This Cookie Will

Make Your Kid Smarter

… and not just because of the recipe.

Because while kids bake, they practice focus, patience, sequencing, problem-solving, resilience, and confidence.

The skills children need later in life are built much earlier than most people realize.

After 20 years in consulting, I saw firsthand how many smart adults struggled with things like prioritization, persistence, emotional regulation, and independent problem-solving.

Those skills don’t suddenly appear in adulthood.

They’re built through small everyday experiences starting in childhood.

And now, with constant distraction, instant gratification, smartphones, and AI doing more of the thinking for us, building those skills early matters more than ever.

That’s why I created the Allegra Bakes series.

To help kids build executive function skills through baking, storytelling, creativity, and play.

The cookie is just the beginning.

School & Community Events

Interactive children’s programming designed to help young kids build executive function skills through baking, storytelling, creativity, and play.

Created by Melissa Curmi, author of Allegra Bakes a Cookie, former Managing Director at a global consulting firm and finalist on the current season of The Great American Baking Show.

Official book launch of Allegra Bakes a Cookie at McNally Jackson

An exclusive Allegra Bakes a Cookie reading event at Space Club Dumbo for members

Designed for Ages 3-6

Each event combines storytelling, movement, sequencing, collaboration, and hands-on participation in a format that feels playful and engaging for children while reinforcing foundational executive function skills through:

Planning
Sequencing
Focus
Patience
Problem-solving
Collaboration
Resilience

Ideal for

Schools & Preschools
Montesorri Programs
Libraries
Family Clubs
Luxury Residential Buildings
Bookstores
Community Spaces
Parent Events
Museum Family Programming

Example Interactive Reading format:

Interactive Book Reading

A live reading of Allegra Bakes a cookie, an illustrated children’s book centered around baking, creativity, and learning through everyday experiences.

“Build a Cookie” Sequencing Activity

Children work together to organize the steps of baking chocolate chip cookies in the correct order using oversized visual cards and group participation.

Book signing and fireside chat.

Optional: Workbook Activities

Schools and organizations may also include activities from the Allegra Bakes & Thinks workbook, designed to reinforce executive function concepts through puzzles, drawing, sequencing, and creative play.

Optional: 3D Cookie Building + Decorate Activity

Kids create build and decorate their own 3D cookie sculpture (e.g., Airplane, Heart box, NYC skyline, NY Taxi). No kitchen needed and no baking on-site. All cookies are made in a kitchen licensed with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

3D Cookie Building + Decorating Classes

Host your own or join our local scheduled events for your Little Ones to build their own 3D cookie sculpture. No basic gingerbread house here! We do 3D airplanes, 3D cars. Have an idea for a design? Let’s talk about it!

About Melissa

After a 20-year career in consulting in New York, most recently as a Managing Director, Melissa Curmi expanded the Allegra Bakes series to help young children develop executive function skills through baking, creativity, and storytelling.

Melissa recently appeared as a finalist on the current season of The Great American Baking Show.