LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show is a convention all about dessert and baking. They have vendors, celebrity guests, panels, competitions, and more. The event took place Feb 2-3 at the Anaheim Convention Center. We contacted a few vendors to talk to them about how they get prepare for this event.
"The Cookie Jar" , a gourmet homemade cookies shop with unique flavors, was at LA Cookie Con this year and we were able to ask them a few questions about how they get ready for LA Cookie Con.
How long does it take to get all of your products ready for LA Cookie Con?
"We need at least 5 days for actual cookie production."
How far in advance do you begin preparing?
"We got in on this kind of last minute, so we’ve been planning for the past 2 weeks!"
What is the process of making your product for a convention like LA Cookie Con?
"All of our cookies are made by hand! We don’t use mixers at all. Each batch is hand mixed, baked, bagged, and labeled same day."
We also spoke to 21 Grams Baked. They said that in order to get ready for LA Cookie Con they make cookie dough, cut out cookie with cookie cutter and then let cookie cool and dry. Then they make frosting and then add sprinkles before frosting dries.
They said that their products take approximately 6 days to make and decorate and they start buying products and prepping approximately 3 weeks to a month before an event.
We also spoke to Puffet Bakery Cafe, a bakery in California with cupcakes, macarons, and more, and asked them about how they get ready for an event such as LA Cookie Con.
"It takes me a week to prep all my baked treats for cookie con. And it takes me a couple weeks to design other non edible items that I'll be bringing to the show."
"French macarons take quite the process so after making the batter I pipe them into circles or characters, bake them and fill them with the fillings I make from scratch."
"After that I need to pack each macaron into their containers ready for the show. The sugar cookies are baked from scratch and piped on with royal icing. Each then boxed and finished off with ribbons."
We also spoke to Mama Taylor's Treats (an online fudge shop) about how they get ready for LA Cookie Con.
"I start shopping about 6 weeks before a huge event like LA Cookie Con, preparing and purchasing all of my supplies. Often, I buy everything each store has and have to go back later when they restock or go to another store to purchase what I need. Some items must be purchased online as well (mostly flavorings) so I need to make sure I order those sooner as it might take a week or so to arrive. I then just buy what I need throughout the baking process while preparing my products for the event."
"My process is pretty organized. Since I only have a few hours each day to prepare, I have to be efficient. I usually start with a list of what I want to sell, what supplies I need, and the order in which I will prepare each item."
"All of my fudge lasts 6 weeks in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer, but I want to make sure I have fresh items to sell. I make fudge on day one, then by day two and beyond, I have to start cutting, weighing and packaging my fudge in addition to making more fudge. I usually alternate (make fudge, cut and package fudge, repeat). I have a “fudge fridge” but for this type of event I have to have additional fridge space to hold of my product - so I send it offsite for storing."
We spoke to Crum Cakes and Cookies, a bakery based in Shoreline, Washington, about how they get ready for LA Cookie Con and other events.
"I started preparing in December. I started with sketches of the cookies I wanted to do. I also booked travel and lodging. Then I ordered the cookie cutters that corresponded."
"It took about two weeks to make all the dough, cut and bake the cookies, then decorate them. Once they are decorated they each get heat sealed in bags to stay fresh. I'm hoping that I made enough cookies for the event!"
"I have been working 10-14 hours a day to prepare. It's just me and my two part time employees."
Finally, we spoke to Suda Chips Cookies ( a cookie catering company).
"It took 6 months of preparation for LA Cookie Con. Buying ingredients, packaging, lodging, commercial kitchen etc....."
"We began prepping ingredients for our cookies a week prior to the event, placing ingredients inside a commercial kitchen."
"We’re making 2,200 cookie boxes which equals to 6,600 Freshly Baked Cookies
to make our $5 boxes.
Procedure: Opening the boxes Labeling The boxes Placing cookies in box with parchment paper sheets
It was wonderful to talk to all of these vendors and get a behind the scenes look into how much work and preparation goes into getting ready for these kind of fun events.
Next year's LA Cookie Con dates are yet to be announced.
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