I love making food presents to gift my dear friends as the year ends. I've made caramelized nuts, all-purpose seasoning salt and cakes galore. This year I'm going for cookies. You, too, can make these recipes for a cookie exchange or as a gift. Look for small, airtight, holiday decorated canisters, or pile them into a food-safe cellophane bag and tie them up with a holiday ribbon.

In Cynthia Graubart's book, "Sunday Suppers: Sunday Suppers: Simple, Delicious Menus for Family Gatherings" (Southern Living, $27.99), I eyed a truly Seriously Simple cookie that reminds me of Parisian peach melba sundae in the form of a shortbread cookie. I also think the book would make a lovely holiday gift for the fruit and dessert lover on your list, as it is full of wonderful menu ideas.

My own part candy bar, part cookie holiday confection is loaded with fruit, nuts and chocolate. They are fantastic on a holiday dessert buffet table and are also just right, cut into small squares, and given as holiday gifts. These can be made a couple of days ahead and will keep beautifully because there is so much moisture in the hydrated dry fruit and chocolate. Happy cookie baking!

Cynthia Graubart's Peach Melba Shortbread Bars

Makes 1 1/2 to 2 dozen bars

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup cold butter

1 cup peach preserves

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