A Christmas Tradition - Thousands of Cookies

Some have wondered what we are looking for in the traditions. To kick things off, here is one in my family. If you would like to submit your own tradition, recipe, song, or other related item, please head to this link.

Ever year, THE Christmas cookies were made in my family. Seemingly thousands of small, round, frosted shortbread cookies were cranked out. They required the whole family to help - they had to be frosted while still warm and decorated before the frosting hardens. After years of doing this we perfected the the assembly line. 

What I love about this memory is that it was a family project. All four of us had our role. I remember we moved in a little family dance with the usual debates of what colors to make the frosting or whether those sprinkles matched that frosting. I remember packaging the cookies onto holiday themed trays and plates, battling holiday colored cellophane. I remember how excited family and friends were when we brought the cookies to parties and potlucks. I remember (often giving thanks) that we always ended up with empty trays with a smiling Santa, Frosty, or a pattern of snowflakes dusted with crumbs and stray sprinkles.

If you're brave and you have some helping hands, below is the recipe for The Christmas cookies in my family. May you frost them quickly and not drop too many bottles of sprinkles on the floor. Thanks to my dad for sending the recipe; he was the one after all who made the dough and frosting each year.

THE Christmas Cookies!

Cookies:

• 6 cups flour 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 1/4 lb butter at room temperature 

Knead flour, sugar, and butter well. Form into rolls. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate over night. 

Slice into 1/4 inch thick cookies. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 375 for about 10 minutes. Makes about 180 cookies, 1 inch in diameter. 

Frosting:

• 1 egg white 
• 1 cup powdered sugar 

Beat egg white until foamy. Add sugar gradually. Beat until smooth and shiny and frosting stands in soft peaks. Frosting will be very hard when it is dry.

Jennifer Delvaux