I’m Always Thankful for our Christmas Cookie Tradition
My wife and I have a long-standing cookie-making tradition…we’re talking decades!
In many years we made these Honey Lebkuchen all in one day (the dough is always made the day before so it has time to chill) but often with visiting grandkids, etc., we sometimes stretch it out to 2 days.
I first became aware of my wife’s German family cookie making before we even got married. In her family it’s been a holiday tradition for generations, and we started our own tradition when she and I first started dating, then lived together in Ohio where I was in grad school and she was at Proctor and Gamble.
The cookie making is done right after Thanksgiving, and depending on the size of the cookies, you end up with around 15 dozen or so – last year I counted 197 cookies (well, one of the grandkids did).
I estimate that over the years we’ve probably made well over 7000 cookies, not counting other cookies we often make for the holidays. I shudder to guess at how many I have eaten!
And part of the fun of making these cookies, in addition to eating them, is sharing with other family members and friends.
It’s quite a process from start to finish. I always mix the batter, a day or two before making the cookies, and while much of the recipe is pretty easy, it gets laborious when you have to stir in 15 cups of flour into a sticky honey/brown and granulated sugar/butter mixture. I have broken 2 wooden spoons in the past.
Several years ago I had to hand over the stirring to my visiting son-in-law due to a rotator cuff injury. I just couldn’t quite manage the final few cups of flour!
Once rolled out (my wife is an expert at this – I am not) they are traditionally cut into diamond shapes. But when grandkids are involved some tradition flies out the window since they like using various cookie cutter shapes. Each cookie gets 1 blanched almond before baking, and after they are cooked they are coated with a glaze of powdered sugar, milk, and lemon extract.
The cookies are kept in canisters for a few weeks to season and soften – the cardamom, citron, and honey add a special flavor over time – but of course no one wants to wait too long before testing them.
We have a few other holiday traditions but this is one I particularly like due to family involvement, and creating something to share with family and friends. Since our kids grew up and left we sometimes also have friends over to make them (it’s a lot of work for just 2 people!). I can’t imagine a Thanksgiving or Christmas without this long-standing family tradition.
