPES ARE FROM THEM.

BUT REALLY IS ALSO INCLUDES ELEMENTS OF MINNESOTA FOR THE INGREDIENTS AND ALSO FOR INSPIRATION FROM -- FOR CREATING NEW COOKIES.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WHO'VE GONE TO CHOCOLATE STORES AND FIGURE OUT SOMETHING OUT THAT THEY WANT TO DO AS A COOKIE AND RESTAURANTS AS WELL.

SO.

>> AND WHY DO A SECOND BOOK?

>> WELL, THE FIRST BOOK CAME OUT HAD 15 EARS OF RECIPES AND WE ENDED OUR PARTICIPATION AT 20 YEARS AND E WITH THOUGHT THIS IS NOTHER GOOD MARKER FOR US.

AND ACTUAL WHEN OUR FIRST BOOK CAME OUT THE FIRST QUESTION SOMEONE ASKED ME AT A BOOK SIGNING WAS WILL YOU BE UPDATING THIS BOOK?

AND I'M LIKE IT'S BEEN OUT FOR A WEEK, BUT, OKAY, YEAH, WE'LL UPDATE IT AFTER 20 YEARS.

>> HOW DID YOU KEEP IT FRESH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

>> I THINK WHAT WAS INSPIRING TO US WAS IT WAS REALLY THE READERS, THE BAKERS WHO SENT IN THE ENTRIES WHO JUST KEPT CREATING NEW AND NEW THINGS AND WORKING OFF OF TRENDS SO IT WAS ALWAYS A VERY CREATIVE CONTEST AND SOMETHING WAS NEW EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND THAT REALLY PUSHED T