What to make for a bake sale: Cheap cakes and how much to sell them for
If you're planning on having a bake sale to raise some money for charity or the kids school is hosting one and you'd like to bake something for it then you've come to the right place...
If you're planning on having a bake sale to raise some money for charity or the kids school is hosting one and you'd like to bake something for it then you've come to the right place...
Find out what to make for a bake sale with our simple collection of recipes. If you're planning on having a bake sale to raise some money for charity or your kids' school is hosting one and you'd like to bake something for it then you've come to the right place.
We're here to help you make the most out of your bake sale - from cheap ingredients to making a profit, we're here to share our wise wisdom when it comes to bake sales so you really can make the most out of it and double your money on each of your bakes - after all it is about making a profit!
We've got plenty of delicious recipes to choose from and not only have we told you why they're a great choice for bake sales, we've also narrowed down how much it will cost you to make them and how much you should sell them for. We worked out how to double your money when selling the cakes but don't be afraid to charge even more than we've suggested if you think your cakes are worth it.
Basic cupcakes
First on the list are these easy and cheap cupcakes. Cupcakes are the perfect treat to sell at your bake sale. You can keep them simple and delicious or jazz them up with buttercream, sugar strands... all sorts! You can make loads of cupcakes in one go too - get a conveyor belt technique going and you'll be done in no time!
Get the recipe: Basic cupcake mixture
To make 12 cupcakes you will need:
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- Butter = 41p
- Caster sugar = 22p
- Self-raising flour = 5p
- Eggs = 50p
- Milk = 4p
- Vanilla extract = 21p
- Paper cases = 7p
- Icing sugar
- Buttercream
- Sugar strands
- Chocolate sweets
- Butter = 34p
- Light brown sugar = 28p
- Golden syrup = 6p
- Vanilla essence = 11p
- Self-raising flour = 5p
- Chocolate chunks = 90p
- Chocolate chips; milk, dark or white
- Raisins
- Nuts
- Peanut butter
- Plain flour = 21p
- Baking powder = 18p
- Bicarbonate of soda = 18p
- Caster sugar = 25p
- Butter (including filling) = 43p
- Greek yogurt = 37p
- Eggs = 33p
- Vanilla extract = 11p
- Icing sugar
- Raspberries
- Other berries: strawberries, blueberries etc.
- Raspberry puree
- Marshmallows
- Dark chocolate = £2.00
- Butter = 28p
- Caster sugar = 37p
- Eggs = 67p
- Vanilla essence = 11p
- Plain flour = 8p
- Cocoa powder = 87p
- Different chocolate: white, dark, milk etc.
- Mixed nuts
- Raisins
- Chocolate chips
- Marshmallows
- Butter = 28p
- Plain chocolate = £2.50
- Golden syrup = 8p
- Maltesers = £1.11
- Chocolate chips = 84p
- Marshmallows = 59p
- Ginger biscuits = 15p
- Butter = 17p
- Brown sugar = 28p
- Egg = 17p
- Bananas = 42p
- Self-raising flour = 7p
- Allspice = 7p
- Dried fruit = 3p
- Granulated sugar = 58p
- Butter = 24p
- Milk = 13p
- Evaporated milk = 42p
- Vanilla extract = 21p
- Bags = 13p
- Milk chocolate = £1.13
- Butter = 14p
- Golden syrup =4p
- Cornflakes = 27p
- Mini Eggs
- Smarties
- Maltesers
- Different chocolate: milk, white, dark etc.
- Blueberries = £1.17
- Caster sugar = 15p
- Butter = 28p
- Self-raising flour = 9p
- Baking powder = 18p
- Egg = 33p
- Vanilla extract = 11p
- Milk = 13p
- Mixed fruits: strawberries, blackberries etc.
- Chocolate chips
- Nuts and seeds
- Oats
- Milk = 2p
- Butter = 69p
- Golden caster sugar = 50p
- Eggs = 50p
- Vanilla extract = 11p
- Self-raising flour = 41p
- Strawberry jam = 7p
- Coconut = 12p
- Potato = 42p
- Different jam or marmalade
- Grated chocolate
- Sweet potato
- Butternut squash
- Butter = 83p
- Demerara sugar = 40p
- Golden syrup = 22p
- Crunchy peanut butter = 79p
- Porridge oats = 34p
- Vanilla extract=11p
- Chocolate chips
- Raisins
- Nuts
- Self-raising flour = 8p
- Baking powder = 18p
- Butter = 13p
- Caster sugar = 7p
- Sultanas = 8p
- Egg = 17p
- Milk = 9p
- Clotted cream
- Jam
- Chocolate chips
- Dried fruit
- Butter = 14p
- Demerara sugar = 11p
- Honey = 13p
- Plain flour = 2p
- Glace cherries = 13p
- Candied peel = 18p
- Flaked almonds = 47p
- Dark chocolate = £1.70
- Other chocolate: white, milk
- Dried fruits
- Gift bags
- Milk chocolate = £1.13
- Marshmallows = £1.17
- Sugar strands = £1.28
- Skewers = £1.07
- Different chocolates: milk, dark, white etc.
