There was a time when I thought custom orders were the dream. I loved getting texts from friends asking for birthday cookies or bridal shower sets. I loved the excitement on pickup day. And for a while, it was working.

But a few years ago, everything changed—and I’m so glad it did.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the constant back-and-forth of custom orders, exhausted from late nights, and wondering how this turned into more stress than joy… you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. And walking away from custom orders was the best decision I’ve ever made for my cookie business.

Here’s what happened, why I made the shift, and what I’m doing instead that’s brought me more freedom, more profit, and a whole lot less stress.

The Breaking Point

It was Christmas. My countertops were covered in cookies, my inbox was packed with last-minute questions, and my brain couldn’t stop spinning. I was thinking about designs, color palettes, order notes, pickup times, and packaging deadlines even in my sleep.

I had zero time for my family, and was constantly stressed and creatively drained. Worst of all? I knew I couldn’t take on another order, but I also couldn’t scale what I was doing. I was completely maxed out.

That’s when I realized something had to change.

Why I Quit Custom Orders

Here are the three biggest reasons I finally stopped saying yes to custom cookies:

1. The Time Drain

Custom orders took so much time. Between the emails, design planning, baking, decorating, packaging, and photography. It was a full-time job for every single order. And because no two orders were the same, I couldn’t streamline any of it. It was all one-off, all the time.

2. Creative Burnout

I thought customs would keep me inspired, but I actually started to feel creatively stuck. Instead of designing what I loved, I was decorating what my customers asked for. Over time, that wore me down. I felt like I had no creative voice left.

3. It Wasn’t Scalable

Even with a full calendar, I was hitting a ceiling. More orders just meant more hours in the kitchen not more income or freedom. That was not the future I wanted for my business.

What I Do Instead

Once I made the decision to quit custom orders, everything shifted. I opened the door to a new business model—and my cookie business became fun again.

Here’s what I replaced custom orders with:

✨ Teaching Cookie Classes

Instead of working one-on-one, I started teaching cookie decorating classes. I got to share my passion, connect with students, and still create beautiful cookies without the chaos of one-off orders.

🎁 DIY Cookie Kits

These have been a hit with families! I create fun, themed kits around holidays or special events, package everything up, and let customers do the decorating. It’s a win-win for creativity and convenience.

🗓️ Holiday Pre-Sales

I run pre-orders for holidays like Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Back to School. I get to choose the designs, set the schedule, and cap how many I want to take on. No more custom chaos just streamlined sales with repeat customers.

This model gave me my evenings back. It gave me room to plan ahead. And it made my business so much more profitable without burnout.

If custom orders are draining you dry, I want you to know: you don’t have to do it that way forever. There’s another path forward. And it might just be the one that brings your joy (and your profit margins) back.

Want to try something new in your cookie biz?

Grab my free How to Teach a Cookie Class workshop—it’s the exact first step I took when I stopped doing customs. Inside, you’ll learn how to get started, what tools you need, and why classes can be the most rewarding offer you add to your business.

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