This article is part of a round-up on local Los Angeles holiday food gifts - products made right here in Southern California that make perfect holiday gifts for the foodies in your life. There's no better way to support our local farmers and artisan food makers this holiday season.

There are many variations of mandel bread, a biscotti-like cookie made famous by Jewish bakers around the world. Aunt Erma's Mandel Bread comes from an old family recipe - in fact, the only surviving recipe from a legendary Jewish cook (founder Phil Weinstein's grandmother) who never wrote anything down. Her version is studded with chocolate chips and dusted with cinnamon sugar for a holiday treat every family will enjoy.

The cookies are made in Pasadena and available both online at the Aunt Erma's website and at Whole Foods markets in Beverly Hills, Fairfax and Hollywood.