- Sugar strands: chocolate, multi-coloured
- Golden caster sugar = 35p
- Butter = 80p
- Syrup = 19p
- Condensed milk = £1.00
- Plain flour = 12p
- Butter = 15p
- Caster sugar = 8p
- Egg = 17p
- Jam = 29p
- Icing sugar
- Marmalade
- Raspberry jam
- Fresh berries
- Double cream = 75p
- Single cream = 53p
- Mint = £1.00
- Dark chocolate = £5.00
- Butter = 30p
- Honey = 31p
- Different chocolates: milk, dark, white etc.
- Coconut
- Mixed nuts
- Cocoa powder
- Crushed chocolate flake bars
- Crushed amaretti biscuits
- Ribbons and gift boxes
- Butter = 55p
- Caster sugar = 22p
- Vanilla extract = 21p
- Eggs = 33p
- Self-raising flour = 14p
- Milk = 8p
- Cream cheese = 18p
- Icing sugar = 38p
- Candy melts = £2.90
- Lollipop sticks = £1.07
- Sugar strands
- Chocolate chips
- Fondant to decorate
- White chocolate = £2.26
- Butter = 28p
- Eggs = 50p
- Caster sugar = 8p
- Vanilla essence = 11p
- Self-raising flour = 16p
- Baking powder = 18p
- Raspberries = £2.25
- Different chocolate: milk, dark, white etc.
- Mixed berries: blackberries, strawberries
- Self-raising flour = 40p
- Baking powder = 18p
- Caster sugar = 30p
- Eggs = 33p
- Sunflower oil = 4p
- Milk = 9p
- Cinnamon = 18p
- Skewers/sticks
- Different chocolate: dark, milk, white etc.
- Sugar strands
- Mixed nuts
Total: £1.50
Price per cupcake: 12p
Price to sell (per cupcake): at least 24p to double your money. Sell them at maximum £1 when decorated.
Cheap extras:
Cookies
Cookies are one of the simplest bakes to rustle up for a bake sale. Not only are they cheap to make, you can make lots in one go too which means you don't have to spend hours and hours in the kitchen. From chocolate chips to dried fruits, you can add all sorts of delicious extras to your cookies so you'll have plenty of variety too.
Get the recipe: Chocolate chip cookies
To make 20 cookies you will need:
Total: £1.74
Price per cookie: 8p
Price to sell (per cookie): at least 16p per cookie to double your money. Sell them maximum 50p with extras.
Cheap extras
Whoopie pies
Whoopie pies are a great treat when it comes to bake sales. Not only can you experiment with different flavours, you can top with different goodies like marshmallow, fresh fruits and chocolates too! They'll look great and stand out from the crowd which means you're more likely to sell them all.
Get the recipe: Whoopie pies
To make 20 whoopie pies you will need:
Total: £2.06
Price per whoopie pie: 10p
Price to sell (per whoopie pie): at least 20p to double your money. Sell them at 75p-£1 maximum with extras.
Cheap extras
Brownies
Brownies always go down a treat when it comes to bake sales. Rich, dark
and gooey, everyone is tempted by these delicious bites and we can see
why. You can make a large batch of brownies in one go and cut them into
chunks ready to be bought.
Get the recipe: Chocolate brownies
To make 24 chocolate brownies you will need:
Total: £4.38
Price to sell per brownie: 18p
Price to sell (per brownie): at least 36p per brownie to double your money. Sell them at 50p-£1 maximum if you’re adding different toppings to the mix.
Cheap extras
Rocky road
Rocky road is one of the easiest recipes to make for a bake sale. You
just need plenty of chocolate and a variety of sweet treats to melt it
over. You can feed so many people with one batch of rocky road.
Get the recipe: Rocky road
To make 16 rocky roads you will need:
Total: £5.55
Price per rocky road: 35p
Price to sell (per rocky road): at least 70p to double your money. Sell them at maximum £1 depending on how big you cut them.
Loaf cake
You can't beat a classic loaf cake. From banana bread to tea loaf, sometimes the classics are the best. A loaf can feed a lot of people too, slice them up or serve them whole - loaf cakes are great if you want to create lots of different flavoured sponges in a short period of time.
To make 1 loaf cake serving 8 you will need:
Total: £1.21
Price per slice: 15p
Price to sell (per slice): at least 30p to double your money. Sell them at maximum 50p per slice or £4 for the whole loaf.
Get the recipe: Banana bread
Fudge
Keep it classic when it comes to fudge. You can make loads of little pieces all in one go, which means fudge is pretty cheap to make. Sell in see-through bags with little tags - they'll look fancy but won't break the bank!
Get the recipe: Creamy vanilla fudge
To make 36 pieces of fudge you will need:
Total: £1.71
Price per bag of 6: 28p
Price to sell (per bag of 6): At least 56p per bag to make double your money. Sell them at maximum £1 with ribbon and bag.
