Lebanon, Wisconsin is a small, unincorporated town west of Hartford and south of Horicon, about equidistant from Milwaukee and Madison. But tucked into a small church here, you’ll find one of the largest Christmas Cookie Sales, not just in Wisconsin, but in the country. The folks here like to joke that no one has ever argued with them about their “biggest sale” moniker, so they wear it with pride. In its 21st year, the annual sale, known as the Cookie Walk around these parts, is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It takes place on December 1 and 2 this year, so it’s time to start making plans to attend.
This tiny town is too small for a grocery store or a restaurant, but somehow it's home to the biggest Christmas Cookie sale in the state - and maybe the country. The sale was first conceived years ago when the church needed to build an addition, but was operating at a debt. Now it's a rather infamous part of the holiday season around here - so much so that the baking, decorating and selling crosses generational - and denominational - lines.
It's quite the operation and you might find multiple generations of a family here at one time baking and decorating. The cafeteria fills with tables lined with sugar, candies, icing and more. The very last cookie they make is meant to be an icing surprise, which uses up all the extras and prevents waste. Though it doesn't happen often, whatever cookie are left over after the sale get donated.
Volunteers start making some of the cookies weeks in advance right on site, where an industrial mixer and oven handle most everything. There's a recipe binder holding instructions that date back generations and a list longer than you can imagine of cookie flavors yet to be made.
Photos courtesy Erika Fortlage
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The first year, they sold about 300 pounds of cookies and were ecstatic. This year, they'll top more than 60,000 total cookies made. And it's all made right here on site, by volunteers, including a woman who takes vacation from her day job the week of the sale. Cookie baking happens for 10 hours a day leading up to the sale, but can't start until after the school serves lunch to the students each day. The cookie sale here is a labor of love, a huge fundraiser and something that ties this small community together.
The sale usually ends up including more than 150 different styles of cookies. They estimate they sell more than 60,000 individual cookies - more than 3,000 pounds worth of cookies - each year. Each year they go through about 1,000 pounds of flour, 450 pounds of butter, 270 pounds of dipping chocolate and 650 pounds of white and brown sugar. Then there's thousands of individual candies to be unwrapped and hundreds of pounds of nuts to chop.
On the day of the sale, you'll also find 20 different varieties of soup to fill you up on a cold day. This area has a heavy German influence, so there's also plenty of Kranzkuchen, a wreath-shaped and cinnamon coffeecake. Folks can come for the cookies, but stay for lunch and the craft fair.
When it comes time for the cookie walk, folks fill up containers with the tasty treats and pay by the pound. In years past, the price has been $7.50 per pound. Folks will line up before the doors open to get their favorites.
Photos courtesy Erika Fortlage
The sale this year is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 1 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 2.
There is no entrance fee. You may have to wait in line, but the folks in the kitchen here promise that it's well worth it to sample some of the best cookies you've ever had. Sure, you'll find some spritz cookies, but these folks don't scrimp and the turtle bars are famous. You'll find flavors to match any sweet tooth.
Photos courtesy Erika Fortlage
Learn more about this sale on the St. Peter website or check out their Facebook page. The church is located at W4661 County Rd MM, Lebanon, WI 53047.
Have you ever attended this giant Christmas cookie sale? Let us know about it in the comments!
