Unwrap a New Tradition This Christmas

Christmas and cookies go together like bread and butter—or maybe like peanut butter and chocolate. In my family, baking cookies is more than a tradition; it’s a way to connect generations. One cookie, in particular, has a special place in our hearts: the Peanut Butter Blossom, or as we call it, the Hershey Kiss cookie. But how did this iconic treat come to be? Let’s unwrap its fascinating story, starting with the broader tradition of Christmas cookies.

            Food has always been apart of the Christmas season, but it was not until the Medieval Era when the tradition truly began. Believe it or not, Christmas cookies didn’t start in family kitchens. Their origins are unexpected—they started in monasteries! The ingredients to make cookies were luxuries during this time, but monasteries had access to these ingredients. The monks chose cookies because they can be made in large quantities and easily stored through winter. Soon, other Europeans caught on to this tradition and began to bake cookies around this time to give to friends. In the 17th century, Dutch settlers brought the tradition over to America. In the 17th century Dutch settlers brought the tradition over to America. The Dutch are also credited with being the first people to leave cookies for Santa. During their festivals honoring Saint Nick—that began in the late 13th century—the Dutch would bake cookies to give out to weary travelers. Fast forward to the Great Depression the tradition of leaving cookies out for Santa began as a way to teach generosity and charity to children. This a tradition that continues today. While the cookies we enjoy today may look different from those of the 13th or 17th centuries, a few classics like gingerbread have stood the test of time. But with each new era comes fresh traditions and recipes, and in the 1950s, one home baker introduced a cookie that would become a cherished holiday favorite for many American families.

            In the 1957, Frieda Smith—a home baker from Ohio—famous peanut butter kiss cookies, were just a happy accident. While baking peanut butter cookies, she noticed that the cookie looked plain, and she opted to had chocolate on top. The only chocolate she had lying around was Hershey kisses, so she plopped one on top, and a new treat was born. Her daughter recalls, “She looked in the cupboard and came up with candy kisses. She thought they would melt. When they didn’t melt, the cookie cracked and reminded her of black-eyed Susan flowers.” Frieda Smith enjoyed the cookies so much that she decided to enter this recipe-- instead of her cornucopia shaped pastry—for the 9th annual Pillsbury Bake- Off competition under the name of black-eyed Susan's. Her recipe was a success, as she was invited the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California to compete as one of the hundred finalists in the competition. Frieda Smith got second place in the competition and was awarded as the Senior Grand National Winner of the cookie competition. She also won a new- mixer, a top-of-the-line electric range, and $100. Her recipe was also published in the competition’s official cookbook for that year, but this would be the first of many cookbook appearances for these cookies.

Frieda Smith’s cookies appeared in magazines, cookbooks, and even on the back of the Pillsbury flour packages. It took no time at all for the Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies to become a Christmas tradition. In 1999, Pillsbury officially inducted the cookie into the Pillsbury Bake-Off Hall of Fame, and the Smithsonian Museum of American History added the recipe to its collections, cementing the cookie's place in American history and culture.

            So, whether you call them Peanut Butter Blossoms, Hershey Kiss cookies, or just ‘Dad’s favorite,’ this sweet treat continues to bring families together, one bite at a time. And isn’t that what Christmas cookies are all about?

I’ve always loved baking these little treats, especially for my dad. While he’s not much of a cook, I first learned to make these cookies from my mom. I still remember the first Christmas she made them—I helped her roll the dough in sugar. A couple of years later, as my love of baking grew bigger than the Grinch’s heart, I took over the tradition. Now, every year, I bake these cookies for my dad, knowing the effort is always worth it when you bite into one fresh out of the oven. The chocolate and peanut butter melt together perfectly, creating a flavor that feels like a little holiday magic.

My recipe stays true to the original one from 1957, and while it’s easy to find online, it’s the memories made while baking these cookies that make them truly special.

Recipe

• 1/2 cup of softened butter

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup of Peanut Butter

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

• 1 3/4 cup of all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• About 50 Hershey Kisses

Instructions

1. Beat the sugars and butter together until they are light and fluffy.

2. Incorporate the peanut butter into the butter and sugar mixture (Tip: use cooking spray on the measuring cup for easy peanut butter removal).

3. Blend in the egg and vanilla extract.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until well combined.

6. Shape the dough into walnut-sized balls, roll each in sugar, and place them on a cookie sheet.

7. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 10 minutes (count the cookies to determine the number of Hershey's Kisses needed).

8. While baking, unwrap the Hershey's Kisses.

9. After baking, press a Hershey's Kiss into the center of each cookie.

Sources

BCTGM | The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. "The History of the Union-Kissed Peanut Blossom Cookie." Accessed December 18, 2024. https://bctgm.org/2022/12/15/the-history-of-the-union-kissed-peanut-blossom-cookie/.

Thayer, Caroline. "Christmas Cookies: The History of Why We Leave Cookies for Santa." Fox News. December 25, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/christmas-cookies-history-why-leave-cookies-santa.

Quaint Cooking. "The History of Peanut Blossom Cookies." December 16, 2021. https://quaintcooking.com/2021/12/16/the-history-of-peanut-blossom-cookies/.

YouGov. "The Most and Least Popular Christmas Cookies in the US." Accessed December 18, 2024. https://today.yougov.com/consumer/articles/33441-most-and-least-popular-christmas-cookies.