In celebration of its 10th birthday, Tempe Town Lake will become edible on Dec. 12 for attendants of its official birthday celebration.

A main attraction of the celebration will include a 6 feet by 12 feet cookie replica of the lake baked by Barry Brooks, owner of Cookies From Home at West University Drive and South Priest Drive.

“It’s going to be very surrealistic,” Brooks said. “I’m going to have to ask people to use their imaginations.”

The giant cookie, which will be put together like a puzzle — made of several different kinds of cookie — will be baked with no preservatives or food coloring.

The sheer size of the creation has Brooks using his imagination and skill from 28 years in the business.

“It’s like building a boat in the basement,” he said.

The celebration will also include a birthday cake contest with cakes submitted by Arizona hotels, restaurants and bakeries, where they will be judged on appearance, taste and birthday theme.

ASU Catering is one of the participants in the birthday cake contest.

Money earned from the sale of an estimated 14 cakes will be donated to the Tempe Community Council, which is also collecting gifts from the public on behalf of local nonprofit organizations.

Emma Bordner, director of marketing and resources with the Tempe Community Council, said the council serves as a bridge between local government, local businesses and local nonprofits.

The city of Tempe is encouraging guests to bring “birthday gifts” to the party.

“Why not make the gifts for those in need?” Bordner said.

All donations will be collected at Tempe Beach Park and can include non-perishable food, water, toys, diapers, hygiene products and clothing, she said.

“Anything like that can make a difference,” Bordner said. “We’ve really seen that cash donations are down, but people really want to step up and help.”

The event will include free kayaking and a happy birthday sing-a-long.

The giant cookie will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Brooks has made a cookie of this size only once before — 25 years ago he created a 6-foot Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” complete with a dagger.

“That was the first and last time I did anything like this,” Brooks said. “Coconut flakes for hair, walnuts for fingernails — she is a babe, all right.”

When the city of Tempe first approached Brooks about the project, he said he wasn’t sure it was possible.

“They said, ‘Well how about a 6-foot replica of Tempe Town Lake?’ and I’m saying ‘I don’t know if I could do that,’” Brooks said.

With the help of customer Clint Brown, owner of CIMCO Industrial Manufacturing, Brooks figured out the measurements for the enormous cookie.

“If what he does is half as good as his cookies it will be pretty neat,” Brown said.

Brooks started his business on Mill Avenue in 1981, attracting customers “by the nose” when the aroma from his cookies hit the street.

Reach the reporter at nathan.meacham@asu.edu.