Virginia Theological Seminary

Sugar "Cookie Papers"

St Nicholas

European St. Nicholas Cookies often have a picture-image of St. Nicholas. These are "cookie papers." The papers are often put on cookie rectangles, plain, glazed, or with an icing decorative frame. Here is an option for having St. Nicholas pictures on cookies: edible printed sugar icing sheets.

Sugar icing images make a lovely substitute for cookie papers. The sugar images are more expensive than printed paper, though they are safe to eat and more acceptable for people unaccustomed to inedible paper pictures on cookies.

Sharply printed pictures are available from PhotoFrost. We offer a jpg that will print 12 St. Nicholas figures on an 8 1/2 x 11 icing sheet. The pictures come on a single sheet and need to be cut out. Icing sheet sources

St Nicholas Ginger Cookies

1/3 cup soft shortening
1 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups light molasses
2/3 cup cold water
6 cups flour
2 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
  1. Mix shortening, brown sugar and molasses thoroughly.
  2. Stir in water. Blend all dry ingredients; stir in. Chill.
  3. Heat oven to 350°.
  4. Roll 1/4 inch thick on floured pastry cloth using a rolling pin cover.
  5. Cut with cutter or into rectangles 2 x 4 1/4 inches.
  6. Place several inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet.
  7. Bake about 15 minutes, or until no imprint remains when touched lightly.
  8. Makes about 4 dozen.
St Nicholas Cookie
St Nicholas Cookie

Decorating Tips

Printed icing sheets

  • European cookies often have a cookie paper on either a plain cookie, on top of white glaze, or with accent icing framing the design.
  • PhotoFrost is the source for the St Nicholas pictures shown here. They print very clearly. Download this jpg to send to PhotoFrost for 12 figures printed on an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet.
    • Cut figures apart, together with the backing sheet. Trim, keeping the backing sheet on. Then peel backing piece off. "Paint" the back with peach jam, using a pastry brush, to "glue" the picture onto the cookie. If cookies are glazed, just stick the picture right onto the fresh glaze.

Glaze with Easy Cookie Glaze

2 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring (almond doesn't discolor glaze)
1/4 scant teaspoon salt
liquid: 2 tablespoons water or 3 tablespoons cream

Mix together, adding enough liquid to spread easily, flowing just a bit.

Paint on cookies with pastry brush.

Accent or frame design with Easy Decorating Icing

2 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon flavoring (vanilla or almond)
1/4 scant teaspoon salt
liquid: 1 1/2 tablespoon water or 2 tablespoons cream

Mix together, adding enough liquid to hold its shape, but not too stiff to squeeze through decorating bag and tube.

Icing Sheet Sources

Recipes adapted from "Gingies," Betty Crocker’s New Picture Cook Book, 1961.

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