International Cookie Day

Merry, Bright, and Full of Bite – Tips and Tricks for your Christmas Baking

No matter where you spend your holiday season, sugar cookies are a real Christmas classic! Even without store-bought cookie cutters at hand, with a sprinkle of creativity and some household kitchen utensils you can easily create some beautiful Christmas cookies. For example, you can use water glasses or jars to create half-moon shaped cookies. First, make a circle with the rim of your glass. Then, cut the cookie in half with the glass to create your moon. Apart from glasses and jars, you can also use cutlery, pizza cutters or plastic tins to form your festive treats.

Once the scent of freshly baked treats fills the air and your cookies have cooled, it’s time to unleash your creativity and decorate them! Whether it’s a sprinkle of edible glitter or a dusting of powdered sugar, every detail adds a touch of magic to each cookie. Colorful icing, sprinkles, and candies allow both seasoned bakers and little helpers to create festive designs and sweet moments.

Decorating Christmas cookies brings the whole family together in the spirit of holiday cheer. At Dr. Oetker, we believe that the magic of the holiday season truly comes alive through festive decorations. With several of our Dr. Oetker’s branches offering unique, Christmas inspired decorations, you’ll find the perfect finishing touches to match your holiday traditions. For instance, “The Taste of Christmas” line is available in a variety of countries and effortlessly adds a festive spark to your baked goods. Our glittery icing, jolly sprinkle mixes, and delightful chocolate and sugar decorations are sure to bring a touch of festive charm to every cookie. From Sweden to Switzerland and the UK to Austria, our seasonal assortments are sure to make the season a little brighter with every lovingly decorated bite.

Celebrate the Sweet Stories of Cookies Through the Ages

The origins of biscuit-like small baked goods can be traced back to ancient times. Early cookies were hard and primarily used as provisions for long journeys. Only when sugar became more widely available in Europe in the Middle Ages, the recipes began to evolve, leading to the creation of the sweet cookies we recognize today. During the Renaissance, cookies gained popularity as treats at European courts.

In the 18th century, coffee, tea, and cocoa became fashionable among high society, and sweet cookies started to be baked more frequently in private homes, often served during tea time. However, since sugar and spices were very expensive at this time, these sweet treats were still a luxury for the majority of the population. It wasn’t until the 19th century, with the advent of industrialization and the introduction of sugar beet in Europe, that baked goods could be produced on a larger scale. This made them more affordable, allowing people from all walks of life to indulge in these delicious sweets.

From the beginning, Dr. Oetker offered the essential ingredients and recipes for baking cookies, such as baking powder, vanillin sugar, and flavorings, ensuring home bakers had everything they needed to create perfect cookies.

Modern Decor, Classic Cheer: This Year’s Top Christmas Baking Trends

Traditional Christmas cookies can be made a little more festive with simple decorating ideas. To turn your homemade cookies into edible baubles for your Christmas tree, simply cut a small hole in the top of each biscuit with a straw. Once cooled and decorated, thread a piece of string through the hole to hang up your buttery ornaments. For a twist on a classic, you can easily make charming reindeer out of gingerbread men cookies. Just flip them around, add some sweet edible eyes, a red Smartie® or M&M® for a shiny nose, and use chocolate to draw on cute antlers and ears. You can find the recipe for decor inspiration on our German page.

For those short on time or little bakers just starting out in the kitchen, chocolate dipped Oreos decorated with festive sprinkles and shimmering icing are the perfect way to spread holiday cheer and get into the merry spirit this season! Create memorable moments of magic with your little ones by baking delicious cookie cups to leave for Santa. These chocolate chip cookie cups filled with milk or your favorite chocolate spread and topped with sprinkles and chocolate are sure to sweeten your holidays, one bite at a time.

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice – The Dr. Oetker Baking Survey 2024

For many, the holiday season marks the beginning of Christmas baking, and with it comes the joyful dilemma: which cookies make the cut this year? The latest Dr. Oetker Baking Study 2024 sheds light on this and other festive baking traditions. In a survey conducted by the market research institute YouGov on behalf of Dr. Oetker, 2,027 Germans were asked about their baking habits, favorite recipes, and must-have holiday cookies.

The survey revealed that the most beloved cookies during the Christmas time are the timeless classics. With 47% of participants, classic sugar cookies take the top spot as the favorite Christmas treat. Following closely behind are vanilla-flavored crescent cookies, with 39% of bakers naming them as their go-to cookie. Shortbread cookies are also a staple, with 34% saying they’re an essential for their cookie plate. Family recipes are cherished just as much, with one in three (34%) bakers continuing to use cherished traditions in their Christmas baking.

For more information please contact: