So cute! Kids can write their wish list on decorated edible cookies. This recipe for Santa’s Cookies and Milk includes step-by-step instructions. Ho Ho Ho!
How To Ice and Decorate Santa’s Cookies and Milk:
- Fill a small pastry bag with white royal icing, and pipe a line around the edge of the cookie. Next, flood or fill in the center, and use a small thin skewer to fill in the icing.
- IMPORTANT: At this point, let the cookies dry at least 3-4 days completely before writing the wish list on the cookies for Santa!
- Once cookies are dry and icing is rock hard, use colored edible markers and use a ruler to make the lines that look like a piece of paper, use a blue and red pens for this step. *(Do this part for small children, then let them write the wish list).
- And now the best part, have children write their wish list to Santa on the cookies, place on a mug of milk, add a cute red and white straw and wait for Santa’s visit!
- Decorate other cookies with colored icing and sprinkles.
What is the history of Santa’s Cookies and Milk Tradition?
Some say that leaving cookies-and-milk for Santa came from the tradition of hanging and stuffing stocking by the chimney, and leaving something to eat and drink was a way to welcome Santa!
It is said that in the 1930s during the Great Depression, cookies and milk for Santa took off as an American holiday tradition. Due to the severe hard financial times, many parents wanted to teach their children to give, be generous to others, and to show gratitude for their Christmas gifts.
And so the tradition took hold, setting out small plates of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa.
Santa’s Cookies and Milk Traditions Around The World:
Different countries have developed their own versions of the cookies-and-milk tradition.
- British and Australian children leave out sherry and mince pies.
- Swedish kids leave rice porridge.
- Santa can expect a pint of Guinness along with his cookies when delivering toys in Ireland.
- French children leave out a glass of wine for Père Noël and fill their shoes with hay, carrots and other treats for his donkey, Gui (French for “mistletoe”).
- In Germany, children skip the snacks altogether and leave handwritten letters for the Christkind, a symbolic representation of the Christmas spirit who is responsible for bringing presents on Christmas. Though many German kids mail their letters before the holiday—there are six official addresses for letters addressed to the Christkind—others leave them out on Christmas Eve, decorated with sparkly glue or sugar crystals. On Christmas morning, the letters have been collected, and gifts left in their place.
- In Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands, children still believe that horses carry Santa’s sleigh instead of reindeer. On Christmas Eve, they leave carrots and hay—sometimes stuffed into shoes—to feed the exhausted animals. In return, they might hope to receive such holiday treats as chocolate coins, cocoa, mandarin oranges, and marzipan.
More Christmas holiday recipes:
Baking Cookies and Making Candy are American holiday traditions, but these recipe ideas are VERY special! Take a trip to a tropical destination with these Island Macadamia Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies, or make these NO-BAKE Nut Goodie Candy Bars a Christmas family tradition. Bake these wildly popular and “cookie-exchange” winning Santa’s Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies and serve them on an EASY DIY Peppermint Candy Plate made in 20 minutes. What a way to take your holiday dish to a party!
Happy holiday baking, by the way in case you are wondering, yes Vinny really asked for a baby brother one year from his Mom and he didn’t get that gift on his wish list…
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup LAND O LAKES Butter softened
- 1 egg I use EggBeaters, it works perfectly!
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons orange juice freshly squeezed from an orange
- 1 tablespoon good vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- 5 tablespoons meringue powder order online
- dash vanilla clear preferred
- 1 cup (scant) warm water
- Equipment: baking sheet pan parchment paper, square cookie cutter (or food container top), small icing tip, Wilton Edible Color Markers (craft stores/online), ruler, small skewer, plastic pastry bags, assorted sprinkles and food colors for decorating other cookies for Santa if desired.
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For The Cookies:
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In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, add sugar and softened butter. Mix until combined.
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Next add egg, baking powder, orange juice, vanilla, and flour. Mix until combined.
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Wrap cookie dough in plastic food wrap and chill until firm 1-2 hours.
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On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 thickness.
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Use a square shape cutter (I used a top from a food container) cut out the square. Next, using an icing decorating tip, cut a small hole in the corner of the cookie for the straw. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet at least 1-2 inches apart.
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Heat oven to 400 degrees, and bake 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
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Cool the cookies completely.
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Place all ingredients into a mixer and whip on slow for 10 minutes.
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Keep finished icing covered with saran wrap or damp kitchen towel
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Leftover icing can be frozen and used later
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Fill a small pastry bag fitted with a small tip, and pipe a line around the edge of the cookie. Next, flood or fill in the center, and use a small thin skewer to fill in the icing.
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IMPORTANT: At this point, let the cookies dry at least 2-3 days completely before writing the wish list on the cookies for Santa!
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Once cookies are dry and icing is rock hard, use colored edible markers and use a ruler to make the lines that look like a piece of paper, use a blue and red pens for this step. *(Do this part for small children, then let them write the wish list).
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And now the best part, have children write their wish list to Santa on the cookies, place on a mug of milk, add a cute red and white straw and wait for Santa's visit!
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Decorate other cookies with colored icing and sprinkles.
*plan ahead, these cookies take 3-4 days for the icing to dry before writing on the cookies.
I have been meaning to leave a comment about these cookies. My mom saw these on your site and ordered all of the ingredients so we could make them with the kids at Christmas this year and we ALL had so much fun making these. Naturally I made them ahead without telling the kids and then we let them write on them and leave them for Santa. It was perfectly magical for them. This will be part of our tradition now. Thank you!