Features

Santa’s Favorite Treat

Send in pictures of your Christmas Cookies to be posted on our online site.

Maggie Elder, Staff Writer • December 15, 2023

Mrs Donahue and her son pose for a picture with Santa Claus!

Western Pennsylvania is known for cookie tables. Christmas cookies are the star-sweet treat of the season. Many people in southwestern PA take pride in the cookies they make for the season and give to loved ones. As cookie season approaches people in our area begin cleaning out their freezers to make room for dozens upon dozens of cookies. They make these cookies to give out to loved ones.

Cookie tables have been involved in our area’s culture for a long time.

It is thought that the tradition most likely started during the Great Depression when European Immigrants would get married and many couples could not afford a wedding cake. Family and friends close to the couple would step in and make cookies for the wedding instead.

With cookies being Santa’s favorite sweet treat when he drops gifts in homes, many people in our area make cookies in preparation for his arrival.

Culinary students at school are also baking in preparation for Santa’s arrival.

Hispanic Food and Culture classes taught by Mrs. Donahue made traditional Christmas cookies from Spanish-speaking countries this year. The cookies included cocadas, biscochitos, galletas de chocolate chips, and polvorones. They sold approximately 20 dozen cookies!

Baking and decorating cookies is a way families bond together. Student Olivia Carlquist said, ”I love baking around the holidays with my family. It’s a time where we put our phones to the side and just enjoy each other’s company while making something delicious.”

Getting off of technology is something all of us need to do this holiday season. Making cookies is the perfect way to do that.

Below are a few recipes you can try making with your loved ones.

A classic chocolate chip cookie

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Peanut Butter Blossoms
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012939-peanut-butter-blossoms

Lady Lock Cookies

https://www.seductioninthekitchen.com/lady-locks/

Buckeye Cookies

https://sugarspunrun.com/buckeye-cookies/

Pizzelle Cookies

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a41533522/pizzelle-recipe/

Send pictures of cookies you make this holiday season to [email protected] to be posted on our online site!

About the Contributors

Maggie Elder, Editor

Maggie Elder is ecstatic to be an editor on the High Post Staff this year. This is her second year on staff, last year she enjoyed taking pictures, writing stories, and doing layout design for the print publication. Maggie is a member of the Girl’s Swim and Dive Team, Environmental Club, National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Key Club, Interact Club, and French Club. In her free time you can find her spending time with her labrador retriever Charlie, thrifting, or reading. After high school she plans on attending nursing school. Her favorite shows are Parks and Recreation, Gilmore Girls, and The Office. She loves to see what is going on in her community through the High Post. Through High Post she has gone to the Banana Split Festival, multiple different sporting events, and Robert Morris University. Maggie is looking forward to helping new High Post members and continuing to help share people’s stories.

Karlee Clark, Staff Writer

Driven by a passion for leadership and learning, Karlee Clark, a junior at Greater Latrobe, is a returning member of The High Post staff. She originally joined to explore her love of writing and is continuing to dive into her passion for sports photography and to help guide new members. Karlee’s interests include archery, which she's enjoyed for over six years, reading, writing, journaling, singing, and playing the flute and guitar among a handful of other instruments. She’s actively involved in the chamber choir, wind ensemble, pep band, and drama club, where she participates in the spring musicals. This year, she takes on the role of choir secretary. Karlee also plays as a defensive specialist for the Girls Varsity Volleyball team, where she values the teamwork and inside jokes and memories shared with the team. She is also a committed manager and statistician to the boys volleyball team dedicating an unimaginable number of hours analyzing stats and doing anything to help out at practices. Leadership is a central part of Karlee’s life. She’s a member of the Lighthouse Leadership team and has been a student council representative since elementary school, currently serving as secretary having just stepped down from student store manager. Her love of learning extends to the forensics team, where she’s competed in persuasive essay and impromptu speaking, qualifying for the state competition in both her freshman and sophomore years. Beyond school, Karlee is committed to volunteering, always eager to make a difference in her neighborhood.