This month we asked our contributors, What’s your go-to holiday cookie recipe?

Amanda Ross, writer “Nordic Cool” page 32

Several years ago I came across a cranberry biscotti recipe from a 1998 copy of Bon Appétit and I’ve been riffing on it ever since (orange zest, an early2000s-brush with white chocolate). It’s actually an easy recipe, but you have to bake the biscotti twice, so it’s time-consuming but worth it—people are always surprised getting homemade biscotti (that is, when they make it out of the kitchen!).

Ema Peter, photographer “Nordic Cool” page 32

One of the go-to recipes that I watched my grandmother and mother do each Christmas was for traditional kourabia: Armenian shortbread cookies. They’re truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I always feel that making a recipe that has been done for so many generations carries a truly special meaning.

Behind the Scenes

I spent three days at this year’s Cersaie exhibition in Bologna, Italy—840 exhibitors from around the world, and in particular, Italy, showcasing the latest in ceramic and porcelain tile. Safe to say, I loved this electric “marble” tile from Sicis. For more from the show, turn to page 24.