They’re a tried and true staple each year at the Palmerton Community Festival.

Molasses tongue cookies, a long-standing favorite, will once again be featured at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Palmerton stand.

Also at the stand will be homemade sweet mint iced tea, along with the return of mini cheese cake cupcakes (plain, sea salt, caramel, chocolate cake, and cherry).

Whatever item they choose to indulge in, customers are sure to walk away happy, said Terri Delich, baker and a member of the church counsel.

“Our food is absolutely delicious,” Delich said. “We had repeat visitors (last year) for the cheese cake cupcakes and molasses tongue cookies.”

Delich said that the church has been working on the molasses tongue cookies “for years and years.”

She said she and her husband, Don, shop around to get the best prices possible.

Delich said they start on Labor Day, and continue right up until the Friday of the festival.

She said a different group of guys work on the stand and set it up.

“We all have different skills, and all work together,” Delich said. “And that’s pretty cool; people helping each other.”

Delich said the mixing of the molasses tongue is done by hand by the men of the church, and added that once it’s mixed, the women roll them into a ball and into that tongue shape.

From there, she said they have to be coated in sugar and then baked.

As for the mini cheese cake cupcakes, Delich said first the crust has to be made and then baked. They also have to make the cheesecake batter and bake it before the toppings are added.

She said that part of the funds raised from the festival will come back to the church, which will try to update its kitchen and parish hall, while the other half will go to an organization of their choosing.

Delich praised all the volunteers who help make the stand such a success each year.

“Our congregation is getting older,” she said. “We’re very proud of our congregation; they always show up, and that’s what’s really important.”