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Trader Joe's Sugar Cookie Workshop
I Paid: $3.99 for a kit that made roughly 24 cookies (prices may vary by region)
I come from a reasonably serious tradition of holiday cookie baking: Scandinavian spritz cookies on my mom's side, old-fashioned gingerbread men and rum balls on my dad's. Therefore, the idea of buying a kit (a kit!) to bake cookies seems downright laughable at first. Why wouldn't you want to spend six to eight hours schlepping dough into specially created spritz guns, in and out of the fridge, then in and out of the oven to create painfully wrought holiday masterworks?
But upon further consideration, finding a way to enjoy holiday baking without backbreaking labor isn't totally nuts, and Trader Joe's DIY ("Decorate It Yourself") Sugar Cookie Workshop kit appears to be just the way to do it.
The value provided in this kit is actually kind of staggering. Four dollars gets you cookie mix that makes enough dough for roughly 24 sugar cookies (with the addition of an egg and 11 tablespoons of butter that you supply). It also includes two packets of mediocre-but-acceptable shelf-stable vanilla icing, three cookie cutters (star, tree, and snowman), and four colors of sparkly sprinkles: green, red, white, and blue. While the cookies aren't homemade classics, they bake up pleasing and mild. It's even fair to say that, once decorated, they're festive.
And while it represents a clear compromise from the ancient holiday cookie ordeal (which involves at least one full workday of blood, sweat, and tears and several hundred cookies baked), the Trader Joe's Sugar Cookie Workshop does strike a nice balance between fuss and fun.
These kits were $.99 in the Maryland TJ's when I went to get chocolate and nuts for my other holiday cookies - a staggering value at that price.
I did this kit with my daughter the other day and it was quite fun ! The cookies baked up well with a buttery taste and a perfect crunchy/soft texture. We're not the best decorators, but they looked festive and home-made.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/speedydave/5301987158/
I tasted the cookies and they are pretty good. The sugar alone would cost more than .99, and it's nice sparkling sugar different color packets too. Worth it!
Trader Joes Rock! ~ www.mydorot.com
I could not believe what a bargain this kit was!!! Did not try one however but the value was there!
I am recovering from a hand injury. Just picked up two boxes for 99 cents for a first time cheating & short cut to baking. Tomorrow deliver cookies to kids and friends. How bad is that?
These seemed cute for 99 cents.
Men and balls on your Dad's side. I know there is a joke in there somewhere.
Mlipps, the deal is, you get your house smelling like home-baked cookies and your kids have a blast.
Such a relief to just make it that easy. My boys are 5 and 7 so they can't wait the hours and hours until it's time to decorate. This was a great compromise and the cookies weren't horrible. Also I bought my kit for $.99 and there were a TON of them left.
I really wish the closest Trader Joe's wasn't 208 miles away. You Chowsians have been giving it good marks, and it is making me jealous.
Sounds good, but $4 for 24 of them? How is that a good deal?
Yes! 99 cent, and there are a ton of them. I was surprise that they are decent cookies. My nieces had fun making them.
South San Francisco store has a ton-stock up!
I can attest to those blood, sweat, and tears when it comes to my 3 days of frantic, hellish holiday baking. I suppose I wouldn't mind a holiday cookie kit to ease the burden a bit.
Was at Trader Joes this afternoon. The kits are down to 99 cents.