Cooking Up Cookies

No matter what type of operation you have, you can cash in on the popularity of cookies with "kids" from age two to 82! There's nothing like the smell of fresh from the oven cookies to bring out the kid in anyone. Here are a few ways to sweeten your bottom line with cookies.

For Young Children

• Offer cookie pops with kids' meals by placing a popsicle stick under cookie dough before baking. Lightly press down so the cookie will bake around the stick. Let cool before serving. For added appeal, dip half of the cooled cookie in slightly warmed ready-to-spread icing and top with colored candy sprinkles.
  
• Place quartered cookie bites in a small bag or paper cone and serve with kids' meals.
  
• For kids' birthday parties, use cookie bites as a balloon weight by wrapping several bites in cellophane and tying with a ribbon around the balloon string.

For College Students

• Boost afternoon sales by promoting warm cookies and cold milk between two p.m. and four p.m. Start baking as soon as the lunch rush is over to entice students with the aroma.
  
• For an added incentive, offer a free carton of ice-cold milk with every purchase of three cookies or more.
  
• Offer a "make your own cookie sundae" using cookie cups as the base. Cookie cups can be made ahead and stored in the freezer, so you can always have plenty on hand.

For Adults

• Instead of using granola in your breakfast yogurt parfait, use crushed oatmeal raisin cookies. It'll give it a fresh new flavor -- and allow you to reduce waste by using leftover broken cookies.
  
• Bring out the kid in any adult by offering a cookie sandwich (cookies with a slice of ice cream sandwiched between them) with any deli sandwich purchase.

For Seniors

• Bake up soft, chewy cookie favorites like ginger, oatmeal raisin and sugar cookies by reducing the bake time slightly. These are great for social gatherings and events in long-term healthcare facilities.
  
• Let seniors have all the fun of baking during the holidays by hosting a cookie bake-a-thon. Use pre-formed dough so all that's needed is a pan and oven. Offer tins and gift cards so they can package their cookies and send to loved ones.