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KEEPSAKES DELIVER SMILES FOREVER

If you browse our Mother’s Day collection online or in our catalog, you’ll see a number of really special gifts that will keep on giving long after the cookies are gone. You might know immediately which one will resonate with your Mom, but if you need a little help, we’ve compiled a list of all the ways she can use her keepsake for years to come.

Our Collector’s Edition Ceramic Mother’s Day Basket

This pristine, white ceramic basket stands 8-1/2” tall and is 9-1/2” x 8” wide. Mom might love using it:

•           On her desk to hold stationery or office supplies

•           By the front door to hold mail

•           In the kitchen, filled with fresh fruit, or as a catchall for keys

•           On her dresser to hold watches, jewelry or scarves

•           As a place to keep small crafting supplies

Our Flower-covered Tote

Elegant black tote is strewn with brightly colored flowers, guaranteeing smiles and going to work as:

•           A place to keep knitting or crafting projects

•           A shopping bag for travel; Mom can pack it flat in her suitcase and use it to hold souvenirs

•           A grocery or market bag she can keep handy in the car

Our Charming Adirondack Chair

Designed specifically to be used as a planter, our white wooden chair can also:

•           Hold paperclips on a desk

•           Hold whiteboard markers or chalk in the kitchen or office

•           Sit at the kitchen sink or in the bathroom to keep rings and other jewelry safe

Our Collector’s Edition Butterfly Cookie Jar

Yes, we know. It’s a COOKIE jar. But it could also be:

•           An Accessories Jar

•           A Stamps and Packing Tape Jar

•           A Small Kitchen Utensil Jar

•           A Colored Pencil Jar

•           A Crafts Supplies Jar

•           A Cord Keeper Jar

(And so is the aroma of our Easter goodies!)

Our busy bakers are hopping to it in our kitchens, whipping up everything you need for Easter. From baskets to buffets, when you’re ready to start to planning, start here.

BUTTERCREAM-FROSTED BUNNIES, CHICKS & EGGS

They’re back! Our adorable buttercream-frosted Easter cookies in pretty pastel colors put a little spring in everyone’s step.  Buy them individually wrapped and packaged in boxes of 12 to 200 for place settings, quick desserts, office treats or basket stuffers. Or send them to loved ones near and far already packed up in our Bunny Cookie Jar, adorable Egg Carton, Ceramic Basket,  or felt Easter Bunny Tote.

EASTER BASKETS GALORE! (TINS & TOWERS, TOO)

If you have neither the time nor the inclination to create your own baskets, worry not; we’ve got dozens of gifts already perfectly put together, ready to ship wherever you want to send happy wishes. Some come with candy, others with cookies only, but all of them are beautifully presented and sure to delight.

SWEET TREATS FOR YOUR LITTLEST PEEPS

Every year, we make a few Easter gifts we know kids will especially like. Creative children or those who like to be in the kitchen will love our Easter Cut-out Cookie Decorating Kit. It comes with two dozen already baked egg- and flower-shaped cookies, two one-pound tubs of vanilla icing, and pastel sprinkles. Trust us when we tell you this is way more fun, more delicious, and easier than dying eggs!

For kids who are begging for a bunny, we have two baskets complete with a plush rabbit that’s much easier to take care of than the real thing. And if you have lots of little peeps to satisfy, our little Easter Gift Tins are just the right size and are easy to ship near and far.

WHAT GOES BEST WITH BUTTERCREAM-FROSTED EGGS?

That’s the question we ask ourselves before planning every holiday dinner, and Easter is no exception. We have perfectly sized cookie boxes and baskets for gatherings large or small, so dessert’s a no-brainer; all we have to do is figure out what comes first.

We’ll leave the main course up to you, but we do have an idea for a great starter. If you’re going to end the meal with a buttercream-frosted egg, why not start with a potato nest. These crispy, delicious little cups can hold everything from sour cream topped with bacon and chives, to cream cheese with smoked salmon and capers. You choose the filling, we’ll tell you how to make the nest. (For a sweeter alternative, try using sweet potatoes instead.)

SPRING POTATO NESTS

The holiday season is upon us, and we can practically smell the aroma of fresh baked cookies wafting through the air. Beyond being a delicious holiday treat, Christmas cookies are part of many family traditions, and have a rich history to boot!  

If you’ve ever wondered why we bake certain cookies each season, or why we leave the good stuff out for Santa, it’s time to enroll in Christmas Cookie History 101! Before you rummage through your kitchen cabinets for your favorite cookie cutters and baking supplies, indulge in these five fun facts about Christmas cookies!

 

Treats for Jolly St. Nick

The practice of putting out cookies for Santa began in the 1930s during the Great Depression when parents were trying to instill a sense of thankfulness in their children. Leaving goodies, perhaps in sweet cookie jar from Cheryl’s, continues to be a small way of sharing the holiday bounty. Some families even extend the giving to the storied animals, leaving carrots or apples out for Santa’s reindeer!

Spice, Spice Baby

When unusual aromatics like nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger became more widely available in Europe in the Middle Ages, they were put to good use at holiday baking time. It became traditional to combine butter and sugar—which cost a pretty penny back then—with these prized spices once a year at Christmas. Bakers today include nutmeg and molasses in holiday desserts, particularly in gingerbread cookies—one of the most widely baked seasonal treats. Cheryl’s includes this popular variety in the assorted holiday tin!

Sweet as Sugar

Along with gingerbread, simple sugar cookies have become another staple on Christmas dessert trays, a tradition that started in the 1700s. At this time, German settlers in Pennsylvania may have brought over the traditional unleavened, easy-to-store treat from Europe. Pliable sugar cookie dough is easy to roll and cut into shapes, which adds to its popularity at Christmas time today.

 

Frosting Versus Icing

Whether you spread thick pastel layers or use a delicate white glaze on your cut-outs and gingerbread, Christmas just isn’t the same without lots of frosting (or icing, depending on where you live). Decorating cookies with frosting began in the 1600s with a mixture of sugar and egg whites that topped cakes; once cooled, it looked just like ice. Today, the buttercream variety is very popular, and can be found on Cheryl’s frosted cookies in every holiday shade.

A Cut Above

Cookies have long been molded and shaped, but using cutters likely began after Queen Elizabeth I decided she wanted gingerbread specially made to look like her honored guests. Tin cookie cutters made stamping out little men easier (and faster), though later these tools were made from aluminum, plastic, and copper. Today, many families have an assortment of seasonal cookie cutters and look forward to using them at the holidays.

Reading about Christmas cookies is a good start, but you should really enjoy some first hand to further advance your studies. Fire up the oven with these Christmas cookie recipes, or check out Cheryl’s wide assortment of holiday cookies and treats for a truly educational experience!