This weekend I was the host for our annual Christmas cookie baking tradition. It started innocently enough 19 years ago, with three of us thinking that getting together to bake our holiday cookies would be a fun way to catch up while simultaneously checking off a major item on our holiday to-do lists. It’s an event that became a tradition as more friends joined in and we came to look forward to the girlfriend time as much as the cookies.
the festive 2017 selection
The Cookie Baking Tradition
As our group grew we got more organized. We now compare December calendars and pick a date as early as October, and select recipes in advance to ensure we end up with a good variety. Some cookies are such favorites they have become holiday must-haves–my Eggnog Spritz Cookies and Ginger Spice Cookies (you can find those recipes here), and Beth’s Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies that Jayme will make if Beth can’t join us.
We’ve also had to revise our operating procedures from a pure mix-and-bake protocol to ensuring that at least some people prepare at least one of their doughs in advance so we can start baking right away. We usually each make two types of cookies and decorate cut-outs that someone makes in advance, and that’s a lot of oven time–even doubling up baking sheets in two ovens.
The happy bakers in front of one person’s share of the day’s bounty.
We usually start around 8 am and finish by about 4 pm, helping each other with shaping dough, adding frosting, and deciding whether cookies are ready to come out of the oven. We eat very few of our cookies, although there is an upside to a cookie that doesn’t pass quality control or a batch that doesn’t divide by six evenly. 🙂
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I packed up my cookies as we went, and was pleased when my kitchen was back in order with all the stray sprinkles mopped up by 5:00 pm, but my husband was disappointed with my gleaming kitchen, wondering what happened to all the cookies!
Weekly Wrap
Monday: I had planned to kick-off my business trip at Harvard with a run, but I woke up with a weird hip pain that made me wary to run. I canceled on my BRWF (best running work friend) and decided to work out the kinks in the hotel gym.
Tuesday: By Tuesday I had figured out that whatever was going on in my hip wouldn’t be bothered by running, so we bundled up and headed out for a run along the river.
We ran towards Boston and caught the sunrise over the river.
Wednesday: By Wednesday I was at a different hotel, and opted for another hotel gym workout.
Thursday: By Thursday I was back home and back at CycleBar.
Friday: On Friday I went to my favorite CPY2 class at CorePowerYoga. Our peak pose was peacock. I could get my legs off the mat, but not elegantly!
Saturday: Technically, Saturday was a rest day, but I was on my feet ALL DAY baking!
Sunday: On Sunday I ran the Jingle All the Way 15K for the first time. I’ll share a recap soon, but will tell you know that I enjoyed it more than I expected–even though I had to run around Hains Point.
Did I mention that it snowed on Saturday?
Do you have a favorite type of Christmas cookie?
Did you get snow this weekend?
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You and your friends are a well-oiled cookie machine! What a great tradition. My department at work is doing a cookie bake-off this week. I may try those eggnog cookies!
You should try them! The recipe is fairly simple and they are a big hit!
I saw all of your cookies on Facebook and I was super impressed! I wish I could be a talented baker like you! What an awesome tradition to share with friends!
Congrats on a great week or workouts and an awesome race this weekend!
Thanks! It’s a fun tradition! I’ve always loved baking although I don’t do the super fancy recipes.
I can’t believe it snowed there this weekend! That Christmas cookie baking sound so fun! I used to do that years ago,but since then my neighbors have moved and haven’t done it since. I would like to start it up again with family. I’d be tempted to eat them all though, so maybe it’s a good thing we don’t anymore..haha.
I try to give a lot away as gifts, but I know I end up eating more than my share! That’ and Peppermint Bark are why I need Laura’s program come January. 😉
I did not realize that you had been doing the cookie thing for almost 20 years! What a super fun tradition. Congrats again on your race today looks like you crushed it. I am also doing the Laura’s nutrition group should be fun
I think I only missed one year, and I really MISSED it! I even managed to do it last year in between business trips. I’ll be ready for Laura’s plan for sure.
I’m slowly making my way through my annual baking marathon. Like run/walk intervals, I’m getting there! LOL! Today I made Cocoa snowflakes. I used Dutch Process Cocoa this year and I got rave reviews from my men. Warmed my heart!
