As December arrives, it brings with it many predictable things. Soft twinkling lights, warm cozy fireplaces, and, of course, a beautiful Montana snow. Oftentimes, the weather is so cold and storms so brutal, we find ourselves housebound with nowhere to go. On these cold and frigid days, I always find myself reaching into the back of my cupboard for my book of recipes, all passed around my family and friends. This December 4th, make sure to bring out your best recipe and celebrate National Cookie day, as I intend to do.

I am no great baker. It’s a tedious hobby I don’t do much of throughout the rest of the year. Yet there is a uniqueness about the snow and the cold that inspires me to fill my house with the warmth of an oven, paired with the sweet smell of sugary delights. More than anything, baking brings the holidays to life, makes them feel real and near. It reminds me of the inability to sleep before a Christmas morning, lying next to my brother in a makeshift fort in his bedroom. It takes me back to the stockings overflowing with candy and hand-picked gifts, eliciting endless family memories.

Growing up in a small town, we always braved the winter, no matter how daunting. Bundling up and traveling across the state to see family and friends was just another part of the holidays. As kids, we didn’t mind. We brought bags full of presents, and trays full of treats to share with cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. It was an exciting time, full of laughter and close knit families— not only my immediate family, but those we visited, too. What always stuck out to me was that everyone would be together.

No matter where we went, there was always an ample amount of food and a bag of baked goods, pre-packaged and ready for us to take home. The same way we brought our own, others were there to share their baked goods, having labored in the kitchen for hours, knowing those closest to them would eventually arrive and share in the sweet treats. More than love, it was always an act of trust and comfort, knowing you would see those you care about the most near the holidays.

My favorite treats were always the cookies my mom and I made together from a recipe handed down from my grandparents. Every year, we forgot how big the batch was, and ended up with way more cookies than we ever needed. Saving some for ourselves, we ended up giving them away to anyone who would take them. Each time, something unexpected and hilarious would happen mid-baking, sometimes even forcing us to start over, but the cookies always turned out exactly as we remembered them from the year before.

My first year of college at Montana State University, I was unable to make it home for the holidays. Due to work commitments and treacherous weather, I decided to remain in Bozeman, where I would spend my first holiday alone. It was a choice I didn’t think much about—until Christmas Eve came and I had no tree, no holiday lights, and no one I loved to share the day with. The sadness would’ve lasted into the new year, another ‘first’ spent alone. But something incredible started to happen. Each day, the delivery of my mail brought a package from a different family member. Inside, I found homemade cookies bundled up and ready for me to eat.

Finally, just before January 1st, the final package arrived, from my mom and dad. Alongside the gifts and the stocking full of my favorite things, there was an unexpected addition—a huge bag full of my favorite cookies. I opened them up and took a bite before even looking at my gift, and immediately felt less alone. Now, a new tradition has started. As family members move further away and spread out across the country, we use the month of December to mail each other cookies, and new recipes to try on our own. Recently, we realized that December 4th is National Cookie Day; it’s another great reason to share the baking love this winter, no matter how far your family and friends might be.

Try out my favorite holiday recipe below. While it’s a basic recipe, the warmth and familiarity of it makes it special and sentimental.