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Cookies- a short and sweet history

For today’s blog, I wanted to do something a little less meaty and holiday spirited.  Over my coffee this morning I was racking my brain trying to figure out what that would be! I’m still not exactly sure how I came to this: maybe my love of knowledge and origin stories, maybe because I’ve eaten three (yes, I’m not even kidding, three) tins of Danish Butter Cookies so far this season, but I have brought to you today: A Brief History of Christmas Cookies! SWEET! Let’s dive in…

When were the first cookies ever made? It is believed that the cookie first appeared in Persia, which is now modern-day Iran, around the 7^th century.  They are thought to have been “test cakes” for new ovens and oven temperatures.

When did Christmas cookies become a thing? This is debated- however, the tradition of giving cookies during the Christmas season became popular in Medieval times. Why?  Because they were cheap, more easily transportable than cakes and pies, it was winter so farming goods were out and cookies could be made.  They weren’t the sweet goodies we think of today though- they were spiced with black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and with dried fruits and nuts! Honestly, I think this sounds amazing.

**FUN FACT** The gingerbread man is a staple now because of Queen Elizabeth I- she had gingerbread made in the shapes of her “favorite courtiers” and thus began a long running tradition of making gingerbread men! Also, this solidified the gingerbread cookies as the first to be historically associated with Christmas itself.

Cookies in America:  The first cookies came to America around 1620 and were Dutch in origin.  They found their way to New Amsterdam, or now New York.  This also brought the tradition of the Christmas cookie to the colonies.  They gained popularity and eventually a change in importation laws made German cookie cutters readily available and the popularity of the cookie boomed.

Why do kids leave out cookies for Santa?: This tradition was first began around the 1930s.  Parents, in an attempt to encourage thankfulness and gratefulness, started leaving out cookies and milk for the jolly Saint Nicolas as a gift for the giver and all of his hard work.

The shapes of our cookies today:  There is an old tradition called “mumming” or acting out of scenes and plays. In many parts of the world it is a Christmas tradition, and food helps to tell the story.  In the 1800s, the Pennsylvania Dutch began to cut out large cookies and display them with scenes depicting the Christmas tradition- such as baby Jesus or nativity scenes. Many of the shapes we see today are derived from these scenes and larger hand carved cookies.

So, I hope you enjoyed this short and sweet (haha) history of the Christmas cookie and it’s origin and tradition.  And to finish, here is my favorite cookie to make for the holidays- traditional rolled Sugar Cookies. This recipe is directly from the Ladies Home Journal Cookbook of 1963- a book my grandmother gave me, and what I consider my cooking bible.  Enjoy this recipe, and enjoy some cookies this season! Also shared is a recipe I got from Vintage Recipes, a wonderful page to follow on Facebook, and I think these would be a lovely Christmas Eve/Christmas Day tradition: Forgotten Cookies; called this for the fact that you only bake them for 2 minutes, then turn the oven off and forget about them overnight! I did a test run, and let me tell you- they’re AMAZING. Be merry, be well!

 

Also, I don't know why sometimes my pictures lay sideways... I can't figure it out.