A Visit from St. Nicholas

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there..."

Clement C Moore 

A Visit from St Nicholas

On the eve of St. Nicholas Day (December 6th), children leave their shoes {or slippers} outside their bedroom doors in hopes that St. Nicholas will leave treats such as {Speculaas or windmill} cookies, candies, nuts or apples.

My son's slippers waiting to be filled.

Speculaas cookies

1 Cup (2 sticks) sweet butter, at room temperature
2 cups dark brown sugar
2 eggs
Grated rind of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg or mace
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the lemon rind.

Sift the spices and salt with the flour and baking powder, and stir gradually into the butter mixture. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for several hours or overnight. (If you are in a hurry, start the chilling process in the freezer: leave the dough in the freezer for about 20 minutes.)

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch, or for larger figures to about 1/4 inch. Cut out with cookie cutters, or trace around a heavy paper pattern with a sharp knife. This dough can also be used with a cookie mold, or can be molded by hand.

Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned. If you like you cookies soft, remove them from the oven when they are just set -- the longer the baking time, the crisper the cookie.

Filled with little gifts and candies!

The little "wish" pouch 
(which I got years ago as a Starbucks gift card holder) 

holds a little Matchbox car 

and a card from St. Nicholas... 

 Chocolate gold-covered coins are a traditional St. Nicholas Day treat!

I bought these at Target.

It's a fun tradition that precedes Christmas and keeps the religious aspect of the holiday season.  We simply explain to our son that St. Nick visits to check in on him to see if he's being good, and also to scope out where to leave his presents! 

Happy St. Nicholas Day!