February 13, 2025
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Cookie artists at Handy Foods in Ottawa give behind-the-scenes look at treat making

Staff turns plain sugar cookies into holiday delights

By Charles Stanley
Ottawa Handy Foods

Handy Foods cookie artists Jaimey Ringswald and Emma White take a pause from decorating Christmas cookies. The women wore their masks but took them off for the photo. (Charles Stanley for Shaw Media)

Christmas cookies and happy hearts, this is how the holiday starts!

—  Unknown

Hand-decorated cookies for major holidays and special events are available year-round at Handy Foods in Ottawa.

But Christmas is when the demand really picks up.

Just ask cookie artists Emma White and Jaimey Ringswald who turn plain sugar cookies into something delightful to look at and consume.

Ottawa Handy Foods

Santa-shaped sugar cookies await their decorations at Handy Foods in Ottawa. (Charles Stanley for Shaw Media)

Christmas cookies have their own history.

European immigrants brought the custom of Christmas cookies with them from the Old World. They also brought the first cookie cutters, which were used to create gingerbread man cookies.

By the 1800s American tinsmiths began making other cookie cutter shapes that became widespread. Cookie cutters made of aluminum and plastic were introduced in the first half of the 20th century.

White, a senior at Ottawa High School, who has been been a cookie artist for about a year and a half, and Jaimey Ringswald, a 2020 graduate of Ottawa High School, started in November.

It has been a first job for both of them, although they came with with experience gained helping decorate Christmas cookies at home.

White heard about the cookie artist job from a friend.

“I’m pretty artistic, so I thought ‘I’ll take it,’ ” she said. “And it’s been going good.”

Ottawa Handy Foods

Handy Foods cookie artists Jaimey Ringswald and Emma White transform plain sugar cookies into Christmas cookies at the Ottawa grocery store. (Charles Stanley for Shaw Media)

They work varied afternoons and evenings as well as Saturdays to create their festive miniature masterpieces.

They start with baking sheets of about three dozen plain cookies in holiday shapes. Then they apply a background frosting that is topped by the decorative details. Far from monotonous, the artists find the decorating can be personally fulfilling.

“I like doing the stockings,” White said. “It’s pretty satisfying to put on the butter cream.”

Of course, the job is not all frosting and sprinkles.

Their duties can include waiting on customers, answering the phone and general cleaning.

Both artists aspire to more challenging careers.

“I’m just trying it out for now,” Ringswald said. “But I enjoy doing it.”

“I’m planning on going away to college,” White said. “But I’m still reaching a decision.”

Yet, there are decorating decisions to be made that allow some personal expression.

White is particular about Santa’s eyes..

“They’re always blue,” she said.