Sand Tarts from Phillis Pellman Good

Although Christmas is celebrated quietly, some families have kept a few cooking traditions, especially to honor visitors over the holidays. At the turn of the century, sand tarts were baked in some homes “at Christmastime, and usually only then. We would cut them out in different shapes,” an elderly woman remarks. The traditional Pennsylvania Dutch Cookies—lebkuchen, pefferniss, and springerle—were not commonly eaten by the Amish. Explained an Amish grandfather, “We had more cookies around at Christmas, but not really special kinds.” Today cookie-baking is associated more with holiday activity, and sand tarts continue as favorites, perhaps because children enjoy both cutting them out and choosing special shapes to eat.