♪♪ >> WE'RE BACK WITH LEE SVITAK DEAN AND NELSON, AUTHORS OF THE ORIGINAL AND UPDATED VERSIONS OF THE STAR TRIBUNE COOKIE BOOK.

LET'S CHECK OUT THE FINISHED COOKIES.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF POWDERED SUGAR ON THE TOP AND THEY'LL BE READY TO EAT.

>> THOSE LOOK FABULOUS.

RICK, HOW DID YOU JUDGE THE WINNERS?

THERE'S PROBABLY SO MANY RECIPES THAT CAME IN.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF 20 YEARS WE GOT ABOUT 5,000 RECIPES.

>> WOW.

>> WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, ORIGINAL NATIONALITY, DID THEY LOOK GREAT, OF COURSE DID THEY TASTE GREAT, DID THEY USE SOME KIND OF UNUSUAL INGREDIENT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO REPEAT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE WERE BUILDING UP AN ARCHIVE SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT AS WELL.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRENDS YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS?

>> EARLY ON WE SAW SOME RECIPES THAT HAD BROWNED BUTTER, THEY STARTED MOVING INTO DIFFERENT KINDS OF NUTS, TAPPING INTO LIQUEURS, THERE WAS REALLY A BIGGIE FOR A WHILE.

AND WE HAD SOME UNUSUAL INGREDIENTS.

>> ONE YEAR WE GOT SIX OR SEVEN ENTRIES THAT ALL INCLUDED KALE.

FOR SOME REASON KALE WAS VERY BIG THAT YEAR.

IT DOESN'T BELONG IN A COOKIE BY THE WAY.

>> THEY DIDN'T WIN, RIGHT?

NO.

>> THEY DIDN'T WIN, NO.

>> AND WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE WITH OUR COOKIE ASSORTMENT?

>> WE HAVE FIVE COOKIES HERE.

THESE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE.

THIS INVOLVES FRESH CRANBERRIES AND PECANS AND YOU SWIRL THEM.

THE CHOCOLATE ADDS CHILI AND CINNAMON FLAVORS KIND OF LIKE MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE.

>> OVER HERE WE HAVE ALMOND CHERRY MARZIPAN REFRIGERATOR COOKIES, MOLASSES COOKIES WITH ORANGE AND FRESH GINGER THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

CANDIED GINGER, RATHER.

AND HERE WE HAVE CANDIED CORNMEAL COOKIES THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ROSEMARY IN IT, THAT REALLY ADDS A NICE HOLIDAY FLAVOR.

>> WELL, IT SMELLS TERRIFIC N SET HERE.

AND IT'S THE 22ND YEAR OF THE CONTEST AND THIS YEAR'S WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE STAR TRIBUNE PAGES ON DECEMBER 5TH.

THE ULTIMATE MINNESOTA COOKIE BOOK IS ON SHELVES NOW.