Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Super Easy Cookie Recipe For Your Great American Bake Sale

So you've registered to host a Great American Bake Sale, now your wondering, "What the heck should I bake?".  Some of the confections you may make will take some time - decorated cookies, cake pops, chocolate covered pretzels.  But not everything needs to be a project.  Sometimes the best sweets are the ones that take no time at all.  Below is a recipe that will cost under $2.00, take less than 15 minutes to put together, and require nothing more than what's pictured to the left.



Don't forget to check out the notes that follow the recipe. Have fun, good luck, and Thank You for helping to fight childhood hunger in America!  

Visit GreatAmericanBakeSale.org to learn more.

Lemon Crackles
Preheat oven to 375^
Makes approximately 36

Ingredients:

18.25oz Yellow Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1/3 C. Vegetable Oil
1-2 tsp. Lemon Juice (your preference)
1/3 C. Powdered Sugar (for rolling)


Directions:

1. Put all the ingredients EXCEPT for the confectioners sugar in a bowl. Mix.
2. Drop or use a cookie scoop to form 1-1/2" cookie balls.
3. Roll cookie balls in powdered sugar.
4. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, rotating your sheets halfway through.


Notes:
  1. Duncan Hines is a HUGE supporter of Great American Bake Sale - Thrown 'em some love and buy their mix! It only costs about $1.50/box (where I am) and you also get a coupon in your Great American Bake Sale welcome packet.
  2. It's important that the cake mix is 18.25 oz.  Many are not, so if you use another brand make sure you check the box before buying.
  3. Don't freak out if your dough starts sticky!  The more you mix, the more firm it will get.  If you do, for whatever reason, find yourself with sticky cookie balls just pop them into the fridge for 10-15 minutes before rolling in powdered sugar.
  4. Plan ahead.  The unbaked cookie balls (NOT rolled in sugar) will keep in the freezer for about a month.  Make sure to use zip seal freezer bags that are labeled and dated.  Thaw completely before baking.
  5. Find some really cheap cello bags, boxes and other various packaging material at Clear Bags

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Kicking off the 2012 Great American Bake Sale Season

Whether your 5 or 95, break and bake or bake from scratch, hosting a Great American Bake Sale is a fun and easy way to help in the fight against childhood hunger in America. 

 
 Your bake sale will educate your community about the nearly 15 million of children at risk of hunger in America, it will help Share Our Strength ensure children at risk of hunger have access to the nutritious food they need to live learn and thrive and could very well become a tradition like it has for all of us here at Cookie Central.


Register today to host your very own Great American Bake Sale
  

Important Dates To Remember:

What: Great American Bake Sale Tweet-a-Thon 
When: Wednesday, March 29th 9:00am-9:00pm
Where: Why on Twitter of course!
Why:  To encourage people to host a Great American Bake ale in their community
How:
  • Follow @GreatAmBakeSale and @NoKidHungry.
  • Retweet messages about Great American Bake Sale from these two accounts.
  • Use the hashtags #BakeSale and #NoKidHungry in all your tweets.
Check Out This Link For Tweets You Can Share!

What: National Challenge Weekend
When: Friday, April 20th - Sunday, April 22nd
Where: Where ever your little heart desires!
Why: To see if we can get a bake sale going in every state on the same weekend
How:  
Check Out This Link For Tips, Tricks and Resources For Hosting An Awesome Bake Sale!

Social Media Bookmarks:
Twitter: @GreatAmBakeSale @NoKidHungry
Facebook: GreatAmericanBakeSale
Hashtags: #BakeSale #NoKidHugry #GreatAmBakeSale #Events4NKH


Tips From The Cookie Lady:


Use A Tent:  There are plenty of businesses that would be more than happy to let you borrow theirs.  We, for example, use the BJ's Wholesale Club promotional tent.  It's great exposure for them (as it has their logo on it) and save us from purchasing our own.



Put It On A Stick:  Things on sticks sell!  Whether it's a cookie, a brownie or some other confection, slapping it on a stick is a great way to give it a little flare - and a valid reason to bump up that price a bit.  You can find lollipop/candy sticks in bulk quantities for short money at your local craft store.

Winner of the 2nd annual Take Your Best Shot photo contest!

Deck Out Your Product: Each month during the bake sale season GABS has a Take Your Best Shot Contest.  It's a fun way to get motivated and creative with what you make and how you decorate.  Color and creativity are also a great way to get people to come to your table, stay at your table and (hopefully) spend a little more money.


Go Bakeless: If baking just isn't your thing or maybe you want to try something different, raising funds online is the way to go!  Your online fundraising page has endless possibilities from online raffles, to simply asking for donations through email, Facebook and Twitter.

    The Deal With The Apple

     Educate Yourself:  Take some time to learn who Share Our Strength is and how they are ending childhood hunger.  The more you can share with you bake sale visitors, the more inspired they will be to get involved too. Visit the Get Local Map to find hunger facts specific to your area and see what organizations in your community are already benefiting from SOS.

    Visit nokidhungry.org and take the No Kid Hungry Pledge Today!





    Sunday, February 19, 2012

    Win Our No Kid Hungry Cookie Jar!

    March 1st - March 31st 
    a\Donate to
    Cookie Central's 4th Annual Great American Bake Sale and be Entered to win our No Kid Hungry Cookie Jar
    Which will be loaded with cookies and bars, of course!

     ~*~

    How It Works:
    Tickets are $1.00 and can be purchased online by
    Clicking the Donate Now button below and donating $1.00 (or more) to Team Cookie Central
    *You Will Receive A Ticket For Each Dollar You Donate*


    ~*~
    On April 1st my super cute children will 
    Draw the winning raffle ticket out of our trusty 
    No Kid Hungry Water Jug.  

     ~*~
    The drawing will be filmed and posted on our 
    and heck while we're at it the Cookie Central Main Site too.

    ~*~

    100% of your donation will support Share Our Strength's efforts to ensure children at risk of hunger have access to the nutritious food they need to live learn and thrive. 



    Questions?
    Please contact Michele @