Christmas cookies: With love with a cup of tea or coffee

It's cold outside, the kitchen smells of vanilla and cinnamon, and you're sitting at the table with a cup of hot tea.

Dear ladies, you know it. Grandma baked twelve kinds, mom seven, the neighbor boasts twenty... And you? You might be thinking: "This year I'm going to enjoy it, not survive it!"„

And you know what? You are absolutely right.

Christmas is not a baking competition. It's not about who has the most cookies or who has the most perfect Linz wheel. Christmas is about love, comfort, and that wonderful moment when you sit down with your loved ones and enjoy the atmosphere.

Seven species? Twelve? Two? The right amount is whatever makes you happy.

If you love baking and enjoy the smell throughout the house – bake! If you prefer to spend time with a Christmas movie with a blanket and a hot punch – don't bake! Store-bought cookies in a nice box can taste just as good.

Traditionally, there should be seven types of Christmas cookies, symbolizing abundance, but in practice the number varies – some bake just a few popular types, while others stick to 12 types (like the months of the year) or even more, often with an emphasis on variety so that there is something for everyone. According to tradition, the most important is variety (combination of types) and abundance, which symbolizes prosperity. 

• 7 species: The most frequently mentioned traditional number, symbolizing abundance.
• 12 species: Another tradition associated with the number of months in the year.
• As many as there are family members: There is a tradition somewhere that there should be as many types of sweets as there are people at the Christmas Eve table. 

• Vanilla rolls
• Linz cookies (wheels, hearts)
• Gingerbread cookies (often decorated)
• Wasp nests/hives (unbaked)
• Bear paws / workhorses
• Coconuts
• Snow meringues
• Rum balls 

And the secret between us? Even the mother who baked seven kinds of cookies might sometimes envy the one who bought three kinds and had a peaceful Christmas. 😉

When you start baking, we have one golden tip for you: Make smaller pieces!

• They look more elegant
• You can taste more types
• It will last you longer (maybe… 😄)
• And most importantly – you eat them in two bites and really enjoy them.

• October: Gingerbread and gingerbread (they need to lie down – and you have peace of mind)
• November: Linz, walnut (the house already smells like Christmas!)
• December: Meringues, cream cookies (it's about time now)
• Just before the holidays: Unbaked (rum balls from leftovers – zero waste! ♻️)

Extra tip: Add a sliced apple to the box of gingerbread cookies – they will soften beautifully and you will feel like a witch.

No one is saying you have to eat only carrot sticks. But what if we:

• They replaced some of the sugar with honey – it is sweeter, so you use less of it
• They tried spelt flour – easier on the stomach
• They added more nuts – healthy fats and beautiful taste
• They baked smaller portions. – to keep them fresh

Fried carp with potato salad is a tradition. But who said you have to eat whole Carp or a bunch of cutlets? 😄

Smaller dinner portions = more space for sweets (those are clear priorities!)
Lots of water – your body will thank you
Walking after eating – not because you „have to“, but because it’s beautiful outside
Sweets ideal for a full stomach – more stable blood sugar

If after the fifth gingerbread you don't feel like eating the sixth, great. If you do – that's fine too. Just enjoy it without feeling guilty. January is long enough to get back to normal.

• Paper boxes – the candy spreads nicely
• Plastic containers – leave it ajar
• Cans – great for gingerbread
• Freezer – yes, cookies can be frozen! (If they survive until January…)

Watch out for the balcony – the candy there goes through all the seasons in one day. 😅

Dear women, whether you bake twenty varieties this year or none, whether you have perfect Linz rolls or slightly burnt ones - the most important thing is the atmosphere.

Time spent with family. The smiles on the faces of loved ones. That quiet moment by the tree with a cup of tea and maybe one (or three) vanilla croissants.

Me too + sister and story rolls for everyone: I made some dough and my sister and I said that we would just roll them out and bake them... we roll them... we roll them - Jesus Christ, there are lumps of them - we keep rolling them and my sister, calm down, they are almost baguettes 😂 But what do we care, the main thing is that it is done, the size does not matter! There was a real pile of them, but they were great and they disappeared in a flash😋

Now make yourself some tea, light a candle and enjoy Advent. Slowly, with love, without stress, you might Think about gifts!

Because you have it like dark chocolate – smooth, delicious and with just the right flavor. 🍫

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PS: If the cookies don't work out for you – so what? It's called "personal rustic style" and it tastes just as good as the original plan! 😉

Mistletoe – the magic of winter, tradition, love and protection