The Donnell House Board members are kicking off the holiday season this year with a bake sale. The Festival of Trees Bake Sale will coincide with the Festival of Trees fund-raiser to benefit the Donnell House in Athens.

The Donnell House, located on the Athens Middle School campus, was built in 1845 by a 61-year-old Cumberland Presbyterian minister, Robert Donnell. Union troops stayed at the house in the 1860s during the Civil War and it also served as a high school at one time. The Donnell House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is now a living history museum of Athens and Limestone County.

“The festival is an annual thing, but this is our first bake sale,” said Pat Lewis, treasurer of the Donnell House Board and member for the Festival of Trees committee. “Funds will also go toward maintaining the house.”

Cakes, pies, cookies, holiday spice tea packets, fudge, and more will be available for purchase at the bake sale.

The Athens Lady’s Civitan, R.S.V.P. members, Donnell House Board members and others will make and donate baked good to the Festival of Trees Bake Sale.

The Donnell House Board will hold its annual Festival of Trees Tours from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Nov. 17, 18, 24, and 25, and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Nov. 19, 23, and 26. Admission is $6 for Adults, $3 for children 3 to 12 years of age and children 2 years of age and under are free. Decorations will be set up through Nov. 14 and taken down Nov. 29 through Dec. 3.

“People from the surrounding areas, Huntsville, Decatur, and Athens, decorate the house. Mantles, stair rails, and trees, everything is decorated by individuals, organizations and local and area businesses,” said Lewis.

The Donnell House Board will host the annual Festival of Trees Preview Party from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Nov. 16. The preview party gives guests a chance to see the Christmas decorations before the tours open. Snacks will be served. Board members and hostesses will be available at the party to answer questions about the history of the house. The party can accommodate up to 200 pre-reserved guests and is $15 per person.

There will also be a Festival of Trees Holiday Tea and Tour from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Nov. 28.The cost is $10 person. There are a few tickets remaining. Guest will have tea and fellowship during an afternoon reminiscent of the time period the house was built. Jacque Gray will be dressed in period dress and Robert Reeves will dress as Robert Donnell and pour tea. Guests are welcome to wear gloves and hats.

The funds raised from the Festival of Trees events will be used for repairs and maintenance on the Donnell House.

“We are trying very hard to keep this preserved,” said Lewis. “Our job is to continue to keep it maintained and restored. “

The event’s festivities are expected to raise $1,500 to $2,000. The funds are greatly needed, said Lewis.

“There is a desperate need to replace the stairs on the front of the house. We need to paint the house, and paint and hang shutters to protect the windows, as well,” she said.

Businesses, organizations, and individuals who would like to participate in the Christmas decoration of the Donnell House and for reservations for the Festival of Trees Preview Party or the Holiday Tour and Tea should call Elizabeth McDowell at 233-7490.

The Festival of Trees is of special interest to history buffs.

“If they have any interest in the historic homes and the history of Athens, this is a great place to go and see the history of Athens,” said Lewis.

Below are baked goods that will be featured at the Festival of Trees Bake Sale.



World Famous Claxton Fruit Cake Cookies



Ingredients:

1 pound Claxton Fruitcake (some use 2 pounds)

1 package yellow cake mix or spice cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon rum flavoring

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, if desired



Directions:

Crumble fruitcake into cake mix. Add eggs, oil, rum flavoring, and pecans. Mix with hands and drop by teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Yields approximately 75 small cookies.

Upside-Down

Cinnamon-Apple Coffee Cake



Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chopped peeled apples

1 can (12.4 oz.) Pillsbury refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing

1/2 cup pecan halves or pieces

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons corn syrup



Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of the apples in pie plate.

Separate dough into 8 rolls. Cut each roll into quarters; place in large bowl. Add remaining 1/2 cup apples and pecans.

In small bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and corn syrup until well blended. Add brown sugar mixture to dough mixture; toss gently to combine. Spoon mixture over apples in pan.

Bake 28 to 38 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Invert onto serving platter.

Remove lid from icing. Microwave icing on High 10 to 15 seconds or until of drizzling consistency. Drizzle over warm coffee cake. Serve warm.

Yields 8 servings.