GREAT COOKIE BAKE 2026

• THE RIVERHAUS BUYS THE BAKING BASICS FOR THE WEEKEND IN BULK, AND WE BREAKDOWN THE COST FOR EACH BAKER. PLEASE GET YOUR RECIPIES WITH THE NUMBER OF BATCHES A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME.

• LET US KNOW WHAT SPECIAL INGREDIENTS YOU WANT THE RIVERHAUS TO PICK UP AS WELL. WE CAN DO CASH, CHECK, OR VENMO FOR REIMBURSEMENT. 

• WE WILL ALSO MAKE A RUN TO TRADER JOES FOR BAKER'S CHOCOLATE BARS.  

• BRING YOUR BAKING ITEMS IN A BAG OR BOX THAT CAN BE STORED UNDER THE TABLES DURING THE WEEKEND. 

BAKING BASICS INCLUDE:

• BUTTER 

• EGGS

• UNBLEACHED ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR 

• WHITE SUGAR 

• BROWN SUGAR

• POWDERED SUGAR

• (3) ALUMINUM 9x13 ROASTING PANS

• BAKING STOCK 5$: BAKING SODA, BAKING POWDER, CORN STARCH, MERENGE POWDER, CREAM OF TARTAR, PURE VANILLA, PEPPERMINT EXTRACT, LEMON EXTRACT, ALMOND EXTRACT, CINNAMON, NUTMEG, CLOVES, GINGER, MOLASSES, FOOD COLORING, AND SALT.

• SET UP THREE FOLDING TABLES:

  1. FOLDING TABLE IN FRONT OF THE BOOKCASE WITH THE MAIN INGREDIENTS IN BOWLS. INDIVIDUAL BAKER INGREDIENTS GO IN BAGS AND BOXES BELOW.

  2. FOLDING TABLE IN FRONT OF THE PATIO DOOR WITH SPECIAL INGREDIENTS, FROSTING SUPPLIES, AND SPICES. NOTE: ROLL UP THE RUG, PLACE IT ON THE SMALL COUCH, AND COVER IT WITH A CLEAN DROP CLOTH BEFORE SETTING THE TABLE. INDIVIDUAL BAKER INGREDIENTS GO IN BAGS AND BOXES BELOW.

  3. FOLDING TABLE #3 ON THE 3-SEASON PORCH WITH COOLING RACKS ON TOP AND CONTAINERS BELOW. 

• COFFEE IS SET UP ON THE BUFFET, ALONG WITH THE WIRE VEGETABLE AND BREAD HOLDERS ON THE BUFFET.

• KERIG, TOASTER, AND OTHER COUNTER APPLIANCES MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE CUPBOARDS. 

• SET UP TWO MIXING STATIONS IN THE CORNERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SINK, AND ONE ON THE KITCHEN TABLE. EACH MIXING STATION SHOULD INCLUDE: A KITCHEN-AID MIXER, MATT, BENCH SCRAPE, SPOON REST, RUBBER SPATULAS, SUGAR BOWL, EGG CARTON, VANILLA, AND PAPER TOWELS.

• EMPTY GLASS BAKING JARS INTO METAL BOWLS FOR INGREDIENTS AND STORE THEM BACK IN THE CUPBOARD (REFILL AT THE END OF THE WEEKEND) TO KEEP THE RIVERHAUS BAKING SUPPLIES FRESH.

• FLOUR, WHITE SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, POWDERED SUGAR, AND OATS ARE ALL PUT OUT IN BOWLS WITH INDIVIDUAL MEASURING CUPS ON THE FIRST TABLE #1. 

• BAKING SODA, SALT, AND BAKING POWDER ARE IN CONTAINERS AND SET OUT WITH INDIVIDUAL MEASURING SPOONS ON TABLE #1.

• SPICES, KARO-SYRUP, HONEY, AND COCOA POWDER ARE ALL STORED IN A PLASTIC BOX ON TABLE #2 FOR EASY TRANSPORT AND STORAGE.

• EXTRA MIXING BOWLS, SPATULAS, AND COOKIE SHEETS ARE KEPT IN BINS ON TABLES #1 & #2.

• PAPER TOWL BRICK ON WOOD BURNING STOVE TOP

• PRINTED RECIPES AND CUPBOARD DOOR CLIPS

• MOVE THE KITCHEN TABLE TO THE WALL POSITION WITH THE EXTRA HOOK

• (2) LARGE TIMERS FOR THE OVEN CAN MAGNETIZE TO THE FRIDGE AND MAGNET CLIP RECIPES CLIPS

• SEND RECIPES A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME TO PURCHASE INGREDIENTS IN BULK.

• TRADER JOES BAKER'S CHOCOLATE BAR PICK UP DURING THE WEEK.

• PRINTED  RECIPES AND LABELS FOR NEIGHBORS AHEAD OF TIME

• FANCY PAJAMAS WITH APRONS AND SLIPPERS IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE BAKER'S ATTIRE.

• EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO BRING A HOLIDAY MUSIC LIST

• (1 -2) TYPES OF COOKIES FOR THE MAPLE SHORES NEIGHBORS (16) BOXES WITH (36) COOKIES OF EACH TYPE. GREG AND PERCY GET TO TRY THEM ALL.

• PULL BUTTER AND EGGS ON FRIDAY NIGHT FOR ROOM TEMPERATURE

• MAKE SUGAR AND SPRITZ COOKIE DOUGH ON FRIDAY NIGHT. START BAKING FRIDAY NIGHT THIS YEAR. 

• WE PICK UP (16) NEIGHBORHOOD BOXES (DOLLAR STORE IN PINE CITY). LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT SMALL COOKIE BOXES FOR PACKING.

• (3) ROASTING PANS EACH FOR STORING & TRANSPORTING HOME (LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR OWN)

• GAME TIME SATURDAY NIGHT WITH CHINESE FOOD AS WE BAKE OUR ROLLED BALLS OFF!

• EVERYONE IS EXPECTED TO GET A FEW BREAKS IN AND STEP AWAY FROM THE KITCHEN. 

• FROSTING IS TRADITIONAL SUNDAY MORNING WHILE WATCHING "MUPPET'S CHRISTMAS CAROL"

• AFTER SUNDAY LUNCH WE MOP AND CLEAN THE FLOORS AS WE HEAD OUT SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AROUND 2 PM.