Natalie's Everyday Heroes: We Energies Cookie Book is a year-round job

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- The We Energies Cookie Book is a holiday tradition here in Wisconsin.

The first one came out in 1928. The book is usually released in November. So why are we talking about it in June? 

This year, CBS 58 is taking you behind the scenes to show you the work that goes into producing this holiday gem.

And it is a year-round job.

"It definitely is important to know what exactly is in it," said Shanecqua Tucker, a customer service representative.

We Energies employees take their jobs very seriously.

Especially when that work is tasting cookies. 

"No dull taste," Tucker said, sampling another cookie.  

Every year, employees line up to help judge the recipes submitted for the annual We Energies Cookie Book.

"In a typical year, we receive about anywhere from 350 to 400-and-some recipes," said Mary McNulty.

Sixty cookies make the first cut. 

"We test 10 recipes a week for six weeks," she said.

McNulty makes all of the recipes. 

"I am the official test baker for the cookies," she said. "Thousands and thousands of cookies by the time that we're done, I would say." 

This is Tucker's first taste test.  

"It has to look cute. Of course," she said with a laugh.

There are specific things by which a cookie is judged. 

"Appearance, taste. Texture, size," she said.

Tucker has high praise when one is really good.

"I'd eat that in the car," she said with a big smile, meaning it's so good you can't wait to get home before you eat it.

All employees are welcome to weigh in.

"Sugar cookie's good," said company president, Mike Hooper. "I'm the worst person to have tasting your cookies."

That's because he says they're all good. 

"And then they tell me, like hey, sooner or later we have to pare them down. We can't have three volumes of Cookie Book every year," he said.

That's exactly what happens. 

The Cookie Book team tallies up the results. 

"So, this is a zesty lime cookie," McNulty said as she carefully dips a cookie into a glaze.

And McNulty starts baking again. 

"It gives it a little brightness," she said, zesting fresh lime on top.

This time, the team is getting the 37 or so recipes that have made the final cut ready for their photos. 

"Yeah, we try to make the cookies the star of the book. We want them to look as best as possible," said Cookie Book designer, Jenny Nygaard.

Nygaard has been designing the book for 11 years. 

"We are thinking about the Cookie Book all year long," she said.

That includes stock piling props to use for the photoshoot that goes along with the theme.

"That could work, right," she said, adding a lid to a cookie jar.

This year, it's "From Your Cookie Jar to Ours."

"And so, we have cookie jars in some way in each shot," Nygaard said.

Each cookie is photographed.

"Very nice," she said, checking the monitor.

The attention to detail is clear. 

"Every photo could potentially be a cover," Nygaard explained.

And those are the decisions that come next for the Cookie Book team.

As they work all year to create holiday magic. 

"This is a big deal for people.  And that's really fun to see," McNulty said.

All the people we talked to are We Energies employees, so they're putting in the work on the Cookie Book in addition to their regular jobs.

Now the recipes are picked, the photos for the book are done- but there's more work to do before the book comes out in November and we'll be following along.

For more information on this year's Cookie Book or to download past editions, click here. 

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].