Our Family Traditions | Creative Kids Brand Photographer
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and chat about those heartwarming family traditions!
I love to think about how all my experiences shaped me into the creative kids photographer I am.
Back in the good ol’ days, my go-to happy place was my great grandma’s house – basically, a wonderland where the sweet smell of nostalgia danced with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked pies.
Imagine this cozy scene: four generations – my grandma, great-grandma, my mom, sister, and I all in the kitchen laughing and baking pies.
I would always bake more at my other grandma’s home – plenty of cookies.
Now, fast forward to the twinkling lights and classic Christmas music brings back those familiar feelings of Christmas.
My kitchen turns into a warm, tradition-packed haven.
For me, the real joy isn’t just about inhaling those luscious cookies but soaking in the sweet moments with my girls.
Laughter mixing with the sweet vanilla scent, and the cookie dough getting rolled out and cut with cookie cutters– that’s the secret to what makes it unforgettable to me.
Picture this: the girls going wild with cookie cutters, turning simple dough into adorable shapes.
Sugar cookies- They’re my ride-or-die. Straight up, my favorite.
And in the last few years, I’ve added another cookie to our family recipe roster- gingerbread men and women ready to be iced however our hearts desire!
For those hungry for a slice of our family magic, I’m laying out our cherished recipes below.
May the special moments creating these goodies become part of your traditions, creating memories as sweet as the cookies themselves.
Get ready for some happy baking!
May your kitchen be filled with laughter and the comforting aroma of shared moments! 🍪✨
Morse Gingerbread Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
6 tbsp butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp grated lemon peel
3 cups flour
3 tsp ground ginger
1 – 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Directions:
Cream butter and brown sugar together.
Add molasses, egg, vanilla, and lemon peel.
In another bowl whisk flour, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the buttered mixture.
Divide dough into two balls.
Cover with saran wrap or foil and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Bake at 350 for 7-9 minutes.
Let cool before frosting or decorating cookies.
HELPFUL TIPS:
Since there are so many ingredients, measure them into smaller bowls.
So when you begin making the cookies, everything is already measured out and you just have to grab the bowl and add it to the batter.
It saves time (especially when the little ones are helping you)!
When you go to roll out the dough, flour the surface first.
Make sure the dough is rolled evenly.
Don’t roll the dough too thin or too thick- usually, about 1/4 inch is a good thickness.
Sugar Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup unsalted (softened) butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg (room temperature)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
Directions:
Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl, set aside.
Beat butter and sugar for about 2 minutes until well mixed.
Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually while mixing on low.
If needed, you can add an additional 1 tbsp of flour until the dough isn’t too soft and sticky.
Roll dough out into 1/4″ thick circles and wrap with plastic wrap.
Place in fridge and cool dough for 1-2 hours or within 2 days.
Preheat oven to 350.
Roll out cookie dough and cut with cookie cutters.
Bake 11-12 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
Cool on a baking sheet for a few mins and then cool on a wire cookie rack.
Supporting other small business owners so they can have time to create special memories like this with their kids is my favorite thing about being a creative kids brand photographer.
