Christmas cookie trays in Michigan: how to order from home bakers (2026)
Order Christmas cookie trays from Michigan home bakers: when to book for 2026, what they can legally make, what to ask, and how many dozen to get for a party.
By the Ajinto teamUpdated 7 min read
The short answer
- Holiday cookie orders peak from late November to mid-December; order by mid-November for 2026 (Thanksgiving is November 26).
- Michigan home bakers can make decorated sugar cookies, shortbread, gingerbread, jam thumbprints, fudge and candy.
- They can't sell cream cheese frosting, cheesecake bites, liqueur candy or anything needing refrigeration, and buttercream only from two approved recipes.
- Home bakers can ship cookie trays anywhere in Michigan but not to other states.
- As a rule of thumb, plan 2 to 3 cookies per guest when cookies are one of several desserts.
To get a Christmas cookie tray from a Michigan home baker in 2026, order by mid-November. Holiday orders tend to peak between Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026) and mid-December. Home bakers can legally make decorated sugar cookies, shortbread, gingerbread, jam thumbprints, fudge and other candy, but nothing that needs refrigeration, so no cream cheese frosting or cheesecake bites.
This guide covers when to order, what to ask, how trays are usually priced, and how many cookies to get for an office party or family gathering.
When should you order Christmas cookie trays in Michigan?
Holiday cookie orders peak from late November through mid-December. Home bakers work alone or in small teams in their own kitchens, so each one can only take so many orders, and the popular weekends go first.
A practical 2026 timeline:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now through early November | Find a baker, ask about their holiday menu and when they open orders |
| By mid-November | Place your order, especially for custom-decorated cookies or dates close to Christmas |
| November 26 (Thanksgiving) | The rush starts; popular December weekends may already be full |
| Early to mid-December | Pickup and delivery for most trays; later dates fill fastest |
| After mid-December | Ask about cancellations or ready-made boxes; custom work is often closed |
Lead times vary by baker and by how custom the order is. A mixed tray of the baker's standard holiday assortment usually needs less notice than two dozen cookies hand-piped with your company logo. Ask each baker for their own cutoff date.
What can Michigan home bakers legally put on a cookie tray?
Home bakers in Michigan sell under the cottage food law, which allows only foods that are safe at room temperature. That still covers nearly every classic Christmas cookie:
- Decorated sugar cookies, with icing made entirely from shelf-stable ingredients
- Shortbread, butter cookies, spritz and snowballs
- Gingerbread and molasses cookies
- Thumbprints filled with fruit jam
- Brownies, blondies and bars
- Fudge and other candy: peppermint bark, toffee, brittle, chocolate-covered pretzels, coated nuts, hard candy
- Quick breads like pumpkin or zucchini bread (a baked quick bread is allowed; pumpkin pie is not)
What they can't include:
- Cream cheese frosting, including on cutout cookies or carrot-cake bites
- Cheesecake bites or cheesecake bars
- Anything with a cream or custard filling, or anything that needs refrigeration
- Rum balls or liqueur truffles (candy made with alcohol isn't allowed; flavor extracts like vanilla are fine)
- Buttercream, unless it's made from one of the two lab-tested recipes MDARD accepts, followed exactly
If a baker tells you they can't do cream cheese frosting or cheesecake bites, they're following the law, not being difficult. For the full list, see our guide to what Michigan cottage food makers can sell, or the Michigan cottage food law guide for the rules behind it.
What should you ask before ordering a cookie tray?
A two-minute conversation now saves a problem on December 23rd. For online orders, Michigan law requires that you get a chance to talk with the maker first, in person or on a video call, so use it.
Allergens
- Which of the major allergens are in each cookie: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame?
- Sesame is easy to miss (it shows up in some candies and toppings). Ask directly if it matters.
- For tree nuts, ask which nuts: almonds, pecans and walnuts all appear in holiday baking, and the label must name the specific nut.
- What else is baked in the same kitchen? Ask about cross-contact, not only ingredients, if someone has a serious allergy.
The order itself
- How many cookies are in each tray size, and how many varieties?
