12 timelessly lovely vintage Christmas cookie recipes

'Twas three mornings before Christmas and all through the house, every creature was actually stirring - a mixing bowl, that is. That's right, my lovelies, Christmas is just half a week away and I'm happily up to my eyebrows in holiday feast preparations. I don't mind in the least. Yes, it's taxing on me from a health standpoint, but this whole chunk of the year is, and it's a small price to pay to get to enjoy the magic, wonder and togetherness of Christmastime with my darling husband and our loved ones.

Like many families, cookies and bars have always been an integral part of our holiday season feast. Growing up, my mom often baked upwards of ten or more different types of Christmas cookies, bars and similar goodies for our family, as well as to take some of to when we went places such as my grandparent's house or to give as gifts to treasured neighbours.




Of course our family isn't alone in this delicious tradition by any means. Christmas baking has been a part of the season since pretty much the very get-go, and most of us who celebrate on December 25th enjoy indulging in at least one special treat on the big day - which often means reaching for the plate of cookies.

Over the years here, I've posted a handful of terrific vintage Christmas cookie recipes, some of which hail from my own family's recipe book, whereas others were online finds that really caught my eye. These include:

-Cherry Nut Shortbread Cookies

-Cherry Snowball Cookies

-Christmas Trees

-Chocolate Mint Brownies

-Gingerbread Men

-Swedish Crisps


Today - always a day devoted largely to Christmas baking at my house - I wanted to share 12 more really charming looking vintage Christmas cookie recipes from the 1940s and 50s (one each to represent the twelve days of Christmas), all of which I've tucked away over the past year as I've come across them.

Any one of the following recipes could be altered a bit here or there, as desired, but I'll leave it up to you and your imagination, if you feel inclined to alter them. I think they each sound mighty yummy just as they are right now! :)










 
 

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All of my holiday baking is gluten and egg-free (as well as devoid of other ingredients that I'm not able to eat due to medical reasons), and this has meant the rejigging of most of my favourite recipes, as well as those I've found online, over the years. Happily however, about 90% of my experiments have turned out well (Ener-G egg replacer is a huge help you also need to forgo the real deal in any kind of baking), and my repertoire of tasty holiday desserts continues to grow with each passing Christmas season.

My very favourites from my family's classic recipes will always be the Mint Chocolate Brownies and Cherry Snowballs mentioned above, but I whip up several others most years as well, and am always game to try any new recipe that I can safely eat.

There's a reason why we leave cookies and milk out for Santa. These homemade, fantastic little treats are an integral part of the holiday season for most people and it's hard to image December without them ready and waiting, whenever the craving for something sugary hits, to give as gifts, and to sneak down and enjoy late at night in the beautiful glow of the Christmas tree. Each one is a special gift for your taste buds, a nostalgic reminder of holidays past, traditions handed down in the kitchen, and a symbol of the inherent sweetness of this amazing season.




I hope that you find a new vintage Christmas cookie recipe or two (or 12!) to try amongst those listed here today that sparks your interest, and who knows, perhaps becomes an instant classic at your house. Have fun baking and enjoying these awesome early winter days that lead up to the 25th, Christmas cookies never far from hand throughout the whole majestic season.

Special Christmas 2013 edition of Vintage Fashionista Friday

 

{Bows are a must at this time of the year, not only on parcels and packages, but in your festive seasonal attire as well. Slip this charming little vintage rhodium plated rhinestone bow barrette into your locks for an instant dose of stylish cheer all through the holiday season. $22.00 from etsy seller Ready Made Jewelry.}




{Help keep your lips looking picture perfect smooth and pretty while also enjoying one of the best, and most iconic, scents of the season thanks to this lovely little tube of handmade peppermint lip balm. $4.00 (for a 4.44g/0.15oz tube), from etsy seller Peculiar Potions.}




{Whether indoors or out, keep fight off some of winter's rough chill with this sophisticated, timelessly gorgeous white faux mink fur scrunch stole. It's perfect for everything from tossing over a coat on a sleigh ride in the snow to wearing atop a ladylike cocktail dress at the company Christmas party. Available in modern ladies sizes small/medium and large/extra large, $89.00, from Blue Velvet Vintage.}




