Reportedly, the line starts building by 8:30 a.m. because, sometimes, the doors open a few minutes before the 9 a.m. open time, and oftentimes, shoppers walk away empty-handed because the place is sold out before the scheduled 11 a.m. close time.

From Swedish pecan crescents and pecan tassies to spritz cookies, Thumbelinas, rascal cookies and fudgeballs, the Ladies Aid annual Cookie Walk this Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, 865 S. Church Road Dec. 15 is an old-fashioned homemade holiday cookie fan’s dream bake sale.

In fact, the baking Ladies Aid members are told not to make regular ol’ cookies like “boring” sugar, chocolate chip or peanut butter.

“People can make those at home,” said Marcia Fick, Ladies Aid treasurer. “We want the cookies that most people either just don’t have the time to make anymore or even know how to make at all.”

Most of the fancy, traditional cookies at the cookie walk are family recipes and holiday staples, but a few new cookie concoctions are usually added because the ladies pick up ideas from cookbooks, newspapers, talks with fellow bakers and by tasting treats throughout the year.

Not only is the Ladies Aid particular about what kind of cookies can be made, but also who makes them. Years ago a baker offered to donate cookies for the sale, but the ladies said a polite “no, thank you.” They take pride in the fact that all the cookies at the walk are enthusiastically handmade by members of their congregation who are pulling together to support each other during the holiday season. Typically, 20 to 25 ladies, and a few men, bake at least 10 to 12 dozen cookies each.

“People are surprised at all the different kinds of cookies we have so I would encourage people to come see all the delicious cookies we have for sale and buy some,” Fick said.

Cookies are sold by the pound. The ladies are checking the prices of local bakeries to stay competitive so this year’s final sale price is still being determined, but will be at least $7 per pound.

All proceeds from the Cookie Walk will benefit the works of the Ladies Aid such as funding projects at Zion Church and a variety of outside work with charities.

The Cookie Walk started 20 years ago as a casual cookie exchange between members of the Ladies Aid. When one of their members attended another church’s cookie walk, she suggested Zion’s Ladies Aid should expand their personal cookie exchange into a public cookie walk where smiles, “thank yous” and “mmm, delicious,” would be accompanied by donations they could use to further their spiritual work.

“It was something we did for fun, just between the ladies,” Fick said. “We made just a couple of dozen between each us, so we made a few extra dozen, and held the first Cookie Walk. It was immediately a hit the first year and we have continued it ever since.”

For more information about Saturday’s annual Ladies Aid Cookie Walk, call Zion Church at (630) 766-1039.

“We have people who come with lists,” Fick said. “They buy cookies as gifts for friends, family, co-workers, to serve at their own holiday parties. People come back every year to enjoy and share our cookies for the holidays.”

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