Sweeten Up Your Family Fun

Between family reunions, sports leagues and neighborhood block parties, there are many activities and annual traditions that families look forward to. This year you can make these events even more meaningful by transforming them into charitable bake sales to benefit a worthy cause.

This is a simple – and fun – way to enhance your favorite events, spend time together and teach kids the valuable lesson of giving back. Plus, there are many great charities that can benefit from your efforts, such as Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a non-profit committed to raising funds for pediatric cancer research through bake sales.

Baking and sharing homemade treats with friends and family, the fun of a bake sale and knowing that you’re giving back with each cookie sold, will make your outings even more special.

Here are some tips and ideas to turn three classic activities into successful bake sales:

Sports Leagues

Your delicious baked treats can be used for more than just a snack at your children’s next game. Choose a sports tournament or opening day at the neighborhood field as the perfect setting for a bake sale home run. Designate a baked good for each participating team, such as the Bengals Brownies or Crusaders Chocolate Chip Cookies, and see who can score the most points by selling the most treats for a good cause. Drive home winning donations with sports-themed cookies and treats like baseball bat cookies or cupcakes decorated like soccer balls.

Family Reunions

Make the annual family gathering even more memorable and host a bake sale as part of the celebration. Have each family member come with a dozen of their favorite baked goods and sell them for donations to other families celebrating nearby. As a special gift, compile all of the recipes into a family bake sale book – a timeless treasure that will ensure your family’s recipes are passed down for generations to come.

Neighborhood Block Party

When the whole neighborhood is planning to gather this year, propose turning the event into a mini bake sale. Encourage each family to create a custom cookie of their own. Everyone will love picking out their favorite ingredients and naming their one-of-a-kind treat; some might even stumble onto a lasting family recipe.

Visit www.GladtoGive.com to learn more tips to make your bake sales successful.

Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18 in the U.S. Since 2009, the makers of Glad products have encouraged people to give back through its partnership with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. The partnership has helped inspire families to host more than 1,000 bake sales and raise more than $500,000 for pediatric cancer research.

If you are looking for a cookie recipe, try the delicious Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookie – the official Glad to Give Cookie – developed as a tasty inspiration for those hosting bake sales to benefit Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. This sweet and chocolatey cookie is guaranteed to be a favorite for many years to come.

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup quick-cooking or old fashioned oats
• 2 cups all-purpose white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups dried cherries, cranberries or raisins
• 2 cups (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups walnuts or pecans, lightly toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place butter and sugars in bowl of a mixer fitted with paddle attachment and mix until smooth and creamy.
4. Scrape down sides of bowl; add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla, mixing well between additions.
5. Scrape down sides of bowl; add oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix until everything is well incorporated.
6. Scrape down sides of bowl; add cherries, chocolate chips and walnuts, if desired, and mix again.
7. Deposit 2-ounce portions on cookie sheet.
8. Bake at 325°F for 12 to 14 minutes. Spin sheet mid-bake for even results.
9. Remove from sheet after baking and allow to cool.

Serves

Yield: 3 to 4 dozen cookies

Source

Glad

Provided by Family Features