Prior to Super Bowl XL six years ago, the creative minds at Bethel Bakery came up with the idea to make a Terrible Towel cookie in honor of the Pittsburgh Steelers iconic symbol. With a portion of the proceeds from each sale going to the Allegheny Valley School and the Steelers run to their first Super Bowl victory in 26 years, the cookies were an immediate hit. Six years later, the Steelers are on the doorstep of their third world championship in six years. John Walsh, the President at Bethel Bakery, says they are on pace to produce 4,000 Terrible Towel Cookies this week as they prepare for the Super Bowl food frenzy. Julianna Lytle, the marketing and sales assistant a the bakery, believes they are the only bakery in the area that has the official license from the NFL to sell the cookie.
Bethel Bakery, established in 1955, is one of the most well known bakeries in the Pittsburgh area, producing an amazing variety of cookies and pastries as well as being known as “The Cake Place” for their cake creations for any occasion. Their association with Allegheny Valley School is a special one. The school is one of the largest providers of care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state of Pennsylvania.
Employee Amber Nesbit spent her morning icing hundreds of Terrible Towel cookies that will soon be decorated.
Fringing the cookie is applying the border around the edges, which employee Anita Pace said that she might fringe 1,000 cookies on Wednesday.
A basket that was just filled with the cookies is displayed at the store, with dozens of Steelers decorations surrounding it as well as the Steelers victory in Super Bowl XVIII playing in the television in the background.
Esther Barone returned to the store for another round of Terrible Towel cookies. “My daughter goes to college at IUP and I sent her 20 cookies today already.” When asked if she was sending her more, she laughed “These are for us!”
Issac Lex, 3, admires the Steelers cakes and cookies in display at bakery Wednesday morning.
