Amana Church Cookie Walk

One of the highlights of the annual Prelude to Christmas celebration in the Amana Colonies the first weekend in December is the Church Society's Cookie Walk, hosted since 1991. If you like sweets this walk is for you!

Traditionally, cookies were a big hit at Christmastime everywhere especially in the Amanas, a German community. Christmas and Easter were the only times the Amana housewives baked cookies so they made lots and lots. Since there were no ovens in the homes all the cookie ingredients were premixed at home and the full bowls were then taken to the local bakery to be baked. This lasted all afternoon till dozens and dozens of many kinds of cookies were baked. Each family had an assigned time on a December afternoon to bake their creations. This baking lasted over  2-3 weeks in December. Fudge and candies were also made.

As in Germany, the Lebkuchen was most popular Christmas  cookie. These were chewy honey cookies  with hickory or walnuts, whiskey or citron added depending on the family's tradition.  Free honey came from local apiaries as all versions needed  two cups of honey to make this a long lasting cookie! After 1932 when the communal system ended, bakers had ovens in their own homes to bake cookies in their own kitchens.

To help celebrate this enthusiasm for Christmas cooking baking,  local Church members now bake  and make candies for the annual Amana Church Cookie Walk. Over 15,000 cookies baked by some 80 bakers, are arranged beautifully for shoppers to buy starting at noon after reserving a spot in the morning. Shoppers fill their own box, holding 4-5 dozen lovely cookies, for about 25.00. This popular event is well attended and sells out in about 3 hours. It benefits the Church's Sunday School and youth programs.

This year (2021) a Cookie Walk book was published, entitled Christmas Cookie Walk Favorites.  100 recipes are shared in the little book, each by an Amana Colonies baker and each with its own story.  It is available at the local General Store, Amana Arts Guild, the High Amana Store, and the Heritage Museum of Amana History.

ALMOND APRICOT CHEWIES

2 CUPS SLIVERED ALMONDS

4 CUPS FINELY CHOPPED DRIED APPRICOTS

4 CUPS FLAKED SWEETENED COCONUT

1-14 OUNCE  CAN SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

3 TABLESPOONS FINELY CHOPPED PECANS

TOAST SLMONDS: Place almonds in a dry. Nonstick skillet and vook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until nuts are lightly browned.

Combine toasted almonds, chopped apricots. Coconut and condensed milk.

Chill at least 2 hours

Shape dough into 1-inch diameter balls. Place in smaller or miniature foil candy liners. Top with a sprinkle of finely chopped pecans.  Yield: 6 dozen