Wouldn’t it be great if you could help someone by tasting cookies and candies? And as a bonus, you got to tour inns beautifully decorated for Christmas?

Well, your dream has come true. In the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the 11th Annual Inn to Inn Cookie & Candy tour will take place December 8-9, from 11 am to 4 pm each day.

In addition, a Gingerbread House competition will take place among the inns, with the proceeds to benefit the winner’s chosen charity.

Seventeen inns are participating this year, and each will offer their signature cookie and/or candy for tasting. Participants will also receive a copy of the recipes and decorating tips to take home for the holidays.

Becky and Charlie Mallar have owned the 1785 Inn in North Conway for 24 years, and have participated in all 11 of the Cookie & Candy tours. This year, Becky plans to offer a moist drop cookie that includes dried cranberries and white chocolate. (Yum!) She also will offer fudge made with marshmallows and nuts.

She enjoys participating in the tour and is already decking the halls. "We love decorating. We’ve been doing it all day," she told me when I contacted her in November.

The 1785 Inn has 17 rooms, a full-service restaurant, and a backyard that faces Mt. Washington.

Other inns participating in the tour this year include the Darby Field Inn in Albany; the Bartlett Inn in Barlett; Riverbend Inn in Chocorua; Inn at Crystal Lake and Pub in Eaton; Admiral Peary House in Fryeburg, Maine; Covered Bridge House in Glen; Notchland Inn in Hart’s Location; Glen Oaks Inn, in Intervale; Inn at Ellis River and Inn at Jackson, both in Jackson; Lake View Cottage in Madison; Eastman Inn, Old Red Inn & Cottages and Wildflowers Inn in North Conway; Snowvillage Inn in Snowville and Tamworth Inn in Tamworth.

Tickets are $25 for both days; however these tickets will only be available after lodging packages are sold.

"Each inn is offering a package that includes a two-night stay and breakfast for two, plus tickets to the tour," said Marti Mayne, organizer. "Some inns have added extras, such as dinners or baking classes to their packages."

She added, "Participants that visit every inn will receive a lovely brass collector’s ornament, and also have a chance to win a $250 gift certificate towards a stay at one of the inns."

For more information call 877-854-6535 or visit: Country Inns in the White Mountains.