The Cookie Table

honeychile · #1 05-08-2009, 10:06 AM

Most vintage GCers have heard about the SWPA tradition of The Cookie Table, by which many weddings are judged. Even Wikipedia has heard of it, although they incorrectly credit Youngstown as the origin ("in place of... a wedding cake"? Um, no!). Rather than piggyback this onto another thread, I thought I'd start a Cookie Table Thread of its own.

The tradition is simple: a table (or several tables) are filled with cookies at the wedding reception, allowing guests to help themselves for their own table or for munching on their own. Articles abound as to the hows and whys of The Cookie Table, but the bottom line is that it's a great way for friends & relatives to say that they approve of the match. Most have mini-ladylocks (clothespin cookies), pizelles, Russian (Mexican, Scottish) Teacakes, and Pecan Tassies, along with the more standard cookies. I saw a list and thought I'd post it. If you have any cookie you'd contribute, feel free to contribute a recipe. If you've tried a recipe that was perfectly nasty, let us know about that, too. MAYBE, we could combine this with Christmas Cookie thread, and have The Ultimate Cookie Recipe Thread!

This is a list of cookies shown above, with the recipes.

PhoenixAzul · #2 05-08-2009, 10:57 AM

We had a wonderful cookie table at our wedding, and it was the thing I was looking forward to most! An elderly friend of my MIL offered to do our cookies for us as our wedding present...something like 30 dozen later...we were good! I even baked a few just because I was nervous and needed something to channel my energy.

This recipe has been an old standby for my mom for years, and it is one of my favorites because it has nice spice tastes and is sweet and chewy too.

Raisin Molasses Gems
Servings: 3 dozen

Ingredients:

¾ cup shortening
1 cup sugar
¼ cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp ginger
¼ tsp salt
1 cup raisins
Sugar

Directions:

Beat shortening and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; beat well. Combine flour, soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt. Add to molasses mixture; mix well. Stir in raisins. Cover, refrigerate until chilled. Shape into 1 inch balls; roll each in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake in upper third of preheated 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes

KSUViolet06 · #3 05-10-2009, 02:31 AM

It's funny, I have always wondered if the cookie table was an Ohio thing, because I have ONLY seen cookie tables at weddings in Ohio (and maybe a couple in PA).

kddani · #4 12-16-2009, 10:59 AM

Bumping b/c of a great article in the NY Times about the Pittsburgh cookie table:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/di...?_r=3&emc=eta1

ree-Xi · #5 12-16-2009, 11:10 AM

Is this the same thing as a Venetian Table? We had one at our wedding, with fruits, cookies, pastries, ice sculpture, etc. Ours wasn't just cookies; it was all kinds of desserts.

agzg · #6 12-16-2009, 07:06 PM

It's definitely something people talk about. "Ooooh did you see the cookie table?" "Oh I went to this wedding last weekend that had the best cookie table!"

I don't think, however, that people hold it against a couple if their cookie table isn't the greatest thing a guest has ever seen. They may hold it against them if the cookies aren't that good, though.

And attributing a marriage that doesn't last to the lack of a cookie table is most likely 90% joke. I've also never seen someone leave a wedding because there was no cookie table.

kddani · #7 12-16-2009, 07:16 PM

We had SO much wedding cake left over. (I generally don't care too much for wedding cake, but ours was good). We had a "dessert room". Our baker does a package where you get a cake that fed about 3/5 of our guests, then 7 other LARGE desserts (cheesecakes, cakes, pies, etc.), and then they gave you some cookies for your cookie table. And we had to add on massive amounts of cookies.

Everyone still talks about the sweets at our wedding. The desserts were a huge hit because so many people would prefer a piece of cheesecake over a piece of wedding cake.

Not only was it fabulous (this bakery's desserts are TO DIE FOR), but it was economical - the whole package was cheaper than a cake at most other bakeries.

KSUViolet06 · #8 12-16-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agzg

It's definitely something people talk about. "Ooooh did you see the cookie table?" "Oh I went to this wedding last weekend that had the best cookie table!"

I don't think, however, that people hold it against a couple if their cookie table isn't the greatest thing a guest has ever seen. They may hold it against them if the cookies aren't that good, though.

And attributing a marriage that doesn't last to the lack of a cookie table is most likely 90% joke. I've also never seen someone leave a wedding because there was no cookie table.

Cookie table is only super important to me when the cake is not good. If I don't care for the cake, or the slices are SUPER tiny, it's no big deal when there is a table full of good stuff next to it. So if I don't like the cake and the cookies aren't good (or there are no cookies), I have to go dessert-less.

Also (for non-Midwestern peeps), the cookie table isn't usually JUST cookies. I have seen them with brownies, a chocolate fountain (with fruit for dipping), and mini cheesecake as well.

epchick · #9 12-16-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

perhaps tongue-in-cheek.

Quote:

Originally Posted by agzg

And attributing a marriage that doesn't last to the lack of a cookie table is most likely 90% joke.

Ah gotcha. I guess I figured if it was a southern thing, that it wouldn't be so incredulous if people did attribute a failed marriage to a lack of a cookie table.

But then I haven't been to a wedding with a cookie table so if someone said "they had an awesome cookie table" I'd look at you like

agzg · #10 12-16-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also (for non-Midwestern peeps), the cookie table isn't usually JUST cookies. I have seen them with brownies, a chocolate fountain (with fruit for dipping), and mini cheesecake as well.

And candy, candy, candy! Chocolates! Sweets! OMG. I was at a wedding where they had gumball machines on the cookie table. Yum yum yum!

OMG this thread is making me hit the red and green M&Ms HARD.

DrPhil · #11 12-16-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

a chocolate fountain (with fruit for dipping)

*cue the Hallelujah Chorus*

ASTalumna06 · #12 12-16-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

a chocolate fountain (with fruit for dipping)

My cousin did have this at her wedding a few years ago. It was amazing

MysticCat · #13 12-16-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

My cousin did have this at her wedding a few years ago. It was amazing

To be honest, I can't remember the last wedding reception I went to where they didn't have a chocolate fountain.

SigmaShelley · #14 12-16-2009, 08:34 PM

Never heard of this.
I have been to a couple weddings recently that had a candy table.
They had little carryout boxes at our seat inviting us to fill it up with candy.
Of course there was a cute little poem and most of the candy was the color of the bridesmaid dresses.

MysticCat · #15 12-16-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

Ah gotcha. I guess I figured if it was a southern thing, that it wouldn't be so incredulous if people did attribute a failed marriage to a lack of a cookie table.

Of course, 'cause we always judge a marriage's chance of success on what is served at the reception.