- Can you swap out a variety, for example to leave nuts off the whole tray?
- Are cookies individually wrapped or packed together?
Getting it
- Pickup, local delivery or shipping? Home bakers can ship anywhere within Michigan, but not out of state, so a tray for family in Ohio needs another plan.
- What's the pickup window, and where? Some bakers share the pickup address only after you order.
- Is there a delivery or shipping fee?
Payment
- Is a deposit required to hold your date? Is it refundable?
- What's the cancellation cutoff?
How are Christmas cookie trays usually priced?
Bakers set their own prices, and they vary a lot with the cookies and the decoration. The common structures are:
- By the dozen. A price per dozen for each cookie type, sometimes with a minimum of one or two dozen.
- By tray or box size. Small, medium and large trays with a set cookie count and the baker's assortment.
- Per piece for decorated cookies. Hand-iced sugar cookies are often priced individually because each one takes time.
- Add-ons. Custom colors, logos, names, gift boxes, ribbons or tags.
- Fees. Delivery or shipping, and sometimes a rush fee for short-notice orders.
When comparing two bakers, compare the cookie count and type, not just the tray price. A tray of 36 hand-decorated cookies and a tray of 36 drop cookies are different amounts of work.
How many cookies do you need for a party?
This is a rule of thumb, not a rule: plan on about 2 to 3 cookies per person when cookies are one of several desserts, and 3 to 4 per person when they're the main dessert.
| Guests | Cookies (2 to 3 each) | Dozens to order |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 20 to 30 | 2 to 3 |
| 20 | 40 to 60 | 4 to 5 |
| 30 | 60 to 90 | 5 to 8 |
| 50 | 100 to 150 | 9 to 13 |
| 100 | 200 to 300 | 17 to 25 |
Round up for an all-afternoon office open house where people come back for seconds. Round down if there's also a full dinner and pie. For big offices, a mix of one large assorted tray plus a few individually wrapped cookies for people who work remotely or come in later works well.
An example: a 30-person office in Lansing hosting a holiday lunch might order one large tray of about 5 dozen mixed cookies, plus a dozen individually bagged decorated cookies to hand out, and ask the baker to keep the nut cookies on a separate tray.
How should you store and gift cookie trays?
Cottage food cookies are shelf-stable by law, so they don't need refrigeration. Ask your baker how long they recommend for their cookies and whether their recipes freeze well. Keep trays covered and away from heat so iced cookies don't soften or smear.
For gifting:
- Keep the label. It lists the ingredients and allergens, which matters for whoever receives it. Every cottage food product must carry one, including the statement
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
. - Choose individual packaging for coworkers, teachers and neighbors. Wrapped cookies travel better and let people take them home.
- Plan delivery around the recipient. If the tray is for someone across the state, ask whether the baker ships within Michigan and when it will arrive.
Selling holiday cookies yourself?
Frequently asked questions
When should I order Christmas cookies from a home baker?
Order by mid-November for December dates. Holiday orders tend to peak between Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026) and mid-December, and each home baker can take only a limited number of orders.
Can a home baker make cookies with cream cheese frosting?
No. Michigan's cottage food law doesn't allow cream cheese frosting or anything else that needs refrigeration. Look for icings made entirely from shelf-stable ingredients, such as a simple powdered-sugar glaze, or a baker who uses one of the approved buttercream recipes.
Can a Michigan home baker ship a cookie tray to another state?
No. Michigan cottage food makers can ship only within Michigan. For out-of-state family, look for a baker in their state or a licensed bakery that ships.
How many cookies are in a dozen-cookie tray?
A dozen is 12, but tray sizes vary by baker. Always ask how many cookies are in each size and how many varieties are included.
Are home-baked cookies safe?
Michigan allows home bakers to sell only foods that stay safe at room temperature, and every package must list ingredients and allergens. The kitchen isn't inspected, so ask the baker about anything that matters to you, especially allergens. Our guide to what cottage food is explains how it works.
Sources
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules can change; confirm anything you're unsure about with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD-CottageFood@michigan.gov). Ajinto is not affiliated with MDARD or MSU. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at hello@ajinto.com.