A Christmas Carol and mince pie cookies

The book: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Genre: Classic

Publication date: 1843

The bake: Mince pie cookies

What’s the story?

It’s been a long year, and I’ve been consumed with the mundanities of life. Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to blog as much as I’d have liked. But I couldn’t let this year end without one more post. And I chose one of my favourite authors and books to end off 2021. I’m sure most people have heard of possibly the most famous Christmas story of all time, A Christmas Carol by the great Charles Dickens.

This book has been adapted into everything from animated and live-action movies, to plays and even a TV series. If you love and know the story, it’s still a great idea to read the novella as Dickens wrote it back in 1843. It tells the story of a miserable, miserly old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas. He has no time for those less fortunate and is focused only on himself. One Christmas Eve he is first visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. He is wound in chains and very sorry for the way he lived his life. This apparition warns Scrooge that he can expect visits from three more ghosts before Christmas Day dawns.

The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future arrive as promised, and with each one, Scrooge does a bit more introspection. Finally, a new day, Christmas day dawns, and with it, Scrooge looks at the world in a brand new way.

Why read it?

I’m mad about classics and knowing the story is no excuse for not reading the original work. A Christmas Carol is a very short little story, but so full of truths. It encourages all of us who read it to look at our own hearts in this time and make sure that we are not like Scrooge. Indeed, ‘Scrooge’ has become a byword for someone who is stingy and self-centred. At Christmas, we need to look back, at the present and to the future to assess our lives. We need to learn from who we were, enjoy where we are and aim to be better people in the years to come. We don’t want to be like Marley, wound tight in regret of our own making. That is such a tragedy – to not be able to change.

May you and your loved ones have a blessed Christmas focused on our wonderful Saviour Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate. Let’s live with our eyes on Him and our hearts open to those around us – then we can never be like Scrooge!

Pair it with: Christmas mince pie cookies

A Christmas Carol captures the spirit of Christmas so beautifully. For that reason, I had to pair it with something that also epitomizes this special time of the year. These cookies, which I originally made and styled for Beeld newspaper, is the perfect fit. If you love classic fruit mince pies and fruit cake, you will devour these cookies by the handful. They are super easy to make (much easier than mince pies OR fruit cake) and they are ready to eat in a jiffy. The drizzled white chocolate adds a bit of extra festive flair. Even if you are NOT a fan of mince pies or fruit cake, you will still like these cookies, I promise! I saw a family member who apparently hates fruit cake sneak an extra cookie when he thought I wasn’t looking…

These cookies are also yummy with a glass of ice-cold milk, or with a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate. If you have a warm summer Christmas like us here in South Africa, eat these cookies while lounging next to the pool. I do however think they would be even more delicious if I could see snow falling outside… hopefully someday!