Christmas cookies are integral to many families during their holiday celebrations.
And some took advantage of recent snow days to whip some up.
After all, it’s important to leave Santa cookies and milk, to fuel his worldwide tour.
The origins of Christmas cookies go back hundreds of years — likely before the time of the Renaissance, before 1400, according to food historian Susan Odom of Suttons Bay.
“The modern tradition, well it proliferated, just like all types of recipes in conjunction with industrialization,” Odom said. “Industrialization changed everything.”
Wood cook stoves had ovens. Before that time many people cooked at the hearth where baking cookies was time consuming.
“When baking at the hearth there isn’t a great place to put a ‘cookie sheet’,” Odom said. “In fact the term ‘cookie sheet’ is probably from the mid-1900s.”
Beth Noonan of Maple City spent a couple snow days last week baking cookies with granddaughters Ivy and Clare Noonan, ages 7 and 3, respectively.
“It was the first time I made them with grandchildren,” said Noonan, who spent a couple days with the girls, while their mother and father, Bekka and Casey Noonan, were working. “I asked them what they’d like to do and they said ‘make cookies.’” Years ago, Noonan and her sisters would gather together share recipes and make all sorts of cookies. Some of the varieties included cherry cordials, coconut clouds (a grandchild favorite) and Christmas wreaths fashioned with cornflakes and marshmallows.
“My boys really like the wreaths, which is great because they’re very easy to make. You don’t even have to turn on the oven,” she said.
This could be considered an easy out for Noonan, who bakes throughout the season and freezes enough for Christmas Eve, at the Noonans, whose immediate family numbers 17.
“I give quite a few away and then we have them on Christmas Eve,” Noonan said.
But not all are consumed. Some are reserved for Santa, to be left out after the kids have gone to bed.
This practice became popular in the U.S during the Great Depression. Parents wanted to teach their kids it was better to give and to be grateful for presents they received during times of economic hardship, according to history.com.
The young bakers not only enjoy making cookies, but also making memories together, according to grandma Beth.
“Sure, it’s loud (with multiple bakers) but the kids have so much fun,” she said.
Things too hectic and can’t fit a Christmas cookie bee into your busy holiday schedule, here are a couple options available.
• Chimoski Bakery in Suttons Bay makes and sells already decorated cookies for $22 per dozen. U-decorate cookies are $8 per dozen.
• Sweeties Homemade Baked Goods in Cedar is taking orders for cookies. Selections include: frosted sugar cookies; frosted lemon cookies; snowball cookies, coconut macaroons and Iced Italian cookies. All orders must be made in advance. Orders can be placed to pick up as late as Christmas Eve morning. More information is available at 231-409-3851.
