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It’s no secret that Santa Claus loves cookies just as much as he does. And he likes to send gifts to children. at christmas
Jason Smith, celebrity chef who won Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” in 2016 and currently serves as a judge on “Best Baker in America,” spoke with Fox News Digital about the cookie tradition.
Smith is a native of Kentucky who currently resides in Florida. They revealed how the festive snacks began. And why do people abandon sweets for Santa Claus?
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“Christmas cookies became a staple for many people many years ago,” starting with medieval monasteries, Smith said.
“The monks had access to sugar, flour and spices to make them. The Dutch brought the Christmas cookie tradition to the United States in the early 17th century.”
Smith continued, “Christmas cookies were first created to be given to neighbors, friends, and family to express gratitude and kindness towards one another. Most people don’t have much money. And there are dozens of cookie recipes made. And it made them pass a lot around.”
“Holiday Baking Championship” winner Jason Smith talks to Fox News Digital about the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus. (Jason Smith; iStock)
He added: “The first cookies were sugar cookies or spice cookies. They are almost like gingerbread cookies as we know them today.”
Christmas cookies eventually became part of Santa’s legend. But it’s not a straight path, according to Smith.
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The cookie has been linked to St. Nicholas, the early Christian bishop who served as the model for the construction of Santa Claus.
“Leaving cookies for Santa or St. Nicholas is a tradition that started during the Dutch St. Nicholas Festival every year,” Smith said.
“The family didn’t have much money or baking equipment. But there was enough to bake a small batch of cookies for Santa.”
“They would bring cookies to honor the saint. and give refreshments to travelers as they come from all over the country to praise the saint.”
He continued: “Here in the United States Cookies for Santa started during the Great Depression as a lesson learned. The family didn’t have much money or baking equipment. But they had enough to bake a small batch of cookies for Santa. This is to teach (the children) to be grateful and compassionate for what they have. This tradition is still adhered to today.”
Leaving cookies for Santa became a tradition in the United States during the Great Depression. (Istock)
Smith told Fox News Digital that the Christmas cookie tradition was evident in his family growing up.
He said he remembers putting fresh cookies in a stocking on the fireplace for Santa at his grandparents’ request.
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“Santa will take the cookies out of the stocking and eat them and fill the stocking with our presents,” Smith said.
“Dairy came in later years when families Realized Santa needed something to clean up all those homemade cookies.”
Santa’s favorite type of cookie is chocolate chip. Even if he initially tastes sugar or spice. (Istock)
While sugar or spice cookies are traditional Old St. Nick’s treats, Santa’s favorite cookies will always be plain chocolate chip cookies with milk, Smith said.
“It was more of a treat because it was chocolate and chocolate wasn’t readily available,” Smith said.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies “Pairs well with milk. From the sweetness of cookies to the bittersweetness of chocolate. to the creamy texture of beneficial milk touch perfectly”
Santa Smith says he “instantly fell in love with chocolate chip cookies.”
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“He was so grateful to get rid of the sugar cookies.”
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