These cookies are my absolute go to. They taste great, they're super affordable and they very much still give the homemade cookie feel. I order them directly through the bakery usually 48 hours before I need them. I would recommend building a relationship with the bakery manager......after I did that now I simply send a text message with what I need and they respond with when I can pick up.
It's so simple. And it's one of the main reasons these cookies are my main ones!
I started out ordering my double chocolate cookies on Amazon and then I switched over to ordering through Sysco once my quantities increased enough. These cookies also have the PERFECT texture for an ice cream sandwich.
You can also sometimes find them at Sam's Club!
Same deal as the Chocolate Brownie cookies....I would start out ordering them off of Amazon until you build momentum with them!
You will most likely need to get these cookies through a food service distributer....but the price is unbeatable!
ICE CREAM RECOMMENDATIONS
Starting by making your own ice cream is not always the best way to go simply because it is expensive. The machines are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain. I was in business for 4 years before I invested into ice cream manufacturing equipment and sometimes still to this day I regret it. But lucky for us...we have plenty of other options when it comes to ice cream!
OPTION 1 -- You can buy 3 gallon tubs from a large scale manufacturer such as Hershey's Ice Cream, Blue Bunny, Turkey Hill, etc. This will most definitely give you the best bang for you buck. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Hershey's Ice Cream as they are the perfect mix of large enough to hopefully deliver to your location but not quite as big as Blue Bunny & Turkey Hill. Another high quality option would be Chocolate Shoppe.
You should get about 90 scoops of ice cream per 3 gallon tub. This should equate to about 80-90 ice cream sandwiches. My scoops of ice cream in the sandwich are around 3 ounces.
OPTION 2 -- Find a local ice cream shop that wholesales 3 gallon tubs. This will be a bit more expensive than buying from a large scale manufacturer. This is where I started and it turned out to be a great partnership. We promoted each other and worked together to grow. Posted things together on social media and became great friends. Their ice cream was very well known in the community and people LOVED that it was incorporated in my ice cream sandwiches. So it was a win win for both of us! I still get people ask today when we're bringing back the 'Honey Graham Ice Cream Sandwich'.....honey graham was their most popular flavor. Anyone in the Maryland area.....check out Taharka Brothers Ice Cream.
OPTION 3 -- Try gelato! Gelato has a bit of different texture than American ice cream. It's smoother and creamier so it has a more intense flavor....but it also a bit easier to scoop! Fun fact: my sammies are actually made with gelato. FIND GELATO HERE. It is definitely a little bit pricier, but it is more of a premium product and works great with the sandwiches. You can also look into a local gelato shop to wholesale from (it's just a bit harder to come by than ice cream).
PRO TIP: Shipping the GS Gelato is not cheap....your best bet for the getting GS Gelato is going to be through a food service provider (Sysco, US Foods, etc).
Gelato is sold in 5 liter pans. You should get around 25-30 scoops for 5 liter pan of gelato.
SUPPLIES FOR ICE CREAM SANDWICH PRODUCTION
ICE CREAM SCOOP -- I like to use the metal scoops. The ones with the 'release button' seem to break pretty quickly for me.
ICE CREAM SANDWICH BAGS -- you can use a heat sealable bag if you choose, but you need to be super quick when packaging (so product doesn't melt) and it has never been worth it for me. These bags are rolled over a few times and sealed with a label which works great and does not at all effect the quality of the product. 10/10 recommend.....your friendly reminder to keep yourself a bit reeled in with the packaging. People are opening & tossing it immediately. The important pieces to the puzzle are COST & FUNCTIONALITY.
STORAGE BOXES FOR SANDWICHES & PUSH POPS(will fit 40 ice cream sandwiches & 50 push pops)
Friendly reminder that it would mean the world to me to hear your feedback about how you're liking BBU so far.