{As it is for many people the world over, the classic holiday song Silver Bells has long been one of mine and my mother's favourites, so when I saw this immensely lovely vintage sterling silver bell dangle brooch recently, I knew it just had to appear in today's post. $32.00 from etsy seller Boudoir Barbie.}




{Hit two big holiday notes in one go, with this fantastic 1950s red Carole King holiday dress featuring red ribbed faille with velvet bow detailing, velvet cummerbund buttons at the back, and a wonderfully full skirt. Fits up to a 36" bust, 26" waist, $140.00 from etsy seller Dalena Vintage.}




{No need for doorways, just dangle your hand adorned with these whimsical, sweetly pretty mistletoe decals above your holiday honey and a smooch is sure to ensue! Set of 40 water slide mistletoe nail decals, $3.95 from etsy seller Nail Pretties.}




{Let these beautiful ruby red NOS 1950s kid gloves do double duty this season: warding off winter's icy wrath and helping you look fabulously stylish in any setting. Fits size 6.5 hand, $85.00, from etsy seller Road Less Traveled Vintage.}




{If ever there is a time of the year for glittery handbags, this is most definitely it! Add some tinsel approved sheen to favourite holidays looks with this classic mid-century silver sparkle evening clutch with chain strap. $8.00 from etsy seller C Style Vintage.}




{If you're on the hunt festively hued shoes that will see you through this Christmas season and all others for as long as they last, this timelessly pretty 1940s red leather pair is your answer! Fits approximately a modern size 8/8.5, $98.00, from etsy seller Bloomers & Frocks.}

 

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Five more days, just five more magical, snowflake and sugar cookie filled days until Christmas arrives! Isn't it amazing how, no matter how long the year up until this point may have seemed, December 25th always seems to get here faster than Santa's sleigh zooming across the frosty night sky?

What still seemed so far off to most as we tucked away the Halloween decor less than two months ago, is now barreling down on us at the speed of light and all the world is aglow with its beauty and excitement.

I love dressing up all year round, but few times suit it better or call for it more fittingly than during the holiday season. There's parties, dinners, functions, plays, pageants, services, photo shoots, and of course the big day itself all in need of our most festive finery.

This is a time of the year when glitz isn't just good, it's grand! When more is often better, sparkle no knows bounds, lux is the name of the game, and everyone suddenly seems to remember just how much red and green they really do have in their closet.

Our stylish gal today is named Noel, the French word for Christmas itself, and she comes sporting the sartorial spirit of the season in full force. Much like myself, she rarely goes for an understated approach this time of year, preferring instead to take a cue from the nearest Christmas tree and deck herself out in holiday loveliness from head to stylish toe.

Follow her lead as you continue to dress up during these last few wonderful days of 2013. Before we know it, the twinkling lights, bubbly music piped over loudspeakers near and far, and the season of sequins will be behind us again. Revel in the chance to go big or go home, as they say, whether you interpret that literally, or just see it as a way of giving yourself permission to sport those kinds of special garments and accessories you rarely, if ever, bring out of your closet during the other eleven months of the year. 

This season is one of profound and meaningful beauty, just as your outfit choices should be. Celebrate December 24th and 25th, Boxing Day and New Years with what you wear, and it will be next to impossible not to have a holly, jolly Christmas. It is after all, as the classic song says, the best time of the year! 

Baby, it's cold - and festively fashionable - outside!

Outfit details

Red and green hair flowers: Both from Arden
Silver tone metal and crystal earrings: Claire's
Black 1950s velvet stole wrap: etsy seller A Better Time
Vintage reproduction 1950s style red & white halter dress: Classy Dames from Blue Velvet Vintage  White lace trimmed crinoline: Pettiskirt Style
1940s/50s white faux suede gloves: (probably) eBay
Faux leather bow clutch: Bentley
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Black faux suede round toe pumps: Wal-Mart
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red
Photography by Antonio Cangiano  

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As a maple-leaf-red blooded Canadian, I like to think that I have a rather strong constitution when it comes to icy weather, and should I be dressed accordingly for such, I typically do. However, even I admit to being as chilly as a snowman in arctic on the evening a few days ago when we shot today's holiday ensemble photos. It was more than worth the Rudolph worthy rosy red nose, goose bumps, and chattering teeth though to find the perfect backdrop for an equally perfect holiday dress.

