Arguably one of the greatest holidays of all time, National Sugar Cookie Day falls on July 9 each year and provides us with the perfect excuse to indulge in our guiltiest, sugar-filled cravings. They’re fun, they’re classic, but most importantly, they taste unbelievably delicious. Originating back in the 1700’s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, sugar cookies were initially referred to as Nazareth Cookies by German Protestant settlers and baked in the shape of a keystone, their state’s symbol. Fast forward a couple hundred years later and traditional sugar cookies are now a treasured staple amid most households. Though they are outwardly simple, sugar cookies are a popular treat frequently consumed on numerous different occasions, including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas, and birthdays. There are ample ways to celebrate this holiday — but really, do we need a reason to celebrate sugar cookies?
National Sugar Cookie Day timeline
- 2001
It's Official
The Nazareth Sugar Cookie is named the official cookie of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- 1930s
Cookies for Santa
in the 1930s in the US it became popular to leave sugar cookies out for Santa as a thank you for the gifts you were about to get!
- 1700s
Birth of the Cookie
German Protestant settlers in Pennsylvania create the round, crumbly, buttery cookie that comes to be known as the Nazareth Sugar Cookie.
National Sugar Cookie Day Activities
Break out the mixing bowls and whip up your own batch
If you’re really fortunate, you already have a top-secret sugar cookie recipe devised by your great-great-great grandma that has been passed down in the family for generations. However, if this not the case, you can still find hundreds, if not thousands of recipes on the web. In the event that you’re not a baking connoisseur or don’t have time to make these sweet treats from scratch, you’ll find ready-to-bake cookie dough in the refrigerated section of most local grocery stores. For a boost of flavor, add a smidge of cinnamon on top of the cookies before placing them in the oven.
Host a cookie exchange
What better way to enjoy freshly baked sugar cookies than with your closest friends and family? If you don’t mind divvying up your creations with others, a cookie exchange is a great means to share recipes and garner new ideas for future batches of these sweet delicacies. You can even invite your colleagues for brownie — or should we say cookie — points at work (just don’t tell them that’s why they were included).
Create a tasty new dessert featuring sugar cookies
How do you make a sugar cookies taste even more scrumptious? By combining them with other delicious treats, of course. Use the crumbs from the cookies to make a crust for cheesecake or enhance your traditional brownies by adding a layer of sugar cookie on top. Smash them up in ice cream, dip them in pudding — the flavor mash-ups are endless.
Why We Love National Sugar Cookie Day
They’re easy to make
Requiring only six ingredients — flour, butter, baking powder, eggs, sugar, and vanilla — sugar cookies are so simple to make that a 5 year old could do it (with parental supervision, of course). There’s not a large amount of effort involved aside from mixing together the basic components and shaping them into marble-sized, round balls. Should you decide to add cookie cutters to the mix, you’ll need to promptly acquire some baking skills, as the process tends to be slightly more complicated.
They’re fun to decorate
Whether you prefer the classic look of plain sugar cookies or enjoy unleashing your inner Picasso by meticulously painting designs on each individual one, the possibilities are boundless. Some opt to embellish them with holiday-themed accouterments, while others are more concerned with taste than aesthetics. For a unique twist and added flavor, adorn them with chocolate chips, sprinkles, or frosting. There is no wrong way to decorate a sugar cookie!
They are a household staple
You may or may not have your pantry stocked with the essential ingredients at all times, but most of us have fond memories of the past that include some variation of sugar cookies. With such a delectable, classic flavor, it’s impossible not to love them!
Also on Tue Jul 9, 2024...
