How to Package Cookies: A Guide to Creative Packaging for Bakers
When you are just starting out as a cookier, there's a lot to learn about packaging your decorated cookies for sale.
The importance of packaging for bakers cannot be understated. Packaging is the first thing your customers experience before tasting your delicious cookies.
Miss Cookie Packaging’s founder and packaging designer, Missy Clark, was once a cookier herself. Because she knows the ins and outs of cookie decorating, every packaging solution we offer is thoughtfully designed to help bakers like you keep your products fresh, safe, and looking their best!
Consider this blog post your go-to guide to getting started with creative packaging. Read on to learn all the tips to keep your treats looking and tasting amazing.
First, let’s talk about what your packaging needs to do for you.
1. Keep your cookies fresh and yummy.
You want your cookies to taste as good as they look, so keeping them fresh matters! This is especially important if you are shipping cookies or your treats might not be eaten immediately.
Be sure to select packaging intended for food products and printed with food-safe inks. Also, heat-seal your cookies into clear poly bags, even if you plan to put them into a box or another container. Doing so will protect them from air and moisture and keep them tasting their best.
2. Protect your baked goods.
Decorating cookies takes time, and your works of edible art deserve sturdy packaging. Quality matters when it comes to materials. Select durable boxes and bags made of greaseproof, food-safe materials, and ensure that your cookies are secure within their container.
3. Include your cottage food and branded labels.
Cottage food laws dictate labeling requirements for home bakers. However, cottage food laws vary widely from state to state and even town to town. Some bakers need detailed labeling, and others need none at all. It’s crucial to check with your local Board of Health for your location’s laws regarding home bakeries and labeling.
Usually, a label will need to include elements such as:
- Company Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Ingredients List
- Allergen Information
- Net Weight
Beyond ingredient labels, adding a branded sticker with your business logo and name is a great idea. Many of our packaging solutions have designated blank areas perfect for adding regulatory labeling and a bit of branded flair!
This is an example of one of the cottage food labels I would use to label my cookies (with my home address removed for obvious reasons).
4. Help your cookies look their best.
While Miss Cookie Packaging is known for quality and durability, creative design is our favorite part of cookie packaging!
Elevating your cookie presentation can be as simple as slipping a printed backer into a clear poly bag or as elaborate as nestling your goodies into a nostalgic cookie advent calendar! Whatever your aesthetic, we have the packaging solutions you need—plus all the sweet extras like bows, tags, and stretch loops.
Now that we've discussed the importance of packaging let's dive into the most basic cookie packaging supplies you'll need as a new cookier: clear poly bags and a heat sealer.
Clear poly bags and a heat sealer (also called an impulse sealer) make the ultimate duo for keeping cookies fresh and protected. If you are just getting started, bagging your cookies is a relatively low-cost way to keep them fresh, safe, and visible.
You can use clear poly bags to protect decorated cookies, "naked" cookies for a DIY kit, or iced paint-your-own cookies. From there, you can add labeling if needed or even turn up the “cute factor” with embellishments like bows, ribbons, or printed tags.
Our clear polypropylene bags are food-safe, seamless, and thicker than most (1.5mm) to keep your treats fresher longer and help them look their best. You can order them in various sizes to fit cookies of all sizes.
You'll also need a heat sealer to seal your cookies in clear poly bags properly.
One of our favorite heat sealers is this tabletop model by Uline (we don't have an affiliate relationship; we just happen to love this product!). While there are cheaper options on the market, this one is fantastic because of the trimmer function, which will save you a bunch of time. Remember—if you plan to add a bow to your bagged treats, you won’t need to trim!
Wait, but aren’t they called “cello” bags - nope, not all clear bags are cello - in fact our bags are “poly” bags and we believe them to be the best for your cookies. You can read much more here about the difference between poly and cello bags POLY vs. CELLO
Beyond poly bags, the next packaging supplies to consider are boxes and tall backers.
Greaseproof backers and cookie boxes are the next level of packaging supplies to consider if you want to prevent your heat-sealed cookies from breaking and add more polish to your presentation.
Backers
Simply slipping a sturdy, colorful, food-safe backer into your clear poly bag will make your cookies look extra special. The backer will also allow your cookies to be displayed standing up, making them easy to display on a market table or shop counter. Our greaseproof, foodsafe backers are professionally made with food-safe paper, inks and coatings.
Please note: this is NOT something you can do at home with a regular printer. If you use cardstock from a craft store or use your home printer, your backers will not be safe for direct food contact
Boxes
Another option to protect decorated cookies and prevent breakage is to use a cookie box. You can choose from white or decorated paperboard bakery boxes (like this adorable rainbow sprinkle box!) or clear plastic boxes.
The decision between paperboard or plastic boxes is a personal preference. Printed boxes add another level of cuteness to your cookies, while clear boxes invite your cookies to be the star.
No matter which you choose, a box is a game changer in keeping cookies safer. One great example of why this matters is Teacher Appreciation cookies that travel in kids' backpacks. Have you seen the inside of an Elementary school child's backpack? Let me tell you—the cookies need all the protection they can get!
Getting Fancy With Boxes
Try adding a bow to the corner with a glue gun to spruce up a cookie box even more.
Pro tip: if you use a pre-tied bow, remove the twist tie before gluing it to the box.
Another option is to add a stretch loop and a tag to add an extra message.
Some bakers also like adding paper shred to their cookie boxes, and others prefer to skip it. One benefit of paper shred is that it adds extra cookie protection during transporting and handling.
We have food-safe paper shred available if you decide it's the right move for your business.
As you get used to packaging and selling cookies, you may want to get even more creative. We've got you covered!
When you are ready to go beyond boxes, backers, and bags, there are plenty of other creative and unique packaging options to consider. We love thinking up the sweetest designs to help you delight your customers and stand out.
Here are a few of our most popular ideas to get your wheels turning!
Cookie Calendars
Cookie countdown calendars can spark nostalgia while extending the fun and excitement of occasions like Christmas, Hannukah, graduation, and birthdays. We even have a calendar designed to help teachers, school staff, and kids countdown to summer vacation!
Cookie Pouches
These resealable standup cookie pouches can be filled with treats and come in a variety of designs. We have two sizes available, Small and Large. Our Small pouches fit up to 5 mini 2" cookies, while our Large pouches can hold up to 12 mini 2" cookies, making them perfect for cookie assortments or small batch sales.
Cookie Greeting Cards
Every sentiment is a little bit sweeter when paired with a deliciously decorated cookie! We have cookie cards for birthdays, Valentine's Day, graduation, and more.
To wrap up (pun intended!) . . .
When it comes to decorated sugar cookies, presentation is everything. Imagine receiving a beautifully crafted cookie, intricately decorated with royal icing, nestled within a plain, uninspired wrapper. The magic would undoubtedly be lost.
Packaging serves as the first impression, signaling to the recipient that something special lies within. With a little creativity and these handy tips, you can package your decorated sugar cookies in a beautiful and functional way, ensuring they arrive at their destination looking and tasting their best!
Getting excited about the packaging possibilities?
Remember, it's OK to start simple—and it's also OK to get a little fun and fancy! Whatever you decide, Miss Cookie Packaging has you covered!
