Back to School with Bake Sale Tidbits

Now that school has started, pencils are being sharpened and administrative budgets are being crunched more than ever. Creative fundraising is on everyone's mind, and bake sales are always a hit with adults and kids alike. So, I thought it would be worth reviewing some basics and launching the discussion. 

Admittedly, I haven’t spearheaded many bake sales over the years, but I have contributed cookies and am always looking for sturdy portable kid-friendly treats.  Here are some of my tips for baking popular bake sale goodies:

• Use your tried and true recipes, and whenever possible include brain-friendly ingredients, such as apples, wheat germ, and oatmeal.
• Select recipes that use affordable ingredients. There's no need for expensive chocolate!
• Try to find recipes that use  basic sensible pans,  such as a 9- by 13-pan or an 8-inch square.
• Avoid allergens such as peanuts.
• Target sturdy bars, cookies, and muffins instead of dainty pastries that will sag under pressure.
• Once baked, post a FHB (Family Hold Back) sign. Otherwise you risk losing the product and profit.
• Check out the Bake Sale Sensations section of Hershey’s website.

Have you hosted a Bake Sale and what sold best?

Photo by Melissa A. Trainer

--Melissa A. Trainer

Comments

[Tracy Schneider on September 15, 2009 at 10:39 PM]

I'm looking at a year full of bake sales too, Melissa. I'm a fan of chocolate chip cookies, but not just because they sell quickly. They happen to be the one baked good my daughter can make all by herself!

[bluetooth maus on September 15, 2009 at 11:47 PM]

I have been continuously impressed with the wit in the Social Ad bake sale posters this week - the one you mention is the best,and I keen to eat some baked items this year.....

[Kim at Dogwood Ridge on September 16, 2009 at 05:05 AM]

One of the most successful things we made for bake sales in recent years actually did not involve baking per-say. We made different types of tea, coffee and hot chocolate mixes (such as Chai tea mix, cappuccino cinnamon coffee mix, etc) and placed them in small decorated canning jars- with instructions. The small jars make perfect gifties and we found that a lot were bought for stocking stuffers. The left-over ones help up beautifully for the next bake-sale. We also did the same with soup mixes but to be honest the little teas and coffees were the ones that sold like hot-cakes. The other thing that really sells are homemade dog, cat and even horse treats. The kids had a lot of fun making the dog cookies in the shape of ginger-bread men.

[Melissa Trainer on September 16, 2009 at 06:44 AM]

Tracy, Great news on your daughter's chocolate chip baking initiative. More power to her for getting in the game!

Kim, those are really neat ideas. My sister has had great luck making granola, bagging it and tying it with a ribbon. I can't recall which recip my sister uses but she says it too sells like hot cakes. Thanks for the bake sale input, Tracy, Kim and Bluetooth maus! Happy baking! Melissa

[sharm el sheikh holidays on October 10, 2009 at 04:54 AM]

Hi..
The small jars make perfect gifties and we found that a lot were bought for stocking stuffers. The left-over ones help up beautifully for the next bake-sale.