December is upon us, which suggests it’s time to debate vacation horror! I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give you a little bit of gastro horror tidings to get by means of this month! This actually ought to come as no shock on condition that the late autumn and early winter holidays are recognized for his or her use of meals as a method to have fun. There are particular traditions for every. On Thanksgiving we eat turkey, Hanukkah celebrations are made higher with latkes (Workforce Bitter Cream right here), and with Christmas you’ve all types of meals traditions relying on the place you have fun.
Certainly one of my favourite representations of meals in vacation horror is milk and cookies (or in some instances, simply cookies). Whether or not or not the intention is to bribe Santa Claus, you’ve the whole lot from killer gingerbread males, poisoned cookies, and/or simply appearances of milk and cookies as a minor plot level. For me, I feel I simply love seeing Christmas-themed cookies in movie, particularly when there may be a whole lot of consideration in how they’re adorned. I admit that I is likely to be biased in the direction of this matter as a result of when Geeks Who Eat (my semi-active meals weblog) received a Silver Bolo Award on The Final Drive-In, Joe Bob and Darcy made certainly one of our recipes for vegan Christmas cookies.
Why Do We Depart Milk and Cookies Out for Santa?
Earlier than we get to the movies, I believed it will be enjoyable to discover why we pass over cookies as an providing to a person who slides down our chimneys. In the US, leaving milk and cookies out for Santa grew to become popularized within the Thirties through the Nice Despair, when dad and mom wished to make use of this act to show their youngsters in regards to the significance of giving and sharing what they’d. (Pruitt, 2015)
The origins will be traced even additional again globally. “Through the Yuletide season, youngsters would go away meals out for Sleipner [Odin’s eight-legged horse], within the hopes that Odin would cease by on his travels and go away presents in return.” (Pruitt, 2015) That is simply one of many some ways fashionable Christmas traditions have “borrowed” from the Pagan vacation, Yuletide.
In response to Nationwide Geographic, “cultures worldwide have celebrated the altering seasons with winter solstice festivals for 1000’s of years, and feasting with family members has all the time been a big a part of this. By the Center Ages, European winter solstice festivals had melded with evolving Christmas celebrations, and as cookies unfold by means of the continent, they grew to become significantly common right now of yr, since they may very well be made in massive batches, saved for lengthy intervals and have been simple to share.” (Kolt, 2024) Doesn’t this make you respect cookie events a bit extra? You’re actually collaborating in gastro historical past!
As its reputation has grown, cookies and milk for Santa or for Christmas basically has change into universally acknowledged in popular culture and promoting. Commercials for Oreos, milk, and even Chevy have performed this up. It may be seen in TV exhibits and conventional vacation movies. You’d be hard-pressed to not take into consideration cookies in relation to Christmas and Santa.
Now that you recognize a number of the backstory, we’re right here to debate vacation horror! Beneath are the movies and shorts I’ve compiled. This isn’t an all-encompassing record, however there may be a lot to fulfill your cinematic candy tooth!
Function-length movies:
Krampus – If killer gingerbread henchmen of Krampus attacking a household aren’t sufficient of a justification to look on this record, this movie has a ton of beautiful cookies within the early a part of the movie due to Max’s omi. You possibly can virtually odor the Christmas magic.
Black X-Mas (2006) – This remake of Bob Clark’s traditional takes a whole lot of bizarre turns from the unique, certainly one of which is the addition of Billy’s backstory. His mom refers to his sister Agnes as a cookie she simply needs to gobble up. In the identical flashback, Billy makes use of a cookie cutter to take away his mom’s pores and skin and make pores and skin cookies (which he dips in milk to eat). Cookies seem all through the remainder of the movie as properly.
The Gingerdead Man – Technically, The Gingerdead Man isn’t a vacation movie, however on condition that the titular villain is the truth is a gingerbread man, I’ll embrace the primary entry which a minimum of kind of feels wintery.
Gremlins – After turning from Mogwai into Gremlins, Gizmo’s brethren invade the Peltzers’ kitchen. Mrs. Peltzer discovers them consuming her vacation cookies earlier than she launches her assault in opposition to them. For my part, this is without doubt one of the most enjoyable scenes that takes place through the movie.
I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday – Tread cautiously with this movie as a result of it’s BLEAK. In I’m Dreaming of a White Doomsday, the looks of cookies seems like bookends. At the beginning, they’re an indication of a happier time of togetherness and by the top, they arrive to represent the top.
Curtains for Christmas – This Hallmark-inspired indie horror comedy additionally has its share of cookies. Christmas lover Holly tries to bake cookies and fails. This leads her to steal some better-made ones from a sufferer.
Shorts:
Milk and Cookies and Milk and Cookies: Walter’s Revenge – This pair of shorts (there may be additionally a supercut on YouTube that has them as one brief) has some nice sensible results work in addition to creature design. If there may be one takeaway from this pairing, it’s that you must by no means steal cookies meant for Santa (or on this case a creature named Walter).
Grandma’s Cookies – I don’t need to spoil this brief as a result of the premise performs with the normal concept of not peeking if you’re purported to be in mattress ready for Santa in a extremely attention-grabbing method. Out of the shorts talked about right here, this one is my favourite.
Christmas Guts – In Christmas Guts, we be taught why it’s vital to confirm the place meals comes from earlier than you eat it! This brief additionally has some enjoyable stop-motion bits on the finish.
I hope this record offers you some concepts to convey somewhat little bit of gastro horror residence for the vacations. I’ve additionally compiled a few Letterboxd lists value testing for Christmas Cookies in Horror and Meals in Vacation Horror. Joyful Holidays!
References:
Kolt, M. V. (2024, December 5). The story behind Christmas cookies. Retrieved November 26, 2025, from Nationwide Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/journey/article/the-story-behind-christmas-cookies
Pruitt, S. (2015, December 8). Don’t Overlook Santa’s Cookies and Milk: The Historical past of a Standard Christmas Custom. Retrieved November 26, 2025, from Historical past.com: https://www.historical past.com/articles/dont-forget-santas-cookies-and-milk-the-history-of-a-popular-christmas-tradition
