Thankful for our Christmas Cookie Tradition
My wife and I have a long-standing cookie-making tradition at Thanksgiving. In realty it’s been going on for decades!
For years we made these German Honey Lebkuchen all in one day (I make the dough the day before so it has time to chill), but in recent years we sometimes have stretched the timing out. My wife and I make some at home in Carlsbad, and then take the dough and everything else needed up to LA to make cookies with our 2 daughters and their families now that the 4 grandkids are older and want to help.
2022 will be special as both daughters and their families will be here for Thanksgiving…a rarity…and Black Friday, instead of shopping, will be cookie-making day with 4 grandkids!
I learned about my wife’s German family cookie making tradition before we even got married. On her mother’s side of the family it’s been a tradition for generations, and we started our own tradition when my wife and I first started dating.
Cookie making is done at Thanksgiving time, and depending on the size of the cookies (and the varying shapes with grandkids involved), you end up with around 15 dozen, plus or minus. In 2021 we ended up with about 180 cookies.
I’d estimate we’ve made well over 7000 cookies over our time together, not counting other cookies we make for the holidays. No doubt I have consumed hundreds over the years!
A big part of the fun of making these cookies, in addition to eating them and being with family, is sharing with others.
It’s quite a process from start to finish. I always mix the batter a day or two before making the cookies (that was done today). 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’ve actually broken 2 wooden spoons over the years.
Back in 2017 I had to hand over the final stirring to my son-in-law, who was thankfully visiting, due to a right rotator cuff injury. I just couldn’t manage the last 5 or so cups of flour!
Once the dough is rolled out (my wife is the expert) they are traditionally cut into diamond shapes. But when there are grandkids involved some tradition flies out the window - they like using varied cookie cutter shapes or creating their own shapes. Each cookie gets 1 blanched almond before baking, and after cooking 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 with a piece of bread. The cardamom, citron, and honey lend a special flavor over time, but no one waits very long before taste-testing. While it’s nice to have some for Christmas Day and after, it doesn’t always happen that way.
We have a few other holiday traditions but this is one I particularly like due to family involvement. And I enjoy creating something to share with family and friends. On a few occasions we’ve had friends over to make them (it’s a lot of work for just 2 people!) since our kids grew up and left. I can’t imagine the holidays without this long-standing family tradition. I hope it will continue for years to come, and perhaps our kids will take it on themselves.
Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy your traditions!
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