Happy Saint Nicolas Day

The eastern European tradition is that on the evening of December 5th you put your shoes out for Saint Nicolas. In the morning on December 6th when you wake up your shoes will be filled with cookies.

Every year I make these delicious spice cookies for St Nicolas Day, this year my kids found themselves filled with the spirit of St. Nic and joined in. To make St. Nic I use a modified gingerbread man cookie cutter, I just bent the top of his head to make the pointed bishop hat and changed the shape of the legs to make his robe. I have several bent up paper clips to stamp the hat line and beard shape. We always make some hands with spirals and hearts on them too. These are great cookies for tea and if kept in a tin will take you through the holidays.

Speculatius
Saint Nicolas Cookies


Mix in order


1 C shortening
2 C white sugar
4 eggs
3/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
4 C flour
4 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. allspice
2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cloves


turn out on floured board kneed in about 1 cup more flour or as much as you need until dough is no longer sticky and is easy to handle.


Put into plastic bag and refridgerate until chilled and stiff. When rolling out dough keep unused dough refridgerated. Roll dough thinly for small cutout cookies. 1/4 inch thickness for larger.


Bake on parchment paper at 350° until golden-brown.