INTRODUCTION:

October is National cookie month. It’s a chance to celebrate the classic dessert. Cookies play a role in many Jewish holidays and traditions. From Mandelbrot to Rugelach, macaroons on Passover to cookies on Hanukah; grabbing a sweet snack can elevate the holiday and the ritual. This program is a chance to celebrate the cookie, eat something sweet and showcase Jewish desserts and traditions. Using the resources with the history of the various Jewish cookies, it’s a creative way to infuse Jewish content into a program.  

MATERIALS:

• Recipes for Hamentaschen, Hanukkah cookies, Rugelach, Mandelbrot, Passover Macaroons 
• Cookie varieties 
• Background on holidays or cookies (see below) 
• Plates  
• Knives to cut cookies into smaller pieces 
• Oreos for icebreaker 
• Paper, pens for voting 
• Sandwich bags for extras 

PROGRAM OUTLINE (60 minutes):

• [part one] (10 minutes) Cookie ice breaker 
• [part two] (40 minutes) Sharing customs, history of cookies, noshing and shmoozing 
• [part three] (10 minutes) Voting on best holiday cookie 

[part one] (10 minutes) 

• The first step to this program is to either make the varieties yourselves, or delegate out and share recipes and ask attendees to bring a batch. 
• Once guests have arrived break the ice and build community with this fun cookie icebreaker.  

[part two] (40 minutes) 

• Now that participants have started to get to know one another, share a bit of the history of each cookie. You can do this either by printing some facts on index cards and placing them with each corresponding cookie, or, by gathering the group together and asking different people to read a few facts about each cookie. 
• With the history of each cookie type under your belt, it’s time to sample. Using a knife, cut cookies into smaller bites so participants don’t have to taste 5 whole cookies. Invite them to sample each variety. 
• Let this part of the program linger so that you have time to eat and digest the cookies. Shmooze, eat, chat, socialist and enjoy the crowd. 

[part three] (10 minutes) 

• With eating done, it’s time to vote. Give everyone a piece of paper and ask them to write their favorite cookie. Tally the votes and announce the winner. Ask someone who voted for the winning cookie to share why it’s their favorite.  
• If there are extras, invite people to take some cookies home to eat later. 

Backgrounds on cookies:

• History of Mandelbrot.pdf 
• The Origins of Rugelach: Unraveling the Mystery of this Beloved Pastry – ShortFoodBlog 
• when did hanukkah cookies start – Search (Not quite cookies… but the custom of eating fried dough on Hanukkah morphed into cookies as well. Especially because of the proximity to Christmas and cookie exchanges.  
• What Are Hamantaschen? | The Nosher 
• Classic Passover Macaroons Recipe | The Nosher