Cottage Baking Booms in Omaha Metro

Neighbors turn passion for baking into thriving home-based businesses

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:49pm

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Omaha metro residents are increasingly turning their love of baking into successful home-based cottage food businesses, with Nebraska's cottage bakery industry bringing in over $1 million in revenue in 2023. A 2019 law change expanded cottage food laws, allowing direct home sales, porch pickups, and online orders within the state. Two local bakers, Whitney Draheim and Jackie Coffey, have started their own cottage bakeries, citing supplemental income and the ability to pursue their passion as key drivers.

Why it matters

The rise of cottage baking in the Omaha metro highlights how changes in regulations can empower residents to turn hobbies into small businesses, providing supplemental income and allowing them to share their culinary talents with the community. It also showcases the growing consumer demand for locally-produced, homemade goods.

The details

Whitney Draheim started her cottage bakery, Crave the Crumb, last month, driven by her lifelong passion for food and baking. Jackie Coffey launched her cottage bakery, Jackie's Cinnfully Delicious Desserts, in 2024, finding that the supplemental income has helped her family take vacations and create memories. Both bakers utilize social media and local farmers markets to reach new customers.

  • Nebraska's cottage food laws were expanded in 2019 to allow direct home sales, porch pickups, and online orders within state lines.
  • The University of Nebraska Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources found that the cottage bakery industry brought in over $1 million in revenue in 2023.

The players

Whitney Draheim

A stay-at-home mom who started her own cottage bakery, Crave the Crumb, last month.

Jackie Coffey

Started her cottage bakery, Jackie's Cinnfully Delicious Desserts, in 2024.

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What they’re saying

“My passion has always been in food and the joy that I can bring to others with my baking and cooking ability. And so it just naturally made sense.”

— Whitney Draheim, Cottage Baker

“It keeps us afloat. We're able to take vacations and it's helping us make memories with our child.”

— Jackie Coffey, Cottage Baker

“So social media has been like the main source because without that, I'm not able to do anything.”

— Jackie Coffey, Cottage Baker

“It really goes to show how much you don't really know your neighbors until you bring them a loaf of bread and say, hey, look what I made you.”

— Whitney Draheim, Cottage Baker

What’s next

As the cottage food industry continues to grow in Nebraska, regulators and policymakers may consider further expanding laws to support these small, home-based businesses.

The takeaway

The rise of cottage baking in Omaha highlights how changes in regulations can empower residents to turn hobbies into small businesses, providing supplemental income and allowing them to share their culinary talents with the community. It also showcases the growing consumer demand for locally-produced, homemade goods.