Those sound great! We only made one chocolate cookie and it’s my favorite. Go figure!
Yup, we sure did get snow yesterday. More forecast for next week. Sigh.
I used to start baking cookies in the summer and freeze them as I went along. Of course, I also used to be very overweight! Since I’m not Christian, I no longer do that (although obviously it does’t mean that I never bake).
Can’t wait to hear about your race!
There are Jewish bakers among us, but we still call them Christmas cookies. 😉 I ‘m better at parceling them out if they’re in the freezer, but I’m not above noshing on frozen cookies ….
That’s quite the cookie operation going on! You have really thought of everything. Thanks for sharing that nutrition course! It sounds really interesting. I’m going to have to look in to that!
I got my first two batches of Christmas goodies done last night. Your baking day is amazing…lots of details you have had to fine-tune so it’s a well-staffed production line, but it looks like so much fun!
It really is! We get to catch up on a lot over the hours of baking. 😉
How fun! I do love cookies, especially Christmas cookies! 🙂
And, talk about how organized you guys are, wow!
My favorite Christmas cookie is probably old-fashioned sugar with the Christmas colored sprinkles.
I love decorating those, but lose patience with rolling out the dough!
I made a batch of those last night. Rolling out the dough tests my patience!
I have LOVE LOVE LOVED following along with this on the book of the faces.
Im making donuts (traditional hanukkah food) this week with the child and friends.
Heres hoping they turn out as lovelydeliciousfab as your cookies.
Your cookie tradition is awesome. I used to do the same thing every year, alas it has fallen away. Good for you for running 15k after being on your feet all day! I swear it snowed everywhere this past weekend. We’re getting more this morning as well.
I’m impressed with the operating procedures and carefully planned logistics of your annual cookie baking day. But, why oh why don’t we live close by? You know I have a weakness for cookies! I’m glad you enjoyed the Jingle All The Way 15k. Very cute medal! Thanks for linking.
One year I did a bunch of baking with some friends over a few Saturdays. On the last day we split it all up and were really surprised at how much we had made.
My mom and I made gingerbread cookies this weekend. We made the dough Friday evening since it had to chill over night, and then actually making the cookies didn’t take too long after that. We had 4 cookie sheets, which helped speed up the process.
Having 2 people and 4 cookie sheets sounds efficient!
Wow, that’s an impressive amount and variety of cookies! It sounds like a lot of fun. We did a cookie exchange one year but everyone came with their cookies finished so it was more eating and socializing and less baking.
Most of us use at least some of the cookies for gifts, but I sure eat my share! 🙂
Now that is some serious cookie baking! What a fun tradition! I wish I had more patience for baking – but I do love a cookie…or two 😉
Seriously with the cookies, girl. You had me drooling all over myself this weekend!!! 😉
You should come on over! 😉
I have not baked in years, that looks like a fun day!
That is nice you had a longer Jingle run…so often it is 5K and I love the 15K distance 🙂 You did a great job. We had snow too! It was a very gray kind of day lol everything was one color will Sunday.
Oh, I love soft chewy oatmeal raisin cookies 🙂 It is a weakness. Maybe i need Laura’s challenge.
Oh, yum. I love soft oatmeal raisin cookies too! I think they recently added the 15K — there was a 5K too.
I love that cookie baking tradition! And I’m really excited to have you doing the runner’s course in January… I didn’t realize it is becoming a tradition but you’re right, it tends to be January that I pull something together!
I’m always ready for a healthy reset in January. 🙂
Those cookies all look divine! 19 years is quite impressive! I couldn’t help but giggle when my 22 years old said they were having a cookie swap at his work… he’s the only guy in an office filled with women. Needless to say, I baked them for him 🙂
Don’t sell your son short – mine has made a divine chocolate cake and superb lemon pound cake from scratch. 😉
My mom used to make those wreath cookies! I’m starting my cookie baking marathon today with my oldest daughter. So fun 🙂
Yay! Enjoy!
Russian teacakes are my favorites.
I am jealous of your snow. We got down to about 34, enough for a hard freeze, but not for actual flakes. Booooo!
I saw all the cookie pictures on instagram and oh man I just wanted to try one of each!