Streenstra’s St. Claus Cookies are a Michigan original and a holiday staple for many local families. These delicious cookies are often imitated as “windmill cookies,” but those over-processed copycats are nothing compared to the 1900’s original recipe.
According to http://cookiesunique.net:
“In 1926 the Steenstra family immigrated to the United States bringing with them the family recipe for making delicious Dutch Windmill Cookies. In 1947 the Steenstra’s built a bakery in now the City of Wyoming, Michigan, just down the road from the then cookie baking leader Hekman Bakery. They made cookies in that plant until June of 1988 when the building burned down. This did not put Steenstra’s out of business but did force a move to the neighboring Dutch community of Hudsonville where keeping that same family recipe, the cookie business prospered.
The cookie cutter die used for shaping the cookies dates back to the early 1900’s and shows 5 distinct shapes telling “The legend of St. Nicholas” and is the reason they are often known as Santa Claus Cookies. The shapes are; St. Nick on his horse, a windmill where he lived, a rooster that would wake him up, an owl that made him wise, and a boy and girl that are the recipients of St. Nick’s good cookie treats.”
The fun-shaped cookies tickle the imagination of children, and trigger the memories of many adults. From separating the boy and girl cookies, to eating Santa Claus right off his horse, the Streenstra’s St. Claus Cookie experience is one we hope you’ll enjoy this holiday season. Pick up a pack for yourself here at Western Market.
