12 must-visit cookie walks bringing joy, charity across metro Detroit
During the holidays, cookies, specialty breads, candies and baked goods bring joy, memories and play a delicious, significant role.
Sue Goldsmith, a member of the Sisterhood at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, has been baking and freezing dozens upon dozens of cookies for weeks.
All told, Goldsmith will make about three dozen each of five varieties of cookies. The cookies, along with those from a crew of other volunteer bakers, are headed for Sisterhood’s annual cookie walk fundraiser that benefits a Corktown charitable organization.
Area cookie walks are a good way to get a variety of holiday cookies and other baked goods while leaving the baking to someone else.
In metro Detroit, many area cookie walks take place at organizations such as churches.
At most cookie walks, organizers hand out containers or boxes and you walk around and choose the cookies you want. Cookies, many of them ethnic favorites, are typically sold by the pound.
Much of the proceeds benefit the church, community projects, or local charities. The cookie walk put on by the Sisterhood at Temple Beth El is back for in-person cookie buying after three years of online cookie buying because of the pandemic.
It’s the 6th year for the cookie walk that benefits the Corner Shower and Laundry, one of the nonprofits out of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.
Located in the basement of the church, the Corner Shower and Laundry officially opened in 2020, providing shower and laundry services to those who are homeless or otherwise in need.
“It’s really been a very worthwhile amazing project where you can see that you're providing a needed service,” Goldsmith says. In October the Corner Shower and Laundry, Goldsmith says, provided more than 540 showers and 200 loads of laundry to those in need.
The Sisterhood’s cookie walk, Goldsmith says, raises a couple of thousand dollars.
“It’s a big sale and more of an awareness raiser that gives us the opportunity to tell people about the Corner Shower and Laundry,” Goldsmith says.
At the Sisterhood’s cookie walk, there’s also an opportunity for people to bring donations, including cleaning supplies, clothing, and personal hygiene items.
Here’s a list of upcoming area cookie walks. Most cookie walk events benefit programs within the organization that put them on. Keep in mind most places charge by the pound for cookies. Other baked goods, like breads, may be available and individually priced. While most places have set hours, it’s best to arrive early as most places tend to sell out of cookies and other baked goods.
Cookie walks in metro Detroit
Beacon Unitarian Universalist Church, 4230 Livernois, Troy: Holiday arts and cookie sale is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 in the historical barn church social hall. Cookies are $10 per pound. You can also preorder boxes of cookies with a minimum of five boxes. Other baked goods and homemade candy will be available. For info: 248-524-9339 or beaconcongregation.org.
Christ Lutheran Church, 12500 Canal Rd., Sterling Heights: The Outreach Ministry's 23rd annual cookie walk 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 16. For info: 586-731-1113 or christsterling.org.
Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, 211 Moross, Grosse Pointe Farms: The church’s Cookie Mart is 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 9. Cookies are $8 per pound. For info: 313-886-2363 or gpumc.org.
Meadowbrook Congregational Church, 21355 Meadowbrook Rd., Novi: Cookie walk and holiday boutique is 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 2. Thousands of cookies will be available from fancy to traditional as well as candy, breads, and other confections. Proceeds from the event support church missions. For info: 248-348-7757 or mbccc.org.
Our Lady of La Salette Church, 2599 Harvard Rd., Berkley: The cookie walk will be held in the Parish Activities building 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until cookies are sold out) Dec. 9. For info: 248-541-3762 or lasalette-church.org.
Our Lady of the Scapular, 2609 10th Street, Wyandotte. Located in the Mount Carmel auditorium, the annual holiday cookie walk and bake sale Dec. 9-10. For info: 734-284-9135 or ourladyofthescapular.org.
Saints Cyril Methodius Parish, 41233 Ryan Rd., Sterling Heights: The Christmas cookie walk and bake sale is on Dec. 16-17 after all Masses. The sale features homemade cookies and additional homemade baked goods as well. For info: 586-726-6911 or saintcyrils.church.
St. Clement Orthodox Church 19600 Ford Rd., Dearborn: Cookie walk will take place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16. Cookies are $12 per pound. For info: 313-271-3110
St. Michael's Orthodox Church, 26375 West Chicago, Redford Township: The annual cookie walk takes place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 9. Cookies are $13 per pound. More than 100 different varieties of cookies all baked by parishioners, including many ethnic cookies. For info: 313-937-2120 or saintmichaelredford.org.
Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph, Bloomfield Hills: Cookie and bake sale is 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Cookies are $10 per pound. Proceeds from this cookie walk will benefit the Corner Shower and Laundry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit. For info: 248-214-3611 or tbeonline.org.
Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 14176 Fenton Rd., Fenton: Annual Christmas Cookie Walk and Bazaar; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (until cookies are gone) Dec. 9. More than 50 varieties will be available for sale. Cookies are $8 per dozen and also available for pre-order and pick up the weekend of the sale. For info: fentontlc.org/events.
West Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 4100 Walnut Lake Rd., West Bloomfield; 10 a.m. Dec. 9. Proceeds benefit the various missions of our Women's Group. For info: 248-851-2330 or westbloomfieldumc.org.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Holiday cookies: 12 cookie walks happening in metro Detroit