Blue Velvet Vintage, a top-notch online vintage, reproduction and vintage appropriate clothing and accessories shop, which I profiled in this post last July, has been - and continues to be - an absolutely awesome blog sponsor, and it is their resplendently lovely house line, Classic Dame, of vintage reproduction dresses that includes the knockout red and white 1950s style halter dress that you see here today.

Though this stylish frock wasn't designed specifically for the Christmas holiday season, it suits it marvelously, and I was elated to receive it as a review gift from Blue Velvet Vintage recently. I knew before it even arrived, that a dress of this caliber deserved an extra special location to shoot it against, but where, I wondered, would that be? After much brainstorming, Tony and I hit upon the idea of taking snaps in front a large Christmas tree made of out shimmering lights that greets visitors and locals alike in Kelowna shortly after they come into town.

As it's only lit during the evenings, when Christmas lights look their best anyhow, we buzzed up there after dinner one night and found a location (on the concrete ramp pathway leading to a foot traffic bridge across the always busy thoroughfare that is Harvey Avenue) from which we could safely shoot in this bustling urban area (and from which you could get a sense of what the background was).

Though I'd been thinking about what I might partner this beautiful red and white polka dot dress with for some time now, when the moment to do actually came, I ended up styling it pretty much on the fly, taking things in a different direction than I'd first had in mind (initially I'd thought we might shoot inside, but as such wasn't ultimately the case, I needed too add a couple of accessories to help fend off at least a little bit of the -7C chill that evening).

While this is a frock that you could wear any single day of the year, its colour palette is inherently Christmassy and as this was going to be my holiday shoot for 2013, I didn't hold back on adding to its seasonal feel. Rand green hair flowers, icicle hued crystal dangle earrings, classic white cloves, and touches of timeless black in the form of a velvet wrap and bow adorned faux suede heels all helped me feel as festive as jolly Old St. Nicolas himself.

This dress is a dream. Not only does it fit excellently (something that is not always the case with me and halter dresses), but it's made of thick, great quality 100% satin finish cotton, features a pleated sweetheart bodice with darling polka dot cotton pique fold over collar, lined bodice, sturdy metal zipper up the back, and a full skirt (measuring 27" long) that just begs to be twirled in (which I did to try and keep warm between a few photos).

Though I don't own as much repro as some folks, I have bought and also received a lovely selection of such pieces from various brands over the years and I honestly say, with complete impartialness (to the fact that I was sent this dress as review gift), that this delightful 1950s style halter dress is one of the best made pieces I've ever owned. There's quality workmanship at play here, as well as excellent materials, classic tailoring and an overall sense of quality that can't be beat.

In addition to the Christmas season, I know that thanks to the colours at work here, this is a dress I'll reach for often come both Valentine's Day and Canada Day as well, while also enjoying it on many a non-holiday day the whole year round (I'm thinking it would be a perfect choice to wear to next year's Peach City Peach Cruise in June).

I won't lie to you, it was mighty nippy out there that evening, but it was also incredibly lovely, serene in so as much as be had in such a high traffic environment, and rather magical. I've never done a shoot outdoors at night, let alone one set against a towering tree made of holiday lights. I will remember this night always, not simply because the weather was so invigorating, but because I felt positively alive with the Christmas spirit and was having a blast, even if my fingers, toes and shoulders were turning into Popsicles.

Nights like this, much like the holiday season itself, don't come along everyday - nor do stellar fifties style dresses like this one from Blue Velvet Vintage, and it was a rare and wonderful experience to get immortalize one on camera to look back on and always have as a beautiful memory of Christmas 2013 season.