How Do You Plot/plan Your Cookie Bouquets ??
Baking By teesme2000 Updated 29 Mar 2007 , 3:46am by idoweddingcookies
I just got a pretty large order for assorted cookie bouquets. I got all of my cutesy mugs, baskets, etc and when it comes down to cutting out cookies, I get overwhelmed.
How do you plot or plan your bouquets ?? Do you just select a mug or basket and cut out the cookies you need for only that basket and then move on to the next ?? Or do you just cut out and bake a bunch of asorted and then put them in the mugs/baskets after you decorate and you see which ones would look the best ??
I think I just have too many ideas going thru my head at once and I am not sure how to get it all together.
Please help.
Thanks !!
One step at a time. While you have to keep the final or overall picture in mind as you plan it out, you still work on it one step at a time.
We get a general idea of what we're going after and bake a lot of cookies. THen assembly line decorate with each person doing a specific task on each cookie. When you're not switching tasks back and forth you get a better productivity.
I like getting the baking done and cleaned up. Then I have plenty of room to spread out and set up the assembly lines for decorating with all of the icing bags lined up and ready to go.
I pick out the containers I want to use then I make 2 bouquets. I bring them to work and put them on my desk and take orders. This time my BIL also took 2 bouquets to work with him. I make all my fondant then, make enough dough for several cookies. I have 22 orders so I will leave work tonight to get materials I need. I will do some this weekend and some next week.
I agree with indydebi - one step at a time. What i do is write down all the bouquets i have to do, decide which cookies I will cut and how many of each, then start cutting and baking. ( count out how many of each cookie you have decided on, as well as a couple of extra - just in case of errors.. ha ha)
Clean up and then organize all the cookies - how I do it - is go by colors first, all cookies with the same colors get done, then on to the next colors, let dry.. then i put all the cookies for each bouquet on to those silver serving platters, with the name of each bouquet and the name of the clients so there won't be any mix ups... did that once, won't do it again.Then "build" each bouquet, wrap and put the clients name on with a sticky note. again so there are no mix ups.
I have my list posted on the fridge and cross off each step as I go, as well it's handy to have in case you need a reminder.. such is the case when you have alot of orders to do.
HTH..
You have to check your area, is there anyone else selling them, are you in a big city, little town.. all these things come into play.
Check your local bakeries and even some in the largest town closest to you and see if they sell them and what they charge.
Mine sell from $10.99 up to 89.99 (CAD) it all depends on how many cookies, detail on cookie, container etc.
HTH
I agree with indydebi - one step at a time. What i do is write down all the bouquets i have to do, decide which cookies I will cut and how many of each, then start cutting and baking. ( count out how many of each cookie you have decided on, as well as a couple of extra - just in case of errors.. ha ha)
Clean up and then organize all the cookies - how I do it - is go by colors first, all cookies with the same colors get done, then on to the next colors, let dry.. then i put all the cookies for each bouquet on to those silver serving platters, with the name of each bouquet and the name of the clients so there won't be any mix ups... did that once, won't do it again.Then "build" each bouquet, wrap and put the clients name on with a sticky note. again so there are no mix ups.
I have my list posted on the fridge and cross off each step as I go, as well it's handy to have in case you need a reminder.. such is the case when you have alot of orders to do.
Ditto...this is exactly what I do....way back when all I did were cookie bouquets, I would decide what cutters were going in what bouquet, then I would trace around the cutter on paper (arranging them on the paper as they would appear in the bouquet), and I used colored pencils to color them in, etc....so when I was ready to bake I could pull out my cheat sheet to help! However, that is when I had A LOT more time on my hands!
HTH..
I am glad this topic came up. I just got done fighting with my cookie bouquet for about 30 minutes, trying to keep them from twisting, turning and leaning backward! 
My cookies are about 1/2 inch thick and I used the 18" lollipop sticks (although they are not as thick as the cookie sticks), so it made the cookies lean towards the back. 
Is there any way to make them stand up straight without leaning backwards?
Bouncin4Bonjovi
That's happened to me as well, the only thing I can tell you is to cut down the size of the stick.. I know that worked for me, but if the lollipop stick is thin and the cookie is thick as you mentioned, then the stick might not be strong enough to hold up the cookie at that height.
HTH
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