The word spread quickly, resulting in an abundant selection of family favorites begging for a buyer to support the teens’ mission. A familiar scene no doubt was happening outside churches, schools, fields and store fronts in many towns across the nation, raising money not only for hurricane victims, but soccer teams, marching bands, class trips, dance troops, football teams and a myriad of other causes, banking on the draw of yummy, home-baked sweets and the big hearts of friends and neighbors.
While the goal of most bake sales is to raise funds, the benefits spread way beyond the dollars collected. Typically the sweet merchandise comes from many homes, but it’s also fun to pool people and resources in one kitchen, gathering novice bakers with those of us who have been sifting flour and melting chocolate for many years. The opportunity to pass down recipes and techniques, share stories, decorate cookies with colorful sprinkles, cut up brownies and ice cupcakes, then package them with pretty ribbons and tags in cute bags and boxes is just, well, icing on the cake!
Any time of year is right for a bake sale, but autumn seems to be ripe for this favorite fundraiser as cooler temperatures invite us back into the kitchen; craving comfort foods like apple pie made from the fresh crop of crisp farmer’s market fruit or warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies after school. In addition to these tried and true favorites, here at Wilton we have been working on some new recipes to welcome the season and inspire the newest class of bakers as well as the seasoned pastry pros. You’ll find ideas ranging from stunning maple leaf decorated cookies and salted caramel latte biscotti to everyday oatmeal butterscotch cookie bars and gluten free pumpkin cookies. With Wilton’s library of bake-sale-ready recipes and packaging products, you can pull off your next fundraiser with something for every customer and a focus on fun!
Of course, there is the feel good story that unfolds as people share time, ingredients and traditions, all for a good cause. The sweetness of the baked goods seems to spill over into the event itself and makes for a lifelong love of service and baking. With all this in mind, the team at Wilton developed the bake sale recipes below to inspire you to “bake for good.”
