06/15/2026
Shoutout to Eau Claire County for sharing these FAQ about Cottage Food Laws, and Chippewa County for highlighting an important reminder for licenced food establishments.
As a licenced bakery, to keep things safe and official, we can only sell products sourced from another licenced facility.
We appreciate our local health departments keeping us all informed when there is so much misinformation online (each state has different cottage food rules). Always reach out to the Heath Department.
Pro Tip.... Don't trust AI for Rules, Regulations, or Recipes
We have recently received many questions about the Cottage Baker Law. Shelf-stable treats like breads (yes, even sourdough), cookies, muffins, and jams/jellies get the green light under the law. Now, onto some FAQs:
β’What products are NOT allowed? Cheesecakes, tarts, dairy-based pies, and anything with cream cheese frostings, buttercream frosting**, cream filling, or custard β- if it needs to be refrigerated, you canβt sell it.
**Note about buttercream frosting. There are some butter cream frostings that are shelf stable- this would include substituting items like vegetable shortening or butter extract. Buttercream frostings need to be made with shelf stable ingredients, no dairy & no eggs.
β’ Can I make products with buttermilk, lard, butter, fresh or freeze-dried fruit? Yes, if they are baked.
β’ Can I make caramels? Unfortunately, they arenβt allowed.
β’ Can I sell it online? Yes, you can sell it online. If you choose to wholesale, youβll need a license and commercial kitchen.
β’ Do I need to label my products? Yes, products must be prepackaged and labeled with specific information.
β’ How do I know if my recipe is ok to use under the Cottage Baker Law? Foods must be non- potentially hazardous-- meaning the food would have to have a water activity level of 0.85 or less or a PH value of 4.6 or less. If you are unsure that your recipe meets requirements, you can submit a sample of the recipe to a certified lab to have it tested.
Have more questions? Give us a call!