No More Half-Baked Desserts
Nothing brings the neighborhood together like a tasty bake sale! You have the best community treats, all ranging from cookies to home-baked cakes slathered in creamy frosting—what more could you ask for? Well, the hard truth is that not every treat is a winner, and some can even deter hungry buyers. Come with us as we explore the items no one really wants and which ones sell out every year.
1. Popcorn
There’s nothing wrong with homemade popcorn, but it’s hardly a good option for bake sales. Those kernels are a little uninspired, and even if they come with a good caramel drizzle, it’s easy to overlook them for a scrumptious cookie. Save the popcorn for at-home movie nights!
2. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
We’re just going to say it: no one wants to bite into a raisin cookie! Okay, maybe some people do, but the masses prefer chocolate chips, which is exactly why this recipe belongs at home. Oatmeal raisin cookies are polarizing enough, and you don’t want to drive away potential customers.
3. Full Cakes
Full cakes sound like a great idea. After all, you can’t have too much of a good thing…right? Well, the thing is that cakes are a bit hard to deal with at bake sales. Not only are you stuck on cutting duty, but customers are now left with their hands full of paper plates and forks. It’s better to stick with simple, bite-sized options.
4. Overly Frosted Cupcakes
We all love a good cupcake, but it takes a true baker to strike a balance between the cake and frosting. No one wants a mouthful of buttercream, and customers probably won’t appreciate such a messy treat. We hate to say it, but bake sale cupcakes could do with less frosting!
American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash
5. Store-Bought Desserts
Not everyone has time to whip up a dessert from scratch. When life gets in the way, it seems like any ol’ option will do—but store-bought desserts are a dime a dozen, and they’re easily spotted among home-baked goods. They’re also not as good, which can be a bummer for both sides. The good news is that you can make all sorts of desserts in half an hour or less, so don’t sell your skills short!
6. Biscotti
Biscotti is a cup of coffee’s best friend. They’re also a perfect canvas for various flavors, like lemon drizzle or crushed walnuts. However, these messy cookies aren’t ideal for a bake sale. Customers don’t want to sink their teeth into something that will make a mess, and biscotti is just crumbs waiting to happen.
7. Anything That Needs a Fork
Remember what we said about delicious cake slices? They’re hardly the only dessert that needs a fork—but they should all be avoided! Pies, cheesecakes, and banana bread also require utensils, so bear that in mind before baking.
8. Cinnamon Rolls
Don’t get us wrong, we love cinnamon rolls! What we don’t love, however, is sticky fingers. When it comes to bake sale goodies, it’s always safer to opt for neat treats that keep everyone mess-free. Cinnamon rolls are also coated in drizzle, which only adds to the trouble.
9. Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread cookies are fine…but that’s about it. Compared to everything else you can make, these little guys don’t bring much to the party. They’re bland, they don’t boast a ton of flavor, and you can’t really do much to save them. The store-bought kind is even worse!
10. Treats With Nuts
Home bakers can whip up any number of nut-free treats. With so many allergies afoot—some of which can be life-threatening—you want to keep everyone safe; some sensitivities are triggered by the mere presence of peanuts, which can spell disaster. If you are going to include anything with nuts, make sure you include an ingredient list.
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So, what classic baked goods actually do well with the public? It’s time to ditch the cake mix for a mouth-watering option that sells out every year!
1. Brownies
You can’t go wrong with brownies. Despite their simple appearance, you can make them all your own, which helps you stand out and get creative in the kitchen. Include dark chocolate chunks, toss in a handful of white chocolate chips, or blend the best of both worlds with the traditional “brookie.” You can even add a layer of jam or sprinkle in a pinch of sea salt!
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies hardly seem inspired, but we promise they’re a fan-favorite. Much like brownies, you can jazz these up in any number of ways: brown your butter, use dark brown sugar, or hand-chop chocolate chunks over store-bought chips. Don’t forget the salt, either.
3. Thumbprint Cookies
It doesn’t matter if you use chocolate kisses or a delicious dollop of jam—thumbprint cookies are always a hit! They’re also surprisingly easy to make, freeing up your precious time while also providing a crowd-pleasing favorite. Don’t be shy about experimenting with different jams; most bakers opt for raspberry, but apricot and blueberry work just as well.
4. Lemon Bars
What else captures the taste of summer like a lemon bar? This classic treat brings all the zest and cheerful color you want at a bake sale! You don’t need more than a handful of ingredients to get the job done: fresh lemon juice, eggs, butter, and vanilla extract build the perfect base, while flour and sugar top it all off.
5. Cake Pops
A mouthful of tasty vanilla cake wrapped in a crunchy frosting case? Count us in! No one said you had to nix cakes entirely, and cake pops are a great way to score that bite without all the hard work. You can also decorate them in a variety of fun ways or experiment with different flavors.
6. Rice Krispies Treats
You may not like this cereal, but it makes for one heck of a bake sale item. With a little butter and a few marshmallows, you can prepare this in just a few short minutes, making it a terrific choice for busy people. You can also add candy bites, salt, or cinnamon to give them a unique twist.
7. Caramel Apple Cupcakes
We don’t know about you, but bake sales remind us of the first week of school—and that means autumnal flavors! Skip the apple pie and blend these classic flavors instead; finely-chopped apples and brown sugar pair beautifully with homemade caramel drizzle and a pinch of cinnamon.
8. Blondies
We’ve already talked about brownies, but we can’t forget their cousin. Say hello to the blondie, a dessert bar that resembles a brownie but comes without all the cocoa and chocolate. Though that sounds like a bad thing, this yummy treat makes up for it with vanilla, butterscotch, and dark brown sugar.
9. Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
We said raisins were polarizing, not oatmeal! No paying customer can resist the call of a cream cheese filling stuck between homemade oatmeal cookies—and how could they? Vanilla, brown butter, and cinnamon only make it better.
10. Cowboy Cookies
Think of cowboy cookies like a super oatmeal cookie, one that uses all the traditional ingredients but adds pecans and coconut. You don’t need to mix in pecans, though; as we said, safety over anything else, and these taste just as good with vanilla, brown sugar, and coconut flakes!
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