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.

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🧹 Amish Broomstick Cookies
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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.

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.

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.

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.