An early morning walk on a blustery Sunday. We slurp steaming sweet milky coffee, straight from a flask. Alongside the winding country path, daffodils politely bob their heads as we pass. As we meander through woodland scattered with swathes of wild garlic, a sweet aroma fills the air. Just a month ago, tree branches were covered in frost, and the landscape was all silver, slate and ash, silent and still, as if the land was sleeping. Now, cheery birdsong echoes, as the pale morning sunlight streams through tree branches newly decorated with buds. I dig into my pocket searching for our snack - today I packed homemade rose scented cardamom sables covered in pink sugar. We nibble on them, crumbs gathering at the corners of our mouths. We find our way back home. Time for another pot of coffee.
Today’s newsletter is all about my Easter cookie box: six cookie recipes with creative variations, plus master recipes so you can either mix and match or simply pick your favorite. Some of the recipes might stretch the definition of a cookie (like the coconut ice offering), but they belong here all the same.
Right now, I’m making some exciting changes and updates to the newsletter schedule and format, so I wasn’t planning to share cookie box recipes this season. After some deliberation, however, it seemed a little Scrooge-like to allow Easter to pass without a few sweet treats.
You all seem to love the cookie box newsletters, and I think that’s because they speak to something deeper: a need to slow down. In a culture calibrated for speed and efficiency, there’s something almost radical, rebellious even, about taking the time to make something and give it away.
There’s always someone to consider: a neighbor, a friend, your family. Bake them, share them, leave them on a doorstep for someone to find. It’s a small act, but one that feels unexpectedly generous — for them, and for you.
If you’re a paid subscriber, thank you! If you’ve not yet subscribed — this is the moment to join. Paid subscribers receive brand new recipes weekly, full menus complete with considered grocery list, prep videos, thoughtful alternatives, and access to the entire archive of recipes and newsletters.
Three of this year’s Easter cookies are built around two simple master recipes: a soft, chewy meringue and a buttery shortbread.
The Matcha Kisses use the meringue, the rose, cardamom, and strawberry sablés are variations on the shortbread, and the French 75 kisses combine both— a base of shortbread , topped with meringue.
Once you have those foundations, it’s just a matter of small shifts—adding citrus, rose, or fruit — to create something new.
Alongside these, there are a few stand-alone sweets to round out the box: the jeweled matcha white chocolate salami - a playful take on rocky road - filled with biscuits, nuts, gummy sweets, marshmallows, and freeze-dried fruit; the fruity almond cookies, inspired by traditional Italian amaretti (without the alcohol); and the four-layer rose-scented coconut ice, a childhood favorite. Each brings a different texture and flavor.
The cookie box is designed so you can mix and match — make the full box, or simply choose a few favorites.
Full recipes, PDFs, and simple step-by-step guidance below. Feel free to get creative with flavors and combinations.
