As the EatingWell Test Kitchen manager, I've looked forward to our annual cookie contest for the past six years. Even though I was on maternity leave during most of this year's contest, overseeing the selection process was one part of my job that I just couldn't give up.
Related: 18 of Our Favorite Prize-Winning Holiday Cookies
We asked our readers for the best recipes for healthy, festive holiday cookies and more than 300 recipes flooded my mailbox. The recipes were screened by our registered dietitian to cull those that were too high in saturated fat, sodium and/or calories.
Related: 5 Secrets for Baking Healthier Cookies
Amazing Little Cookies for 100 Calories or Less
In the end, we baked and sampled more than 60 recipes (over 1,500 cookies!) before narrowing them down to the 10 semifinalists that would advance to the final round of voting.
Related: Healthy Cookies, Bars and Brownies
Luckily, my daughter's arrival cooperated with our deadline, and I returned to the office just in time for the grand taste test. This year's Grand Prize-winning cookie, Nana's Creole Pecan Cake Bars (see the recipe below), packed with inherently healthy dates, pecans and just enough (but not too much) butter, is the perfect example of a truly delicious cookie that you don't have to feel guilty about enjoying during the holidays.
Related: 2010 Prize-Winning Cookies
Nana's Creole Pecan Cake Bars
Recipe by Jeanine Dinsmore Elk Grove, California
Makes: 4 dozen bars
Active time: 30 minutes | Total: 2 hours | To make ahead: Store airtight for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. | Equipment: 17-by-12-inch baking sheet, parchment paper
