Get in the Christmas Spirit with Spruce Tree Shortbread

Cooking with spruce is magical. It fills up the house with the fragrance of a sweet-scented forest and makes it feel oh so Christmassy! I liked the idea of borrowing a few snips from my Christmas trees branches, whipping up a batch of these tree cookies, and putting them right back on the tree.

I've been making spruce shortbread for a while but was never quite satisfied with the faint, barely perceptible flavor. Then I happened on Gather Victorias enticing recipe for a spruce cookie glaze and lo and behold, the vibrant green icing transformed my cookies from shy to bold, now bursting with the aroma and color of a majestic spruce! Her post also inspired me to sip on some spruce needle tea as I recently nursed a nasty cold. I'm quite sure it was the trees bountiful medicinal properties that got me back on my feet. Thank you trees for all the joy and health that you bring us, particularly at this time of year!

If you're in the mood, strap your boots on and go for a walk in the woods to gather the needles that make these shortbread cookies so special. While most conifer needles are edible, a few varieties are toxic so be sure to use a tree identification guide. For instance, the Yew tree and Norfolk Island Pine (sold as ornamental trees) are poisonous, and cedars and Ponderosa pine are known to have some toxicity). It's also important to be aware that some sources recommend pregnant women should avoid consuming spruce. But with these precautions in mind, you can take a taste walk through the woods, sampling the needles of fir, pine, and spruce to determine which you like best, knowing that conifers have been used for food and medicine since time immemorial. Spring is the optimal time to harvest spruce needles, when their tender delicate green buds appear. But I've found that the more mature, wintery spruce needles can be equally delicious, with a more full and complex taste profile. And when you grind them up into a moist, bright green powder, you can almost feel their vitality and the beauty they can bring to any recipe!

These cookies are lovely to gift. Or if you wish, gift your tree back to itself by decorating it with a bit of its own essence. May your home be filled with magic, light, and wonderful aromas at this very special time of year. Happy holidays!