What you need for a cookie sale

A cookie sale needs more than flour, sugar, and a few recipes. Plan for baking, cooling, decorating, packing, labeling, displaying, and taking payments. The quantities depend on your expected customer count and whether you accept pre-orders, but your shopping list should cover both the cookies and the sales setup. Check dietary requirements and recipe allergens before buying ingredients, then leave time to package everything without rushing.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 4

Sales materials

Presentation sheetsqty 8
Cake standsqty 4
Serving tongsqty 4
Price sign holdersqty 6
Cash drawer
Calculator
Coupon bookletqty 2
Stock cratesqty 6

Kitchen

Mixing bowlsqty 6
Hand mixersqty 2
Baking traysqty 8
Cooling racksqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 4
Kitchen scalesqty 2
Cookie cuttersqty 8
Oven mittsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 60
Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable spoonsqty 60

Decorations

Buntingqty 4
Menu boardsqty 2
Chalkboardsqty 2

Equipment

Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 2
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 12
Broom and dustpan

Catering

Groceries
- Wheat flour - 12 kg
- Granulated sugar - 5 kg
- Powdered sugar - 2 kg
- Unsalted butter - 4 kg
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Baking powder - 6 sachets
- Vanilla sugar - 12 bags
- Vanilla extract - 2 bottles
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Cocoa powder - 1 kg
- Dark chocolate - 2 kg
- Milk chocolate - 2 kg
- White chocolate - 1 kg
- Oats - 2 kg
- Raisins - 1 kg
- Shredded coconut - 500 g
- Almonds - 500 g
- Gluten-free flour - 2 kg
- Vegan margarine - 1 kg
- Chocolate chips - 1 kg
- Disco dip - 500 g
- Edible coloring - 4 tubes
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar sticks - 200 pieces
- Still water - 4 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper cookie bags - 300 pieces
- Sticker labels - 400 pieces
- Disposable gloves - 2 boxes
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls

Tips

Plan for 10–15% more cookies than your confirmed pre-orders and expected sales estimate. This covers broken cookies, samples, and late buyers without leaving the display empty.
Buy packaging before the first baking session, not after. Count one package and label per order, plus 10% extra bags or boxes for walk-up purchases and replacements.
Allow at least 30 minutes for cookies to cool completely before decorating or packing. Warm cookies can soften icing, damage labels, and make sealed packages look untidy.
Prepare small change for the cash drawer and bring a calculator even if you expect mostly card or exact-cash payments. A simple price sign and visible menu board reduce repeated questions at the stall.
Check the venue setup before shopping for equipment. Confirm the number of tables, access to power, and available cleanup facilities so you know whether to bring extension cords, power strips, buckets, and cloths.

Frequently asked questions

How many cookies do I need for a cookie sale?: Start with the number of confirmed pre-orders, then add 10–15% for walk-up sales, samples, and damaged cookies. If you do not have pre-orders, estimate 3–5 cookies per expected customer and adjust for the event length.
How much packaging do I need for a cookie sale?: Prepare one bag or box for every planned package, plus at least 10% extra. Add separate labels for each package and keep a few unfilled packages at the stall for last-minute purchases.
When should I bake cookies for a sale?: Bake the first batch 1–2 days before the sale when the recipe allows it, and finish the remaining batch no later than the day before. Cool cookies completely before decorating, packing, and labeling them.
What should I bring to a cookie sale stall?: Bring display surfaces, serving tongs, price signs, a cash drawer, calculator, stock crates, and the packed cookies. For a typical table setup, also allow 30–45 minutes before opening to arrange tables, chairs, decorations, inventory, and pre-orders.

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