Should I Sell My Cookie Recipe? Good Questions

Q: A pastry chef at a popular French bistro tried one of my home-baked cookies and offered to buy the recipe from me. I am willing to sell it to her, but I have no idea what a reasonable price would be. What does it mean to me if I sell my recipe? Can I not bake it anymore, ever?

I assume that I can't sell it for commercial purposes. Does that include bake sales for schools and churches?

Sent by Mary

Editor: Mary, if you decide to sell the cookie recipe, you can still bake the cookies and even sell them at bake sales. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, the explanation of steps accompanying a recipe is protected under copyright law, but the list of ingredients for a recipe cannot be copyrighted, so no one "owns" that particular combination of ingredients. As for what you should charge, hopefully our readers will have some experience or good advice.

Readers, do you have any advice for selling a recipe? What is a reasonable price to charge for a cookie recipe?

Next question?

Related: Do You Have Any Secret Recipes?

(Image: Megan Gordon)

---

espresso chocolate chip shortbread cookie recipe use real butter Recipe: espresso chocolate chip shortbread What new views through the lens? I went leaf hunting today and found... tall trees leftover snow on Cooking tips-Food trivia questions answered Posted September 24, 2012 10:03 am in: beer. hey people i just have a couple of questions about Noni juice:1.what does Noni cure? i know a guy his legs hurt all ... My much discussed Levain Bakery copycat cookie recipes Parsley ... My much discussed Levain Bakery copycat cookie recipes May 28, 2008 at 3:04 pm Posted in Cookies, Dessert 305 Comments Tags: baking, Chocolate Chip ... Unauthorized Girl Scout Cookie Recipes - Instructables - Make, How ... Now you can make Girl Scout Cookies at home without worrying about food allergies or yucky ingredients! Simply adjust the basic recipes provided to s... My Marshmallow Fondant Recipe The Sugar Lane Here is my Marshmallow Fondant Recipe (Let me tell ya, its very tasty) This recipe should yield approx. 3lbs 1 bag of small white marshmallows (the bag is equal ... Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Recipe Simply Recipes Old fashioned oatmeal raisin cookies, with rolled oats and plenty of raisins. Cupcake Boxes and Pineapple Tarts: Piped Butter Cookies Recipe Oi Lin Singapore I run Boostprints Educational, a cookbook publishing and cupcake box design business. I opened my bakery (AsianBakes) a few years ago ... Quest for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie - NYTimes.com The recipe for the consummate chocolate chip cookie builds on decades of acquired knowledge, experience and secrets. Peanut Butter Cookies - Recipe File - Cooking For Engineers Four months ago, I tested a new (to me) recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies and found them to be cakey, bland, and not well received by my coworkers. Sparkling Ginger Chip Cookies Recipe - 101 Cookbooks I made these for Lottie & Doof's 12 DAYS OF COOKIES. They are tiny, bite-sized holiday cookies made with two kinds of ginger and lots of shaved chocolate. The ...