Mary Ann Williams, of Middlesex Township, struggles to figure out how many cookies she has made in the past 12 years for wedding cookie tables, Christmas events, office parties and other events.

“I’d say in the tens of thousands, leaning toward six digits,” she said.

This Christmas is no different, as Williams began gathering supplies and mixing dough a few weeks before Thanksgiving.

“Each Christmas, I try to do at least 12 or 14 different kinds of cookies,” she said. “The most popular are lady locks and peanut butter blossoms.”

The local cookie expert has one main piece of advice for home Christmas cookie bakers — start early.

“It’s a whole season until the end of the year,” Williams said. “Look for sales on ingredients. Look at the ads in the paper. Look online for sales.

“I get ve

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