Monday, July 18th, 2024
The Youngstown Cookie Table
The Youngstown area is filled with rich-history, family-ties, and traditions – we love our traditions. If you’ve ever been to a wedding in the Youngstown, Ohio area you’re probably aware of the locally famous tradition of the Cookie Table. As soon as guests arrive at the wedding reception, the first thing their hungry eyes draw to are the hundreds of cookies laid out along several tables in the reception area.
Youngstown Cookie Table
The idea of a cookie table may be unfamiliar to many, but to Youngstown- it is a topic of conversation and a visual focal point at weddings. This tradition includes the display of hundreds of cookies on a long table with large dishes and stands, in order to supplement other offered desserts like cake.
Immigrants who settled in Youngstown brought many wonderful food and baking traditions. During the Great Depression, wedding cakes were often too expensive, so family and friends would contribute an impressive array of cookies for wedding receptions.
Cookie Varieties
Cookie tables can vary, but some cookie varieties are staples at every memorable display. Check out the links to recipes below to ensure that your cookie table is complete.
These cookies vary from family to family, and you may have family-recipes to follow, but the above are key players to many Youngstown cookie tables.
Tackling the Task
Most cookie tables feature homemade cookies, baked with love and attention to detail – ready to make their stance at any Youngstown wedding. Everyone goes about baking unique ways, but with such a tall order, here are some tips for making this process easier and more manageable.
1.Bake cookies a few weeks ahead of time and freeze.
It is a good idea to bake cookies ahead of time and then freeze them so that the work doesn’t all pile up, making the time leading up to the wedding less stressful.
2. Split the workload between multiple bakers.
It is helpful for the bride and groom to request multiple family members to bake, so that the workload and cost associated with this project is split evenly.
3. Order Cookies
Ordering cookies may be a good option if you are looking to make this process more convenient for you. Most bakeries will deliver straight to your venue, although it is wise to coordinate these details in advance.
4. Designate a “Cookie-Person”
This person will be responsible for gathering the cookies from the bakery or family and deliver them to the venue.
At Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, we provide proper storage conditions, tables, linens, and more – to make your Youngstown Cookie Table a huge success. Make sure to be detailed, overly considerate of guest counts, and always do what you can to be prepared. The Youngstown Cookie Table stands firm as a symbol to our region, for its deep-rooted commitment to family and tradition.
From our kitchen to yours!
Are you collecting recipes for your own cookie table? Here is one to add to the box, compliments of our own chef Bianca!
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