Smart Cookies

Okay, so you had us at “gingerbread kit.” One of the great winter pastimes is baking those golden-brown cookies and decorating them with frosting and candies. Now, imagine gingerbread figurines created by Ellie’s Bakery, the renowned patisserie in downtown Providence. For several years, Ellie’s has created prim little boxes with high-quality cookies and brightly colored confections. The family-friendly joys alone would be worth the $8. But these kits also serve a good cause: 100 percent of the proceeds benefit Rhode Island families in need. In previous years, Ellie’s has sold more than 3,000 kits, making lots of customers – and under-employed households – full of holiday cheer. You can find the kits at both Ellie’s Bakery and its sister-restaurant, Gracie’s Providence. The kits are also available at Miriam Hospital, where they can double as a get-well gift. Doing good never tasted so sweet.