Cookie Traditions

Sugar cookie cutouts, spritz, jam thumbprints, gingerbread are some of the cookies I associate with  christmas time. I remember making christmas cookies with my mom, in fact I don’t remember a time when I didn’t make cookies.  We had the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and made our favorites from these recipes. As my daughter grew up, we made christmas cookies together.  Her favorite was and still is sugar cookie cutouts. Using the box of cookie cutters, we made stars, bells, cats, dogs, reindeer, and trains. Once when she was learning to bake on her own, she mixed the butter for so long it turned into a greasy mess. Second try was much better. 

The history of christmas cookies and traditions evolved slowly around the world. The winter solstice rituals and celebrations included food gathering and feasting. By the Middle Ages in Europe cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and dried fruit including apricots became available through trading. These spices were used to create flavorful sweets. These spices continue to be especially important at christmas. Gingerbread was one of the early cookies associated with holiday baking.

I recently baked cookies with some friends and learned about a tradition of my friend making hundreds of tiny gingerbread men every year with her dad while growing up. She has continued this tradition to give as gifts and share with family.

My mom Jean described her memories of christmas baking.  “All are rolled into a big happy memory.  It involved four little kids helping to roll and cut the dough - even the littles got his little ball of dough to take care of.  Then making the frosting and using food coloring to make different bowls of red and yellow and green and blue.  And all these little hands spreading the frosting.  And towards the end somebody (one of my brothers who shall remain anonymous) got the idea of mixing the colors and the last few were an indescribable grayish/brownish, which of course were the favorites of the males of the house.  But all during the project the chatter:  I’m going to make my star yellow.  I am going to make my tree green.  I want Santa Claus to bring me a Hot Wheel.  I want tookie.  I’m making one for Daddy.  Those are the memories that I treasure.”

My husband tells the story of making candy with his dad. He would be responsible for breaking open whole walnuts in the shell as he sat by the fire with his parents watching Christmas specials. Then his dad would create a caramel walnut candy.

My nephew shared that putting up the 8’ christmas tree each year must include cookies.  

What are your memories or traditions of baking at Christmas time? Leave a comment, I would love to hear your stories.