Dream Job Alert: You Can Get Paid $5,000 to Bake and Taste Holiday Cookies

2020 has given all of us much more time to bake than any of us probably expected back in January. For the most part, these carbo-loaded creations have functioned as a way to learn new skills, try new tastes, and, most importantly, pass the time while locked away at home. But as holiday baking season kicks into high gear, it turns out that all that time you've spent dreaming up and preparing to bake the perfect Christmas cookie could pay very real dividends.

Now through December 8, Reynolds Kitchens is accepting applications to become their official Cookie Connoisseur, a part-time gig that pays $5,000 for you to essentially bake and eat cookies. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

Compared to most other jobs, the application process (which involves sending an email to careers@ReynoldsSweetGig.com) should be fairly simple for any creative baker. In addition to providing your age, city, state, and zip, you'll be sending along the pertinent details for a crazy (some might even say kooky) cookie recipe that makes use of an unexpected or wacky ingredient. Specifically, that includes a photo of the cookie and a bulleted list of the recipe's ingredients. You should also write a brief cover letter of sorts, explaining in 250 words or less why you'd make the perfect Cookie Connoisseur.

The candidate whose recipe is deemed most worthy will have their creation featured in Reynolds Kitchens' Cookie Countdown to 2021. Not only that, but that lucky Cookie Connoisseur will be tasked with devising four more holiday cookie recipes worthy of sharing with the world—oh, and that $5,000. That's probably the most important part.

If you're wondering whether or not it's worth your time to apply, you should probably just go for it. Why? Because in addition to choosing one Cookie Connoisseur, Reynolds is also giving out 100 complimentary cookies to random applicants as a way of spreading holiday cheer. If only more companies gave out those sorts of prizes to the job applicants they didn't hire, the world might be a better place.

So if you've been looking for an excuse to get really weird with your next cookie recipe, now (through December 8, 2020) is the time. All that baking just might be good for something after all.