Favorite desserts at the sweetest time of year
For many people, one of the most delectable parts of the holidays is the sweet treats that go along with them. To get in the spirit, we asked Hawks to share their favorite holiday cookies with us.
Ali Natale ’18, President of University Student Senate
Favorite Cookie: Italian Wedding Cookie
What makes it special:“My best friend’s mom makes them every year as a present for my family.”
Nathan King ’20
Favorite Cookie: Oreo Balls
What makes it special: “This is the only time of year I have them, so they’re special to my heart.”
Bennie Epright ’19
Favorite Cookie: Pillsbury Shape Christmas Sugar Cookies
What makes it special: “They are something that I grew up with.”
Malcom Odum ’20
Favorite Cookie: Pillsbury Shape Christmas Sugar Cookies
What makes it special: “I enjoy them because of their fun Christmas prints.”
Katie Sellers ’21
Favorite Cookie: Gingerbread Cookies
What makes it special: “My siblings and I make them with my dad every year. We spend a whole day the week before Christmas baking cookies and frosting them.”
Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D, Director of Student Leadership and Activities
Favorite Cookie: Peanut Butter Hershey Kiss Cookies
What makes it special: “When I was a kid we really only made the peanut butter Hershey kiss ones at Christmas,so I think of them as Christmas cookie. Now I make them anytime so they’re not just a Christmas cookie, but they’re still one of my favorites.”
Alexander Velazquez ’20
Favorite Cookie: Peanut Butter Blossoms
What makes it special: “I associate them with holiday spirit.”
Tenaya Darlington, M.F.A., Associate Professor of English
Favorite Cookie: Oatmeal or Gingerbread Cookie
What makes it special: “While I love an oatmeal or gingerbread cookie, I’m always on the look-out for the next cookie flavor. So, if I go to a holiday party, I am always trolling for that one unusual baked good I haven’t seen before. Last night I ate a chocolate-tahini cookie that rocked my world. It tasted like dark cocoa and sesame, and it had flakes of sea salt on top that added a tiny bit of crunch. I loved the combination.”
Mikaela Bakey ’18
Favorite Cookie: Sugar Cookies in Festive Shapes with Colored Sprinkles
What makes it special: “As a kid, my family enjoyed baking cookies on Christmas Eve to put out for Santa.”
Emily Hanlon ’18
Favorite Cookie: Sugar Cookies
What makes it special: “I always make them with my family, it’s a Christmas tradition for us. Without them, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same.”
Brian M. Forster, Ph.D., Lab Coordinator, General Education Program Natural Sciences
Favorite Cookie: Christmas Meringues
What makes it special: “They’re my favorite because of family tradition – that’s what we always have each year at Christmas.”
Gabrielle Stevenson ’21
Favorite Cookie: Snickerdoodles
What makes it special: “I like them because they are just an amazing combination of cinnamon and brown sugar and they are super festive.”
Timothy Ward ’18
Favorite Cookie: Snickerdoodles
What makes it special: “My mom makes them well.”
Evan Palmieri ’19
Favorite Cookie: Ginger Snap
What makes it special: “Ginger cookies remind me of Christmas and gingerbread houses.”
Josie Covello ’18
Favorite Cookie: Italian Christmas Cookies
What makes it special: “My favorite is my Nona’s Italian Christmas cookies because we used to make them together when I was growing up and they always remind me of the holidays.”
Megan Szabo ’19
Favorite Cookie: Kolaches (Hungarian cookies with apricot and berry fillings)
What makes it special: “My grandma used to make them all the time when I was younger, but because they’re kind of time intensive to make right, we only get them around the holidays so it’s something I look forward to.”
Shyheim Williams, M.A. ’19
Favorite Cookie: Gingerbread/ginger snaps
What makes it special: “They’re easy to make. You can make them into fun shapes with your family and friends, and I love building gingerbread houses. They can be really ‘spicy’ or really sweet.”
