The Peculiarities of a Mid-Century Christmas

Written by Nikk Alcaraz

Christmas in the mid-century was nothing if not bold. From the year 1950 through the 1970’s, holiday creativity ran absolutely wild for better and, occasionally, for much worse. It was an era of innovation, convenience foods, and a fearless belief that anything could be made festive with the right garnish…or by suspending it in gelatin. Mid-century hosts took entertaining very seriously, which meant centerpieces weren’t just decorative, they were also edible. Case in point: the shrimp tree. Yes, a literal Christmas tree made of shrimp.

But not all ideas were unhinged. One of my favorite innovations from the era is the cookie press. These ingenious devices produce perfectly shaped cookies in a fraction of the time it takes to use cookie cutters. I use mine to make my favorite Cherry Spritz Cookies. They are buttery and topped with a maraschino cherry that makes them scream 1950s Christmas! Here is the recipe to try for yourself.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 g) unsalted Butter (Softened)

• ½ cup + 1 tbsp (113 g) granulated sugar

• 1 large egg (room temp)

• 2 tsp (8 g) vanilla extract

• 2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 large jar of maraschino cherries Cookie press with wreath or flower disk

Instructions:

• Preheat you oven to 400°F (200°C).

• Cut the cherries in half and place them cut-side down on a few paper towels to remove the excess moisture. Set them aside (Tip* I like to do this the night before and leave them out on the counter to make them drier. The drier the better)

• With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until well incorporated. Sift in the flour and salt and beat on low until the dough is soft and workable, don’t over-mix.

• Once the dough has formed, stuff the cookie press and add the disk cutter of choice. I like to use the flower and wreath shapes because they have an indent for the cherry. Press the cookies directly onto an ungreased baking tray. (Tip* The tray must be free from oils for the cookies to release from the press.)

• Place the cherries in the centers and bake them for 6-8 minutes. Remove them from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy these by themselves or with your favorite hot beverage.

Snowman Cake Made Easy

The creative innovations that came to light in the 50’s were great. People wanted things to be quick, convenient, and to produce the same outcome as methods of years prior. The cake mix was all the rage back then. Just a few ingredients and a cake appears as if by magic. Not only were the baking methods clever, but so were the decorating methods. This snowman is proof that a simple cake can be transformed with a few simple cuts.

Ingredients:

• Coconut Cake Mix (Plus what’s needed to prepare it)

• Cream Cheese Frosting

• Unsweetened shredded coconut

• Black and red candy melt wafers

• 9×13 cake pan

• Candy cane Construction paper

Instructions:

• Bake the cake in a 9×13 pan as directed according to the box.
• Let it cool completely and invert it onto a cake board.
• Cut out the corners of the cake about 3 ½ inches down from the top and 2 ½ from the sides. Place the cut pieces on the sides to create the arms.

• Sprinkle and pat down the cake with unsweetened shredded coconut.
• To make the coal eyes, mouth, and buttons, cut candy melt wafers into shape with a knife and place them where needed.
• Finish by making a paper top hat out of construction paper and place a candy cane in his hand.
• Enjoy!

Keep the holiday spirit going with a little festive fun at Cafe Casino. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the season with games like Chubby Santa and Winter Wonders.

Todays recipes are inspired by Cafe Casino’s Chubby Santa and Winter Wonders games. Happy Holidays!