California Cottage Food Frosting Rules
Cream Cheese Frosting:Not Allowed
Cream Cheese Frosting
Not Allowed
Annual Limit
$75,000/year
Online Orders
Allowed
California's approved food list explicitly permits buttercream frosting only if it does not contain cream or cream cheese. Cream cheese frosting is not allowed under the cottage food program.
You can:
- ✓Use traditional buttercream (butter + powdered sugar) as a shelf-stable alternative
- ✓Use royal icing, room-temperature ganache, or fondant
- ✓Sell unfrosted baked goods under California's cottage food exemption
You cannot:
- ✗Use cream cheese, mascarpone, or whipped cream frostings on cottage food products
- ✗Sell any products that require refrigeration under the cottage food exemption
Sell your California baked goods with compliant labeling.
endvr's label maker helps you create California-compliant labels for all your cottage food products.
