Frequently Asked Questions

A Cottage Home Baker is someone who sells goods prepared and packaged in his/her home kitchen. Our homes/kitchens are not inspected by the local health department,
but we are required to have a current Food Handler’s Certificate. Each state has its own cottage food requirements. In Texas it is the Texas Cottage Food Law. This Law tells us what we are allowed to sell, where/how we can sell, how products are to be packaged and labeled, etc. For more information, please go to Home – Texas Cottage Food Law.

I’m based in southwest Arlington, TX, working from my home kitchen as a Cottage Baker—so I don’t have a storefront. However, I love connecting with the community and regularly attend local events where you can enjoy my freshly baked treats!

You can place an order through our website at www.BigMommasSweetShoppe.com/order-online or contacting me at Jenny@BigMommasSweetShoppe.com or 817-999-8360. We are often out and about in the community. You can also order from us at an event. To see where we will be and when please go to www.BigMommasSweetShoppe.com/upcoming-events. We also have Facebook and Instagram pages, which I encourage you to like and follow!

We serve Tarrant and surrounding counties.

Yes, we accept custom and special orders. To place a custom or special order you will need to contact me at Jenny@BigMommasSweetShoppe.com or 817-999-8360 so we can discuss exactly what you are wanting. If we feel that we cannot do justice to your request we will let you know that. We are willing to try almost anything so if there is something that you want but don’t see on the website, please reach out to us.

Products are baked as close to the date of need as possible. For community events, that is usually 2-3 days before the event. Products are stored in the refrigerator until the day of the event. Custom or special orders, depending on the size, are baked 1-2 days prior to requested date. If they are baked in advance they are stored in the refrigerator until pick-
up/delivery. We also put a “baked on” sticker on each item with the date that it was baked, and we include a business card with “Product Care Instructions” which explains how to store your products for maximum freshness and enjoyment. We typically do not keep products on hand or have an inventory.

Depending on environmental temperature and storage your baked goods should stay fresh for 3-5 days after purchase. Since our products are homemade from scratch the only preservatives are what are in the raw ingredients (i.e. flour, sugar, butter, etc.). We do not
add any additional preservatives, so our products have a shorter shelf life than things you buy in a grocery store. All our products have a “Baked on” sticker on the packaging with the date the product was baked, and we include a “Product Care Instructions” business card outlining how to store your product for maximum freshness and enjoyment. We typically do not keep products on hand or have an inventory.

We use fresh ingredients from local grocery stores and warehouse clubs. We pay close attention to freshness dates and rotate our stock following a “first in, first out” procedure.

Yes, we currently have a small gluten-free line. We use either King Arthur 1-to-1 Measure Gluten Free Flour, or Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free flour. Coming in 2025 we will be working on some sugar free recipes using monk fruit. We are happy to try just about anything so if you have special needs or requests, please reach out and we will discuss the options.

Our website and online ordering are available 24/7 (exceptions are website maintenance or power/internet issues). As far as the bakery working hours, we are typically open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Community events are typically on Saturdays. However, we can adjust our hours if needed for a pick-up or delivery, with prior discussion and mutual agreement.

We ask that cancellations be made NO LESS than 3 days prior to an order’s pick up/delivery date. Since we bake as close to the date requested as possible for maximum freshness, we request that you cancel your order far enough in advance that we don’t have your order baked yet. For large or custom orders, we may need 5 days’ notice of cancellation. Special or custom orders require a 50% deposit which is non-refundable, even if you cancel.

Products for community events and local pick- up/delivery are typically packaged in covered aluminum pans, plastic clamshell containers or heat-sealed bags. Cakes and pies are packaged in boxes. For shipping products are wrapped in plastic wrap or heat-sealed bags and secured in boxes that do not allow for shifting. These boxes may be packed inside a larger box that also does not allow for shifting during shipping. Cakes may be shipped frozen to prolong freshness and stability. Outer boxes will be appropriately labeled as “fragile” and “top,” etc. The shipping company selected will be the most expedient and financially feasible possible. The buyer is responsible for any and all additional fees incurred for shipping, including extra boxes and packing materials, and shipping costs.

The more notice you can give us for an order the better. However, we recommend at least 2 weeks’ notice for special, custom or large orders and at least 3 days’ notice for regular menu items. Please keep in mind that we may be baking for a community event or other special orders, so we need to be able to schedule your baking in and around the other baking we are doing. We typically do not keep products on hand or have an inventory.