Cooking with Saints: Cookies of Joy

by Grazia Barletta · Published February 24, 2021 · Updated October 4, 2021

St Hildegard’s Cookies of Joy

These biscuits were first made almost 900 years ago by the German mystic St Hildegard of Bingen. She said that these spice biscuits should be taken at regular intervals to increase joy and positivity.

St Hildegard made many contributions to the field of holistic health and wellness, and believed food nourished the soul. The spices, the main ingredients in this recipe first published in 1157, have health benefits. Today we might call them “Joy Cookies”, as St Hildegard said they lift all melancholia, open your heart and bring you a sense of cheerfulness.

Preparation: 10 min • Baking: 15 min
Servings: 30

Ingredients:

200g Butter
¾ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup honey
4 eggs yolks
2,5 cups flour
½ tsp Baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp Nutmeg ( Joy Mix )
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp ground Cloves
Wax paper

PREPARATION:

Melt butter over low heat, add sugar, honey, and egg yolks, beating lightly.
Add flour, baking powder, salt and spices and combine gently into dough. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Remove dough and roll out on floured surface, cut with cookie cutter.
Bake on baking tray lined with wax paper for about 10–15 minutes till golden brown.
Cool for five minutes then remove from baking tray.
Enjoy with a prayer!

Grazia Barletta is an author, book designer, and food photographer & stylist. She can be contacted at
Follow her blog at www.momentswithgrazia.com and connect with Grazia on Facebook/Instagram: momentswithgrazia

This article was first published in The Southern Cross magazine, January 2021 issue
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