I am making decorated cutouts for a baby shower. I have to make 45 of them, I am going to decorate them with royal and toba's glace. I have to make my own cutter, and each cookie will be about 4 1/2" x 4 1/2". I am also bagging them individually, the mother in law gave me little tags to tie on each one. So, how much do I charge? I have my cake prices down but have never charged for cookies. Thanks in advance!

sounds like a $4.00 cookie to me.

at least!

I live in the buffalo area where the economy is seriously in the dumps! I just called several local bakeries, nice one too. They all range in price from $2 to $3. Does that sound crazy?

If you charge that little for that size cookie you might regret it- but try it this once, and see what you think!

I realize that the economy is different in different areas. However, this is not the first time the economy has been in a slump and it has rebound before. I want to believe it will rebound again.

What if you were to start selling that size cookie, now, for half of what it is worth. Decreasing your prices, later, would be much easier than increasing your prices. Start at the higher end to see what feedback you get.

There are still people out there willing to pay. I haven't heard yet of a Starbucks closing due to the economy. In fact, they have just opened up two close to where I live.

So, don't sell yourself short!

Just a thought...if you're making your own cutter anyway, could you make it smaller (2.5-3in. instead of 4 or more in.)? That would make for smaller cookies to decorate and get you closer to the right price per cookie (if you use the $ per inch).

Yep, at least $4 a cookie.

The larger the cookie , the more the ingredients, the larger the price. Have you noticed the prices at the grocery store have gone up and the quantity of the products have decreased? They alter the packaging by "Updating" it and really the ounces have been decreased.

I'd say $4.50-$5.00 per cookie.. especially if you are wrapping them too. It's materials and TIME. Cookies are a pain in the arse.. they take a long time and you don't realize how much they take over your life and house while you are making them until you are elbow deep in them. Charge enough to make them worth it.

Here! Here! (to JKALMAN's pain in the arse comment!!!!)


I just did 80 cookied recently for a wedding and I clearly undercharged. I was so mad at myself that I wanted to cry!!! They are alot of detailed work that need to be done in steps with a lot of handling, so don't sell yourself short.

If they don't want to pay $4+ for a CUSTOM DESIGN, CUSTOM CUTTER, and CUSTOMIZED PACKAGING...then they don't get your cookies!!!

You're worth it!!!!!

(Can anybody tell that I just did my taxes last week and am mad about my profits made last year? I'm on a roll for 2008..."don't wanna pay what it's worth?" "No problem...you won't be gettin' it from me!")

Ok, so I completely get it. BUT....I just called another specialty cookie boutique in my very town, $3 a cookie!!! This order is wrapped up with a big ole cake too. The pricing is so darn stressful...but I must say, I like doing cookies more than cake, they are little works of art! Maybe that's because I haven't done that many yet!
The jury is still out, I have to decide today, and I am VERY stressed about it!!!

they might be charging $3 per cookie, but can you get custom made to order cookies. are those packaged??
and yes, you could make them a little smaller, which would save on dough and icing, but remember you will still be doing the same amount of baking, decorating, etc. if anything, it may be more work trying to decorate a smaller cookie.

Not only that, but the bigger bakeries in town get their ingredients in bulk and have less of a cost in that arena. It's hard, but I wouldn't go any less than $0.75 per inch of the cookie. You'll kick yourself

Was the other bakeries cookies the same size as yours?

You guys are killin' me!!! Don't know, think I need to do some serious market research and go around town tasting cookies, tough work huh?

Clearly it looks as though you are going to need a PANEL of professionals to help you decipher the best tasting cookies...what time should we all be there?

-Michelle

Cookies are a big pain to make... I just keep making them because they look and taste sooooo good. I just make them for family special occasions, but it seems like lately we have had a lot of family special occasions!

