Cost It Out: How to Win at Bake Sale Economics
Food Network did the math and found out how much each classic bake-sale option costs to make — so you can price it accordingly.
Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Bake sales are a classic fundraiser — who doesn’t like to support a good cause and pick up a sweet? But if you spend too much making your treats, it could eat into the “profit” you make from selling them. Should you make oatmeal cookies or crispy rice treats? Banana bread or pound cake? Cookies or cupcakes?
If you’re on a budget, take a good look at a recipe’s ingredients list before choosing. Avoid mix-ins like nuts and dried fruit, which can quickly add up (see our chart below). Instead, consider treats made with less expensive items, like egg-based meringues. Or opt for cakes such as banana bread and doughnuts, which contain oil instead of butter. Old-fashioned picks like oatmeal cookies or snickerdoodles also have low-cost main ingredients.
Using a national grocery provider’s average prices, we priced out some of our favorite bake sale items to help you decide what to make and how much to spend. See how these classics compare.
Cost per recipe: $4.31 (for 30)
Cost per item: $0.14
Matt Armendariz, 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.
Cost per recipe: $10.56 (for 12)
Cost per item: $0.87
Cost per recipe: $7.93 (for 12)
Cost per item: $0.66
Ryan Dausch
Cost per recipe: $6.57 (for 24)
Cost per item: $0.56
Renee Comet, Renee Comet
Cost per recipe: $5.24 (for 12)
Cost per item: $0.44
Renee Comet, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Cost per recipe: $6.51 (for 30)
Cost per item: $0.22
Tara Donne
Cost per recipe: $6.10 (for 36)
Cost per item: $0.17
Marcus Tullis
Cost per recipe: $8.16 (for 40)
Cost per item: $0.20
Cost per recipe: $15.37 (for 30)
Cost per item: $0.51
Tara Donne
Cost per recipe: $11.67 (for 24)
Cost per item: $0.49
Marcus Tullis
Cost per recipe: $9.61 (for 24)
Cost per item: $0.40
Tara Donne
Cost per recipe: $8.54 (for 24)
Cost per item: $0.36
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Cost per recipe: $5.79 (for 16)
Cost per item: $0.36
Tara Donne
Cost per recipe: $4.61 (for 16)
Cost per item: $0.29
Cost per recipe: $8.95 (for 10 slices)
Cost per item: $0.89
Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Cost per recipe: #1.75 (for 12 slices)
Cost per item: $0.15
Mix-Ins Math
Thinking of jazzing up your dish with a handful of nuts or a sprinkle of dried fruit? Every addition will affect your bottom line. While raisins are relatively cheap, a fully loaded blondie with macadamia nuts, white chocolate and a lot of butter will set you back $15.37 for a batch. Here’s how our ten favorite ingredients add up.
Macadamia nuts: $ 5.96 per cup
Mini marshmallows: $ 4.40 per cup
Dried cranberries: $ 4.24 per cup
Chopped pecans: $ 3.24 per cup
Dried cherries: $ 2.50 per cup
Cashews: $ 2.49 per cup
Candy-coated chocolates: $ 1.66 per cup
Walnuts: $ 1.60 per cup
Semisweet chocolate chips: $ 1.25 per cup
Raisins: $ 0.91 per cup
Shredded coconut: $ 0.39 per cup
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