Snickerdoodle Hollow

The neighborhood is quiet on this Saturday morning and Mom decided we should make a batch of cookies. She asked me what kind we should make and of course I recommended my favorite – Snickerdoodles!

Snickerdoodles it is! she said while reaching for a large mixing bowl. We’ll need to gather all the ingredients to make sure we have everything. We’ll need flour, baking soda, sugar… I collected the ingredients as she read them from her recipe card. When she got to the eggs she said ‘Let’s make a double batch, we’ll need four eggs’. That got me even more excited to get started. She must have planned this all along because she went for the largest mixing bowl right away.

Before starting we set up our folding card table since the kitchen counter was a bit too high for me to comfortably work at. First we added the sugar, then the shortening on top and I started mixing them together. It wasn’t long before my arms were so tired I couldn’t continue so Mom took over and got it mixed up real good. Now we add the eggs – I start cracking them and watching them ‘bloop’ out of the shell into the bowl. The third egg didn’t go quite as planned and a big bloop of the white missed the bowl, hit the table and oozed over the edge onto the floor – Oops! Mom went for some paper towel and when I adjusted my footing I slipped on it and went head first into the bowl!

My face was covered in a sticky mess of sugar, egg and shortening and as I started wiping it off my eyes I could see I wasn’t home anymore – I was standing on a chocolate brick path leading to a little village with what looked like sugar cookie houses. It was nighttime but the moon was large and lit everything with a soft glow. The air smelled like cinnamon and the smoke coming from the chimneys turned into marshmallow fluff clouds that floated into the sky.

I started walking down the path. As I got closer to the sugar cookie houses I could hear giggling and from behind the nearest house a voice called out with an excited high pitched ‘Welcome to Snickerdoodle Hollow, I’m Spriggle!’ and out jumps a small creature I can only describe as an Elf. We haven’t had visitors here for a long time, you must follow me, Come! Taking me by the hand Spriggle led me to the largest house just nearby. The door was covered in glittery moss and had a large knocker that looked like a snickerdoodle. ‘Go ahead, knock thrice’ Spriggle said. I knocked three times and the door swung open revealing a large room with a huge glowing oven right in the middle.

A moment later a large elderly elf came out from behind the oven. ‘Oh My!’ he said with a deep gruff tone, we have not seen your kind here in a very, very long time! Come, sit, we must talk. After explaining to me, as best he could, where I was and who they are I understood that I must find my way home soon or I may not be able to leave. I already missed my mom but I wanted to stay longer too as it was a very friendly and wondrous place.

He told me that they were Doodlers and this was the place where all the ‘hidden’ ingredients for cookies and treats were made. They made everything from giggles, laughter and even the twinkle in their eyes. Moonlight is what powers their ovens and every night the Fairies rearrange the stars to spell out recipes. Every time you eat a sweet treat and giggle that’s the ‘hidden’ ingredient doing its work!

Now, he said, we have to get you back home, you need to travel to the other side of the hollow. There’s a large door at the end of the path, but it can only be opened by you! I thanked him for helping me as Spriggle took me by the hand and started pulling me toward the door… Hurry, we don’t have much time, it’s a good distance to the other side of the hollow and we must eat before we start the journey.

We went back to the first house where I met Spriggle. This is my house he said, we’ll get a quick meal and then I’ll take you as far as I can. Inside it was very clean, everything sparkled, the table we sat at was made of gingerbread and the oven was glowing with beams of moonlight from an opening in the roof. Spriggle set the table with plates made of sugar and cups filled with bubbly soda. Little bubbles from the soda floated into the air and popped sprinkling powdered sugar onto the plates. He served each plate with a large snickerdoodle and we ate and giggled with every bite. As we headed out the door he turned his head toward the table, winked at it and the dishes were wiped clean and returned themselves to the cupboard. How wonderful I said, it is indeed said Sprinkle – we must always cleanup after a meal!

We started the journey down the path and as we walked I asked Spriggle where everyone was. He told me all Doodlers are inside taking advantage of the full moon, it’s the best for baking, tonight will be very productive he said. As we walked Spriggle pointed out and explained things to me… When daybreak comes we all rest, then we work on keeping the village clean, repairing homes and collecting ingredients. Just ahead was a bridge made of sugar cubes, this is the caramel river he said as we crossed, the trees up ahead are where we get our chocolate. The sap is boiled down in the moonlight oven then cooled – that’s how we make our chocolate bricks. The door is beyond the trees and I can only take you to the far edge. We must hurry, daybreak is coming and that’s when the trees start oozing their sap. It’ll be a sticky mess if we’re here when that happens!

We soon reached the edge of the trees... You’ll need to keep following the path to the door on your own from here. When you open the door it will look foggy but don’t be scared, just walk into the mist and you’ll be home soon. It was very nice meeting you and I wish you many giggles and laughs! He gave me a quick wink and urged me onward. I thanked Spriggle for the meal and all his help and continued walking. It wasn’t long before I reached the door, it was covered in the same glittery moss as the door on the elders house. I was a bit hesitant, I really wanted to stay longer but I miss Mom more right now. I opened the door and walked into the mist…

It was hard to see anything and the misty air was making me want to close my eyes, like I was falling asleep. Suddenly my eyes opened wide and there was Mom! She immediately asked me how I felt, then said ‘You gave us a scare when you slipped and hit your head!’ as she removed a cool towel from my forehead. Mom, it was wonderful, I went to Snickerdoodle Hollow! Of course you did, the smell of cookies baking can make amazing dreams – the snickerdoodles are done and cooled, would you like one? I sure would Mom, I’d like one with giggles please!