‘Bob the Cookie Man’ shares profits with animal shelter
83-year-old baker makes 9,000 cookies for annual sale
JANESVILLE, Wis. — A baker who’s been serving treats to Janesville residents for decades is gearing up for another one of his legendary sales.
After 66 years as a baker, Bob Hiller only considers himself semi-retired.
Several times a year Bob the Cookie Man heads back to his kitchen at Rollin Pin Bakery to cook up concoctions for charity.
Bob Hiller bought his first bakery with $900 when he was just 14.
“These are crispies, they’re just delicious,” Hiller said while boxing up treats.
At 83, Hiller’s still making people happy with sweets and loving every minute of it.
“You get ready to sell a product and you meet such beautiful people,” Hiller said. “I just really enjoy baking and I travel all over the world putting on bakery shows.”
Hiller’s staff of six helps him get everything organized for his big sales.
Ten percent of the proceeds from his two-day Mother’s Day sale are going to the Rock County Humane Society.
James Hurley, interim executive director at the Rock County Humane Society, said the money the agency gets from Hiller’s sale supports multiple projects.
“The cream puffs and cookies and eclairs all provide the micro chipping, the spay and neuter surgeries, the rabies vaccinations,” Hurley said.
Hiller said the police have often had to control traffic at his sales because people are devouring his baked goods by the dozen.
The Cookie Man bakes up more than 9,000 dozen cookies. Cookies, eclairs and other treats will be sold out of his wagon.
Hiller said the secret to his success is the ingredients. He said he and the team bake “from scratch, we use tons of butter and no substitutes for anything.”
With decades of experience under his belt and a machine that cranks out 36 dozen cookies every 2 minutes, Hiller makes baking this many treats look easy. But there’s one thing the cookie man hasn’t quite figured out.
“No, there’s no calories in cookies,” Hiller joked. “There [are calories] but I can’t help it.”
WHAT: Rollin Pin Bakery Sale
WHERE: The Rollin Pin Bakery trailer, 610 E. Memorial Dr., Janesville
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, May 10-11, HOURS: Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
