The Treasure of Christmas Baking
Christmas treasures. One, for me, is listening to a recording or watching a performance of Handel’s Messiah during December. At the other end of the continuum is watching the wonder and excitement of children as they smile at the sight of decorations and lights. And one of my traditional treasures is Christmas baking. I shared a story about our family tradition in Mom’s Red Tin in a compilation, Additional Christmas Moments.
My Mom loved to bake and reflections of her standing over her mix-master baking our favorites is a treasured memory. I have my Mom’s list in a shadowbox in my kitchen. My baking list is bound with a rubber band in a notebook covering over forty years. I’ve pared down the number of recipes over the years, but we still have non-negotiable favorites. While I was in Kentucky my granddaughter and I baked my mother’s chocolate drops. Just yesterday, my daughter Kate reminded me not to forget Hershey kiss cookies.
Some of our cookies have unique ethnic flavors-anise and figs. Some are time and labor intensive-like cut-outs, biscotti pizelles, and cuchidatis (Have I lost you here? Check it out😊)
Who doesn’t enjoy a platter of Christmas cookies for a holiday gathering? Or opening a cookie tin and trying to take just one cookie?
Time often doesn’t allow us to do what we’d like. I’ve collected a few “easy peasy lemon squeezy” recipes if you are short on time but long on interest. There’s not a hint of lemon in any of them, but you will like the taste and the assortment. Easy peasy Christmas Cookies is my gift to you. Enjoy the treasure of Christmas baking and then the treasure of sharing. There will be love in every bite.
What are your Christmas treasures?
The Conversation
Marilyn,
Your post gave me such a warm feeling. I am remembering my husband baking Christmas cookies with our oldest grandson. I have a picture I treasure of this fun day. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Perhaps this weekend I will have the opportunity to reenact this event.
Christmas Blessings to you and yours. —Judy
Thanks Judy. One of my treasures associated with baking was my husband walking in the door and commenting on the aroma and sampling. There are so many treasures associated with Christmas baking -reflections like your grandmother and mine and my Mom, my grown daughters following suit, and simply sharing the love. I hope you will have a treasure with your grandson soon. Blessings to you this Christmas.
I could smell the cookies. Now I have to go get one.
Jimmie–more than one I hope!
Marilyn, I miss you!!! My memory of your Christmas baking is from our MOPS days. As a young mom of 4, it was a huge blessing to have you as a mentor in my life. One Christmas you asked me if I baked Christmas cookies. Baking was not something I did growing up, I was busy with my children and a husband who worked a lot, so my answer to you was no I hadn’t baked any Christmas cookies that year. That week on the night of Christmas Eve Candlelight you met me afterwards with a plate of Christmas cookies and said you didn’t want me not to have cookies that Christmas. Something I recall every Christmas. I greatly appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness towards me and my family.
Stephanie, what a blessing to hear from you. Our time in MOPS was a treasure and I imagine I wouldn’t even recognize your children (teens) now. I wish we could share a cookie or two and have a cup of tea together and catch up. I appreciated your remembering that Christmas Eve-it gave me a smile. Blessings to you and your family. Marilyn
I love making brownie trifle any time of the year, but this year for my Christmas party, I made a red velvet cake. My grandmother had a wonderful recipe – cake cookies. Spice cake, whip cream, and powdered sugar! Merry Christmas, Marilyn!
Isn’t it wonderful we have those treasures we can eat, enjoy, and look forward to at this time of year? But for me, the best part is associating the food with people past and present–as you did remembering your grandmother. Thanks for commenting and Merry Christmas!