Bakery
How to label cheesecake to sell
Honest answer first: cheesecake requires refrigeration, and most cottage food laws do not allow it, so the real first step is checking your state, then looking at licensed-kitchen routes. The label guidance below applies to sellers working under a license.
What cheesecake labels get wrong
- Cheesecake is a refrigeration-required (TCS) food, and most cottage food laws exclude it. Verify with your state, and expect the answer to be no for home-kitchen sale.
- The usual legal route is a licensed or commissary kitchen, or a state home-processor permit where one exists; the labeling rules here apply to those licensed sellers.
- Dairy stacks up fast: cream cheese, sour cream, and butter all declare as milk, eggs as egg, and a graham cracker crust adds wheat.
- Refrigerated products typically need a handling statement such as “Keep Refrigerated” alongside the standard label elements.
Serving size
Cheesecake uses a 125 g RACC, about 1 slice. See the RACC lookup for how the FDA sets serving sizes.
Make your cheesecake label
The free cottage label maker builds the ingredient statement (auto-ordered by weight), detects the Big-9 allergens, including the ones hiding in sub-ingredients, and adds your state's required home-kitchen disclosure. Scaling into retail? The nutrition label maker computes the FDA panel from the same recipe for $9.
Cheesecake labeling FAQ
Do I need a nutrition label to sell cheesecake?
The label is usually the second question; the first is whether you can sell cheesecake at all, since most cottage laws exclude refrigerated foods. Sellers working from a licensed kitchen typically need ingredients, allergens, and net weight at small direct-sale scale, and a full Nutrition Facts panel once they wholesale or make nutrient claims.
Is cheesecake legal to sell under cottage food law?
In most states, no: cheesecake requires refrigeration, and cottage laws typically cover only shelf-stable foods. The usual paths are renting a licensed or commissary kitchen, or using a state home-processor permit where one exists. Verify with your state before taking orders.
More product labeling guides
- Banana Bread
- Cookies
- Sourdough Bread
- Jam & Preserves
- Salsa
- Granola
- Brownies
- Hot Sauce
- Muffins
- Cupcakes
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Scones
- Pies
- Granola Bars
- Fudge
- Caramels
- Hard Candy
- Chocolate Bark
- Candied Nuts
- Popcorn
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Spice Blends
- BBQ Sauce
- Pickles
- Trail Mix
- State label rules →
Verify before selling
Product rules vary by state (especially for cheesecake) and change over time. Confirm with your state's program and official sources. Panelry is not affiliated with any government agency and does not provide legal advice. See our disclaimer.