How I Turned My Love for Sugar Cookies Into a Home Cookie Decorating Business (And How You Can Too!)
- Sarah Roberts
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
If you're amazing at making beautiful sugar cookies, you might be wondering:"Can I really turn this into a business?"
I remember feeling the exact same way when I first started my home-based cookie business five years ago. The truth is, cookie decorating can be a wonderful way to bring in extra income — all from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Hi there! I’m Sarah Roberts, founder of Sarah Grace Cookie Co. I got my start baking and decorating custom cookies for people in our local community. Eventually, that passion grew into a YouTube channel where I now teach others how to create beautiful cookies and turn that talent into a profitable business.
Today, I want to share a few things I learned from my journey — and help you see that starting a cookie decorating business can be totally doable, even if you’re starting from scratch.
The Blessing of Flexibility with a Cookie Decorating Business
One of the biggest blessings of running a cookie business from home was the flexibility. I could take on as many or as few orders as I wanted, depending on our family’s schedule. Some weeks, when we needed a little extra income (like when we were trying to pay off our car !), I could pick up a few extra orders. Other weeks, if life got busy with doctor’s appointments or birthday parties, I could scale back.
This ability to adjust my workload while still contributing financially was life-changing for our family — and it’s why I’m so passionate about helping others start their own home-based cookie businesses.
Three Ways I Monetized My Cookie Decorating Skills
When I first started out, there were three main ways I earned money with cookie decorating:
1. Custom Cookie Orders
Custom orders were the foundation of my business. People found me through social media or word of mouth, and ordered cookies for birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, and more.
I usually limited custom orders to around four dozen cookies per week — just enough to stay organized and avoid getting overwhelmed, especially with my twin toddlers running around! You can adjust your capacity based on what works for your lifestyle.
2. Holiday and Pre-Order Sales
People love themed cookies for every holiday — Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, Back to School, you name it!I hosted porch pop-ups where I’d sell holiday-themed cookie sets, and I also offered pre-orders where customers could reserve their cookies ahead of time.
One of my most successful sales ever combined the two: I took Mother's Day pre-orders and also hosted a porch pop-up for day-of purchases. It was so much fun — and incredibly profitable!
3. Cookie Decorating Classes
Teaching cookie decorating classes quickly became one of my favorite ways to earn income.I rented cozy Airbnbs, partnered with local businesses, and even hosted classes right in my own home.
Not only are classes a great way to make money, but they also help you build your customer base. Students often become future custom order clients or loyal holiday sale shoppers!
How to Get Started with Your Own Cookie Business
If you're ready to turn your cookie hobby into a business, here’s a simple starting guide:
Check Your Local Cottage Food Laws Every state has different regulations for selling homemade baked goods. A quick Google search (like “Texas Cottage Food Law” or “California Cottage Food Law”) should point you in the right direction. If not, call your local health department — they’ll know!
Start Building Your Customer Connections Social media is your best friend when it comes to getting the word out. Share photos of your cookies, talk about upcoming sales, and engage with your community online.
Organize Your Systems Early Trust me, having an order-taking process in place will save you from stress. I’ve definitely been there — scrambling to bake cookies I forgot were ordered! I teach these systems step-by-step inside my Cookie Career Academy course if you want a shortcut to getting organized fast.
Need a Little More Help?
If you're feeling unsure — like maybe your cookie skills aren't good enough yet, or you're worried about what friends and family might think — you are not alone. I felt all those same things when I started.
That’s why I created a FREE webinar where I'll walk you through the exact steps to start your cookie business, build your confidence, and begin earning real income from your cookie decorating skills.
I’ll help you move past the fears and get you excited about what's possible.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. If you have any questions about starting your cookie business, drop them in the comments below — I’d love to help!
And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more tips, tutorials, and encouragement on your cookie journey!
Until next time,Sarah 🤍
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