With Spanish teacher Ms. Erin Franey’s exceedingly large family of 100, the holiday season is extremely preparative. 

“Try to let the joy outshine the stress,” said Franey in an effort to remind herself of the bigger picture. 

Her mother’s family makes a cookie called “Hello Dollies,” which she associates with feelings of joy. 

“Everybody loves them in the family. We fight over who gets the last one,” said Franey. The recipe comes from her maternal grandmother, and this cookie is made at every family gathering, especially Christmas. Crushed into a graham cracker base, drizzled with chocolate, and topped with optional crushed pecans or walnuts, “Hello Dollies” can become your family’s new go-to favorite.

Put a twist on the classic cookies with her family recipe below: 

Ingredients:

1 box of regular graham crackers

1 cup of white sugar

1 cup of unsalted butter

1 cup of melted chocolate chips

1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans 

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F

2. Break up graham crackers into individual pieces, place side by side on a sheet pan

3. Melt sugar and butter in a saucepan until it begins to bubble, stir well

4. Drizzle sugar and butter liquid on top of graham crackers 

5. Bake in the oven for about 5-10 minutes, until the sugar mixture begins to bubble (but not burn!)

6. Remove from the oven, drizzle melted chocolate on top of crackers in a back and forth motion

7. Add chopped walnuts/pecans on top