Sunflower Bakery is great for this. and it is a good deed that pays forward locally. we've been happy with custom cookies and cakes in the past. please check them out!

https://www.sunflowerbakery.org/

I think the kids would probably be just as happy with a mini pack of oreos

Do you want them to look cute or do you want them to also taste good? I am asking because I have had quite a few local cookie makers decorated cookies over the past couple years and they look great but taste truly awful.

A couple reasons - the dough and or the baked cookies are made ahead of time and frozen and then thawed. If the cookies are iced and packaged often days in advance and the icing has been made in advance, when a baker uses cheaper ingredients especially the extract will develop and off taste. Result is cookies are flavorless and hard and the frosting has an off taste. Also ask if they use almond extract. Many do and the smell of cheap almond extract that is hard to miss and will no doubt concern a mom with an allergy kid.

We used to always do decorated cookies as favors but after the last couple of times have given up. Even some of the kids would take a couple of bites and we would find them discarded and some kids didn’t even want to take them home. And there is nothing worse than trying one of these cookies that you have paid a fortune for and realizing they are awful.

Stick with a baker who has been baking for many years and bakes other products as well. Skip royal icing if possible and ask if they can do a crusting butter cream or a butter cream glaze that will harden- much better flavor. You can’t get as intricate of designs but really the kids don’t care as much about the designs as you do.

Anonymous wrote:The Occasional Cookie

She's in Ashburn, and she does gorgeous work.

https://www.facebook.com/ashburncookie/

The Occasional Cookie

She's in Ashburn, and she does gorgeous work.

Sweet Little Hobby:

https://instagram.com/sweetlittlehobby?utm_medium=copy_link

She’s in Chantilly

One Creative Cookie. She's in Charlottesville, but ships. I can verify that they are as delicious as they are beautiful. Will work with you one on one to create your design. She's amazing.

Try Cake by Kika on Instagram, she does a lot of custom stuff.

My other thought is Pastries by Randolph, everythibg they have is delicious

Hi My client owns and does the work herself. On instagram she is Candyfairydesigns. Take a look at her fantastic gorgeous custom cookies, etc. Her work as you will see is fabulous. Marissa Baer. She lives in Bethesda. Her number is 240-305-3344. Tell her Cynthia and Charles Wilson sent you. Stunning designs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try Etsy.

I did and they are MUCH more expensive than local companies I've found.

But the local companies you've found are blowing you off

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try Etsy.

I did and they are MUCH more expensive than local companies I've found.

Custom cookies are a lot of work and going to be expensive, plus lead times.

How about pretzels?
https://www.thepretzelbakery.com/

I really like Federalist Bakers. In DC, not NOVA though. She has an Instagram page with photos of all her creations.

Anonymous wrote:Try Etsy.

I did and they are MUCH more expensive than local companies I've found.

Try Etsy.

I'm looking for recommendations for custom cookie companies (bonus if they are in NOVA) to make individually wrapped custom sugar cookies for my son to give out in class for his birthday at school. I've tried to reach out to 3 companies but no one is responding. Thanks for any suggestions.