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    Home » Recipes » Plain Culture

    Amish Broomstick Cookies

    Published: Oct 26, 2021 · Updated: Oct 26, 2021 by Kevin Williams | 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Amish Broomstick Cookies

    A question that often gets asked around this time of year: do the Amish observe or celebrate Halloween?

    Halloween is generally not something that the Amish would participate in.  The reasons would have less to do with theology than frivolity.  Amish kids do participate in some Halloween pranks, teenagers might soap up someone's buggy or windows as a gag. I remember about 30 years ago visiting an Amish community right after Halloween and a woman was complaining about Amish teens toilet papering her buggy as a prank. Amish who attend public schools might well pass out and receive some candy. But that's about the extent of it. Tourist areas of Amish country do acknowledge Halloween with festivities, though.

    Jump to:
    • 🙋 FAQ
    • 🧹 Amish Broomstick Cookies
    • 📋 Instructions
    • 👻 More Spooky Amish Halloween Recipes
    • 🖨️ Full Recipe

    One way the Amish might observe the season is through baked goods like these Amish Broomstick Cookies. "Monster cookies" are popular or just any treats that might be fun. One of these treats are homemade broomstick cookies.

    🙋 FAQ

    Do Amish children dress in costumes for Halloween and go trick-or-treating?

    No. I'm not saying it NEVER happens, but the vast majority of Amish children would not do this. It'd be considered frivolous with currents of anti-Christianity mixed in. But you will see some Amish children getting in on some Halloween fun like decorating pumpkins or enjoying some sweet treats.

    Nothing like some homemade "broomstick cookies" around Halloween.  This is a recipe that is popular in Amish communities this time of year and reader Barbara was nice enough to test the recipe for us a couple of years ago.

    Here is how Barbara described it:

    "Was easy to put together, used my hands to mix.  I recommend the 15 minutes baking time.  That makes a softer cookie, however after leaving to sit for a bit they are becoming more dense.  Second batch I did for the 20 minutes and they came off the tray crunchy already.  The taste is like a really good brown sugar cookie with a little bit of nut and sometimes a raisin surprise.  My husband really enjoyed!  I will really enjoy in the morning with my coffee."

    We made Amish Broomstick Cookies again this week since Halloween is approaching. As long-timers here know, I'm not a huge raisin fan so I'd probably leave the raisins out. I always say, why ruin a perfectly good cookie by putting raisins in them? My MIL makes oatmeal-raisin cookies, but why add raisins to them? They are superb cookies without raisins. But I digress.

    So, these cookies, well, anytime I've made them they don't really look like what I envision a broomstick looking like....they come out more as logs, but they are still fun to make,.

    These are the basic ingredients that comprise broomstick cookies: brown sugar, eggs, shortening, and more.

    Amish Broomstick Cookies

    Mix these all together in a big mixing bowl. I mean, you could use a stand mixer for this or an electric mixer. Most Amish would just use the good, old-fashioned wooden spoon.

    Broomstick Batter

    If you do go the wooden spoon or plastic paddle route, the batter does mix up nicely when you do it by hand. It'd just be quicker with an electric mixer.

    Amish Broomstick Cookies

    While the Amish don't celebrate Halloween, these cookies are fun and the Amish do like the fun part of any of the more secular holidays. For instance, most Amish forgo the Santa, elves, and reindeer part of Christmas, but they still get in on the fun and festive baked goods, treats, and family aspects of the holiday. Halloween, far less so, but these cookies are one way they can get in on a little bit of fun.

    Of course, another "Halloween-ish" tradition among the are pumpkins. But, well, there is a fine line between "celebrating autumn" and "celebrating Halloween." I think that is true for many people. Pumpkins, cider, cider doughnuts, apple butter, and more are all staples of the season for the Amish and those sort of dovetail with Halloween. You'll even see some Amish children decorating their pumpkins, but carving a jack-o-lantern, that isn't as common.

    🧹 Amish Broomstick Cookies

    • 3 cups brown sugar
    • 1 1 /2 cups shortening
    • 1 cup dark corn syrup
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 /4 cup raisins (cover with water and cook dry)
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 /2 cup nuts
    • 6 ½ cups flour

    📋 Instructions

    1. Mix all ingredients to consistency of pie dough.
    2. Roll in hand to form broomsticks.
    3. Place lengthwise on cookie sheet.
    4. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes
    5. Let stand a few minutes and top with powdered sugar or frosting.

    👻 More Spooky Amish Halloween Recipes

    Monster Cookie Bars

    Kit Kat Brownies

    Soft Monster Cookies

    Monster Energy Balls

    🖨️ Full Recipe

    Amish Broomstick Cookies

    Amish Broomstick Cookies

    A fun, festive treat just in time for Halloween
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, Amish

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups brown sugar
    • 1 1 /2 cups shortening
    • 1 cup dark corn syrup
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 /4 cup raisins (cover with water and cook dry)
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 /2 cup nuts
    • 6 ½ cups flour

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all ingredients to consistency of pie dough
    • . Roll in hand to form broomsticks.
    • Place lengthwise on cookie sheet.
    • Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes Let stand a few minutes and top with powdered sugar or frosting.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « The Amish Cook: Haitian Rice With Sauce
    Hearty Hamburger Soup »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Connie Ellis

      October 26, 2021 at 10:38 am

      Amish Broom Stick Cookies are going to perfect for my 2 great grandsons make this week while here !
      Thanks for sharing it ; I hope it was ok I posted it on face book !

      Reply
      • Kevin Williams

        October 26, 2021 at 10:46 am

        Sure, Connie, enjoy the broomstick cookies, they are good! (I wonder if they'd be good with frosting?)

        Reply
    2. Peggy

      October 26, 2021 at 11:23 am

      These cookies look great and I am going to try them. I would much rather have these Broomstick Cookies in my Halloween bag than brussel sprouts!! (See Kevin's article) That was a funny story. His Halloween bag must have been really soggy !!

      Reply
    3. Doris M Bowman

      October 26, 2021 at 11:51 am

      Are the broomstick cookies soft or crunchy?

      Reply
      • Kevin Williams

        October 26, 2021 at 12:16 pm

        Kind of in between, but more crunchy than soft...

        Reply

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    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

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