Arts & Culture

My grandmother used to say there are two kinds of people in the world – those who eat Christmas cookies and those who make them. I will freely admit I'm the former, but we need both kinds of folks to really close the loop on Christmas cookies. 

I've just started working at the S. Walter Stewart Branch, which was built in 1960 and is round. Some say it's got that UFO / Cold War / futuristic design but for me, at this time of the year, it reminds me of a Christmas cookie. When I told this to the staff here, we had a lively discussion about baking and you've heard it here first … I am a willing guinea pig for anyone else's baking so I'm hoping for something tasty in the next short while. 

S. Walter Stewart Branch opened in 1960.  At the time of its opening, it was one of four circular libraries in the world. Designed by Parrot, Tambling, and Wibtmer, the circular shape had a 120-foot circumference and the building included 24,000 square feet of space. 

I do recall my Greek Macedonian mom making Kourabiedes (kind of like a Greek shortbread) in various shapes for Xmas. I remember thinking how smart she was to use a glass to create the half moon shape.  And after they were made then she would cover them in icing sugar which reminded me of snow, and made stealing one hard as the icing sugar always fell off on my shirt. 

So … if you are a cookie maker then please enjoy these books (cookie eaters like me will appreciate it, too):

Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies

"Christmas and baking go hand in hand. With this must-have holiday collection, the whole family will want to help out in the kitchen. Find all the season's favorite cookies, from fun and filled goodies like Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies to inspiring decorated treats like Snowflake Mittens and delicious drop varieties like Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies. Plus, a chapter on special bars and brownies provides festive sweets that are easy to make and share, such as Holiday Toffee Bars."

Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookies: 75 Irresistible Holiday Treats

"Everyone loves a Christmas cookie! Here are the best of the best from Good Housekeeping: 75 delicious triple-tested holiday recipes, from Chocolate Chunk and Gingerbread Cutouts to Mint Peppermint Sticks and Razzy-Jazzy Thumbprints. Whether you're an expert baker or an enthusiastic home cook, this treasure trove of cookies, including do-ahead tips and easy decorating and gift-wrapping ideas, will ensure that everything you make tastes–and looks–amazing."

Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen

"You'll find time-tested favorites like Chewy Ginger-Molasses Cookies and Chocolate-Marshmallow Fudge as well as lighter sweets such as Key Lime Bars and Candied Grapefruit Peel. There are plenty of decadent savory items to choose from too, including Savory Herb Shortbread, Marinated Goat Cheese, and Lemon-Spice Olives. Along with recipes, there are lots of ideas for creative packaging to make your gifts extra special and personal."

Christmas Feasts and Treats

"Donna Hay makes Christmas cooking and entertaining so easy, with this must-have collection of over 200 easy, delicious, reliable and totally fabulous Christmas recipes to make, enjoy and give over the festive season."

Holiday Cookies: Showstopping Recipes to Sweeten the Season

"Nederlanden presents recipes, along with decorating and packing ideas, for updated favorites. She includes instructions for gingerbread houses, cookie place cards, and cookie ornaments. And each cookie is destined to become your new Christmas classic."

Betty Crocker Cookies: Irresistibly Easy Recipes for Any Occasion

"There is a perfect cookie for every occasion and Betty Crocker Cookies has them all. This foundational book of cookies covers tips and tricks for making, storing, and gifting cookies of all kinds. With chapters organized by baking circumstances, bakers can quickly find a cookie recipe right for them–whether it's No-Bake Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies when it's too hot to turn on the oven, the Caramel-Filled Snickerdoodle Blondies that are easy to take on the go, or the Festive White Velvet Star Stacks that will light up any celebration."

Martha Stewart's Cookie Perfection: 100+ Recipes to Take Your Sweet Treats to the Next Level: A Baking Book

"The editors of Martha Stewart Living present a new, fun source for anyone looking to make their go-to cookies even better and bolder. These recipes make ordinary cookies absolutely extraordinary–all the familiar favorites you love, but taken up a notch in variety, flavor, and creativity."

The Good Housekeeping Christmas Cookbook

"When it comes to Christmas, no one does it like Good Housekeeping. Brimming with more than 300 celebration-worthy recipes, sparkling decorating ideas, and suggestions for homemade (and home-baked) gifts, this sumptuous, mouthwatering collection will make the season extra merry. Triple-tested, fail-proof recipes come from both the magazine's archive of favorites and from celebrities."

Christmas Cookie Swap!: More Than 100 Treats to Share this Holiday Season

"Baked goods define the holiday season. In this keepsake book of cookies, brownies, bars, and confections, home cooks will find 120 perennial favorites ranging from Eggnog Crackle Cookies and Spiced Sorghum Snowflakes to Cherry-Lemon Candy Canes and Peppermint Brownie Bars. Easy-to-follow recipes are accompanied by gorgeous photographs, with cookie swap secrets, creative packaging suggestions, and how-to tips sprinkled throughout."

The Flour Pot Christmas Cookie Book: Creating Edible Works of Art for the Holidays

"Acclaimed cookie creators Margie and Abbey Greenberg dazzle us again with their next book of creative treats that, according to Al Roker, "Taste as good as they look." The Flour Pot Christmas Cookie Book celebrates more than 40 decorations that will delight your kids and enhance your holiday parties. Includes color photos of each cookie, a list of basic tools, sugar cookie and icing recipes, and fondant coloring and piping instructions."

Very Vegan Christmas Cookies: 125 Festive and Flavorful Treats

"Going beyond vegan basics, this full-color cookbook takes a festive turn with more than 125 Christmas cookie recipes designed without eggs or dairy products. Take vegan charge of the holidays and impress your friends and family with your baking skills–all without milk or eggs! With more than 125 innovative recipes created by a well-known cookbook author, a feast a flavors awaits."

Gluten-free Christmas Baking

"This ultimate holiday cookbook features hundreds of decadent recipes that accommodate the millions of people living with gluten allergies and intolerance–now you can bake with flavor while forgoing the flour!"

ScandiKitchen Christmas: Recipes and traditions from Scandinavia

"Anyone who has ever been in Scandinavian in December will know that Scandinavians really love Christmas. From huddling up in candlelit snowed-in cottages to consuming glögg at every opportunity, Christmas is peak-hygge season all over Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Everything reverts back to tradition once Advent Sunday has come along. From saffron scented bakes to "gingerbread spice in everything!"  You might also enjoy The Swedish Christmas Table. 

Good Housekeeping: The Great Christmas Cookie Swap Cookbook : 60 Large-batch Recipes to Bake and Share

"Butterscotch Fingers, Chocolate Crinkles, Gingerbread Cut-Outs, Peppermint Meringues: all these Christmas cookies sound delectable, but nobody can bake dozens of recipes at the same time. The solution? A swap! All across America, families, neighbors, community, and church groups gather at Christmas cookie swaps, where each participant brings a large batch of his or her favorite recipe to share. Everyone fills a plate or tin with samplings of the tasty treats; the more people, the merrier–and the more kinds of cookies to try."

Antique spode pottery cookie jar was made in England around 1880. Moudlings are of Wedgwood type. Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1971.

And if you're looking for ways to have a greener holiday season, remember that homemade cookies make great presents!