Orange Cardamom Sun Cookies for Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice isn’t just about the return of the sun—it’s a powerful reminder of your own journey toward reclaiming your light. After leaving a high-control religion, the darkest days may have felt long, but now it's time to celebrate your personal return. This Solstice, honor your growth, resilience, and the light you've rediscovered with a ritual that’s all about your journey. Let’s bake some sun-shaped cookies and toast to the light you’ve brought back into your life.

Why sun-shaped cookies, you ask? Well, because on the Winter Solstice, we’re all waiting for the sun to come back into our lives (metaphorically and literally). What better way to honor that than with cookies that celebrate its return in the sweetest, most flavorful way possible?

• We used this recipe and halved it. We added 1/2 tsp ground cardamom and 1 tsp orange zest to the cookie dough.

• We used a 3" sun cookie cutter. It made 2 dozen sun cookies.

Here’s how to transform baking these cookies into a simple, empowering ritual that honors your journey out of religion and the return of your own light. Trust us, it’s as sweet as it is meaningful.

1. Set the Intention

Before you begin, take a quiet moment to reflect on the past year. This isn't about what you should have done, but what you've actually overcome. The solstice represents a turning point—just like you. It’s a time to acknowledge what no longer serves you and intentionally make space for what does. As you prepare your ingredients, think about what you want to invite into your life in the coming months: freedom, peace, personal growth, or maybe even more joy. Use this moment to express gratitude for how far you've come. Reflect on your courage, your healing, and how you’ve created a path that’s truly your own.

2. Gather Your Ingredients

As you gather your ingredients, bring your attention to each one. Engage your senses fully—smell the orange zest, feel the texture of the flour, and breathe in the warm, earthy scent of cardamom. Each ingredient is a symbol of something you’ve embraced on your journey. Orange represents vitality and new beginnings, while cardamom’s warmth speaks to your inner strength and the spice you’ve brought back into your life. Together, they form a powerful reminder of how you’ve come through the darkness and into your own light.

3. Shape the Sun

As you roll out the dough and press the sun-shaped cookie cutters, think of each sun as a symbol of the light you are creating for yourself. Every shape you cut is a step towards personal empowerment, reminding you that the light within you—your true, authentic self—is always returning. The dark seasons have passed, and now it’s time to shape your own future, one sweet sun at a time.

4. Bake and Reflect

As the cookies bake and the air fills with the scent of orange and cardamom, pause to reflect on the warmth you are creating—not just in your kitchen, but within yourself. Sit down with a cup of Winter Solstice Golden Milk and think about how the heat from the oven reflects the strength and resilience you've built. Think about the ways you’ve nurtured your own growth, how you’ve learned to embrace the light in yourself. Breathe deeply, and as the cookies continue to bake, recognize that the warmth you’re creating is a reflection of the inner strength you’re cultivating each day.

This also can be a great time to open up your journal and place strips of paper written with what no longer serves you into your Burning Bowl (fire not included).

5. Celebrate with Gratitude

Once your cookies are cooled and ready to enjoy, sit with them for a moment before diving in. Before you take that first bite, take a breath and reflect on your personal journey—on the ways you’ve broken free from what held you back and how you’re now choosing a path that reflects who you truly are. If you’re sharing the cookies with others, invite them to reflect on their own journeys, too. This simple act of sharing fosters connection and reinforces the strength in community, whether you’re alone or surrounded by others.

6. Enjoy the Sweetness

Finally, enjoy the sweetness of your cookies. With every bite, feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing you’ve taken back your life, your peace, and your light. These cookies are not just a treat—they are a celebration of your journey. Savor each moment, knowing that you’re honoring your personal growth, your resilience, and the brighter days that are ahead.

Interested in additional ways to honor the Winter Solstice? We've got a growing list of ideas to help you celebrate and embrace this powerful time of year.