I agree with all the posters, don't sell yourself short!

debi, you are good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Indidebi,
WOW! You rock! I will be decorating at about 8:00 tonight, wanna join me? We are having a record breaking heat spell here and everything is blooming, quite lovely, nice road trip!
In all seriousness, I agree with all of you. I am certainly going to do some price comparisons and taste testing as well as figuring out my personal cost. I feel like cookies are such a nice alternative to cake, don't hate me, I actually don't even like cake...but I don't want to sell myself short.
Thanks for your imput and the great information!

Is this someone who will bring in lots of other cookie customers in the future for you?

I'm in the same tough place, in June I have to make 48 4in cookies wrapped and bowed. I hand made the cutter by the dalmation picture she gave me, and I said $2.00 as she started to say $1.00 each. She took the $2.00 price but I have to consider that she is a supervisor of mine and word of mouth where I work is everything.
I do plan on cutting back on some of the fine detail work that I originally had planned so that it will be worth more than $2.00 but I won't be slaving over them for days either.

What is the complexity of the design you will be doing? Is this person a family friend who is a repeat customer? It's possible to say its an introductory sale price or a special price for cake buyers only etc.

Be careful not to underprice yourself to much, times are really tough and we are paying a ton for gas and food right now and if the grocery stores are charging us more than your going to end up cutting into supporting your household budget. Flour, eggs, and butter have all gone up lately.

I do know someone a couple weeks ago had made up a cutter for a 3in 4in and 5in cookie hoping they would choose the 5 in design and they ended up picking the 3in design for $1 a cookie not only was the design beautiful but by the time your done baking, mixing and supplies you've spent $20 in electricity, ingredients and such.

Good luck!

I would say if you new to cookies go for $3.00-$3.75 until you have a more experience, and make sure you post the pictures here

I know you already have lots of advice but thought I would toss my 2cents in also.


I charge $1/inch for 3 colors on a cookie.

So I would charge $4.50 for the cookie and I charge another $1/package and more if I provide the tag. if the customer is providing the tag then I would stick witht the $1/bag.

So $5.50/cookie @ 45 cookies = $247.50

My prices are still cheaper than Cookies by Design and I individually wrap them and my cookies tatse better (just ask anyone who has tried them)

My first cookies I did I only charge about 50 cents a piece and regretted it about 1/4 of the way through. Then I bagged all of them and will NOT do them for less than $1/bag. I wrap everything with curly ribbon and it takes time to get it all ready. I hate doing it so if I am going to I am going to get paid for it.

Being as though we are neighbors I can say I think 3.50 to $4 a cookie is reasonable. What bakeries did you call?

I'm scared to admit that I did decide on $2 a cookie, however, that price will certainly go up. I'm a teacher and this is for a secretary in my building who has ordered from me several times before and the cookies were an add on to a shower cake order. Not to mention, she may be the kindest person I have ever met (good thing this isn't my income source huh???) I know she will not discuss price with anyone so I am safe there. My business has been booming with my coworkers so I know this will help. I have called, Delish, Pumpernick and Pastry, a few small bakeries (can't remember names) and the new place in East Aurora (where I live). My favorite part of it is that I recieved a cookie as a gift from the one bakery from a coworker who loves the place. I talked to her this week and she intended to buy several cookies from the place for a party this summer but has decided to go with me. I do intend to rework my prices before commiting to that !!!!!

Yay, good for you!! Try calling Sweet Tooth and The Dessert Deli to see what their prices are. I'm in Hamburg, and I know a new bakery just opened in Lakeview, but for the life of me I can't remember the name! Anyway good luck, and please post pics!

Don't worry.. I don't really like cake either..

If you are doing it for a friend it's different. Make sure you re-work those prices though. I agree with leily.. $1/inch for up to 3 colors and an extra $0.50-$1 for the bagging.

Just repeat it over and over.. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!

Thanks all, they're done!!! Used royal and tobas glace so they have to sit for a while before I bag them up. Will be sure to take a pic at some point in the process!!!