Residents line up for 2024 We Energies Cookie Book

Chocolate Cherry Cheers.

Frosted Nutmeg Logs.

And Happy Hedgehogs.

Is this the stuff dreams are made of? At this time of year, yes.

Those are just a few of the 37 cookie recipes found in the 2024 We Energies Cookie Book.

Judging by the number of people who visited the We Energies Service Center in Somers Wednesday, a lot of folks are ready to jump into the holiday season.

More accurately, they’re jumping into the holiday baking season.

Either that, or we’re hoping to soothe ourselves with enough butter, sugar and chocolate chips to get through winter.

Whatever the reason, area residents waited up to an hour to grab their free copy of the annual Cookie Book.

With the line of vehicles stretching on Highway KR from Sheridan Road west past 30th Avenue, We Energies employees handed out almost 10,000 of the coveted recipe books.

None of that surprises Alison Touhy, a We Energies spokesperson and part of the Cookie Book Team.

“We were supposed to start at 9 a.m., but we had cars waiting before 8, so we got started early,” Touhy said. “These books are so popular every year.”

While Touhy works in corporate communications for We Energies, the coolest — and sweetest — part of her job is being on the Cookie Book Team.

“We love being part of this every year,” she said.

Putting together the Cookie Book takes several months, from choosing a theme to requesting recipe submissions and — here’s the best part — eating the cookies.

For research purposes only, of course.

“We whittled down about 400 submitted recipes,” Touhy said. “And then we sample those selected cookies, judging on taste, texture and appearance. The ‘best of the best’ make it into the Cookie Book.”

This year, Mary McNulty, who also works in corporate communications, was the designated baker.

“I made 70 different cookies, to find the 37 that made it into the Cookie Book,” McNulty said while handing out Cookie Books Wednesday.

She baked the cookies in March and April, with the Cookie Book team “sampling the cookies for about six weeks. The people on the team evaluate each cookie — and we take it seriously.”

(And if you’re wondering, after six weeks of steady baking, McNulty “hasn’t baked for fun yet this holiday season.”)

McNulty’s favorite cookie in this year’s collection is the Orange Dreamsicle Cookie, submitted by Linda Lindell of Wautoma.

“It tastes just like a Dreamsicle and brings back a great memory of enjoying that treat as a kid,” she said. “With its orange flavor, it’s also something a little bit different from most of the recipes.”

As a fan of cherry desserts, Touhy’s favorites can be found on Page 7 of the Cookie Book: Chocolate Cherry Cheers, submitted by Maureen Welgos of Thorp, and Cherry Pie Cookie Cups, submitted by Michelle Kaczmarowski of Caledonia.

Ready, set, bake!

Want to share your own favorite recipes with area residents — and have the everlasting fame of being a Cookie Book contributor?

Recipes for the 2025 edition can be submitted starting Dec. 2. Check the We Energies website for more details and get baking.

As for the residents who picked up the 2024 Cookie Book, McNulty said “this event starts the holiday season for a lot of people. We just love doing this and seeing how excited people are to get their books.”

The Cookie Book “is a gift to our customers,” Touhy said — and one that may be unique.

“We might be the only utility still doing a recipe book,” McNulty said. “It started 100 years ago as a way to help people learn how to use their new electric stoves. Maybe in the future we’ll be doing air fryer recipes.”