Cereal cakes
Buying cereal in bulk can be pretty cheap so if you're looking for a cost-efficient recipe than cereal cakes are the way to go. From Cornflakes to Rice Krispies, just add melted chocolate and let the fridge do the rest of the hard work - simple!
Get the recipe: Chocolate cornflake nests
To make 12 chocolate cornflake cakes you will need:
Total: £1.58
Price per cake: 13p
Price to sell (per cake): at least 26p to double your money. Sell them at 50p per cake with chocolate extras like Mini Eggs or Smarties.
Cheap extras
Muffins
Muffins are an all round favourite - you can spin them as healthy for any buyers who are trying to be good or you can pack them with chocolate chips for naughty treats too. They're great for any time of day so if you're having a bake sale in the morning, make sure muffins are on the menu.
Get the recipe: Blueberry muffins
To make 12 blueberry muffins you will need:
Total: £2.44
Price per muffin: 20p
Price to sell (per muffin): at least 40p to make double your money. Sell them at 50p-£1 maximum with blueberries or with more expensive fruits.
Cheap extras
Squares
Squares are great for bake sales. You can make a large tray of your chosen recipe and then cut them up into bite-sized pieces. Squares are great for experimenting with different flavour combinations too - from caramel fudge bars to berry cake bars, you'll be spoilt for choice and so will your buyers!
Get the recipe: Jammy coconut squares
To make 18 squares you will need:
Total: £2.84
Price per square: 16p
Price to sell (per square): at least 32p per square to double your money. Sell them at 50p maximum if selling with extras or up to £1 with gift bags.
Cheap extras
Flapjacks
Who would've thought oats could be so tasty? Flapjacks are ideal for bake sales as you can buy oats in bulk to cut down on the costs. Flapjacks are simple, quick and cheap to make too - they're also a good bake to tempt the healthy eaters too!
Get the recipe: Crunchy peanut butter flapjack
To make 20 flapjacks you will need:
Total: £2.69
Price per flapjack: 13p
Price to sell (per flapjack): at least 26p to double your money. Sell them at maximum 50p per flajack with added treats like chocolate chips.
Cheap extras
Scones
You might think scones are a little bit too posh for bake sales but think again. Sweet or savoury, scones are perfect for selling at a bake sale. Your buyers will feel like they're getting a right treat, especially if they're served with fresh cream and jam. Don't worry though, you'll make a sweet profit with these baked goods as they're super cheap to make.
Get the recipe: Scones
To make 9 scones you will need:
Total: 80p
Price per scone: 8p
Price to serve (per scone): at least 16p to make double your money. Sell them at maximum 50p-£1 if you add fresh cream and jam.
Cheap extras
Florentines
Florentines are much easier to make than you may think and you can make plenty in one go too. They look good, taste good and are sure to be a big hit at your bake sale.
Get the recipe: Chocolate florentines
To make 16 florentines you will need:
Total: £2.88
Price per florentine: 18p
Price to sell (per florentine): at least 36p to double your money. Sell them for a maximum 50p if you decide to sell them individually wrapped.
Cheap extras
Marshmallows
You might not associate marshmallow with bake sales but they seem to be all the rage in America. These easy to make treats are so cheap - just buy a multi-pack and cover them in chocolate and sugar strands - simple!
Get the recipe: Marshmallow swizzle sticks
To make 10 marshmallow sticks you will need:
Total: £4.65
Price per marshmallow stick: 46p
Price to sell (per marshmallow stick): at least 92p to double your money. Sell them at maximum £1 per stick.
Cheap extras
Millionaire's shortbread
Everyone loves a classic millionaire's shortbread - layer upon layer of biscuits, caramel and chocolate, what's not to love? You can cut your shortbread into small chunks and sell them in see-through bags - they'll go down a storm!
Get the recipe: Millionaire's shortbread
To make 8 shortbreads you will need:Butter = 41p Caster sugar = 12p Plain flour = 18p Ready-made caramel = £2.10 Dark chocolate = £2.80
Total: £5.61
Price per shortbread: 70p
Price to sell (per shortbread): £1.40 to double your money. Sell them maximum £2 depending how big you cut them.
Cheap extrasHomemade caramel
Tarts
There are plenty of reasons why you should make tarts for you bake sale - they're easy to make, you can make lots in a batch and they'll make you a good profit too! Top with whatever tickles your fancy or opt for these cheap jam tarts!
Get the recipe: Jam tarts
To make 12 jam tarts you will need:
Total: 81p
Price per tart: 6p
Price to sell (per tart): at least 12p to double your money. Sell them maximum 50p with icing sugar or marmalade varieties.
Cheap extra
Chocolate truffles
Chocolate truffles will work wonders at a bake sale. You can make so many in one go and all you have to do is leave them to chill whilst you prepare other baked goodies for the sale. You can sell them in gift boxes as an extra special treat or in see-through bags.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay's mint chocolate truffles
To make 80 chocolate truffles you will need:
Total: £7.89
Price per bag: 49p
Price to sell (per 5 in a bag): at least 98p per bag to double your money. Sell them at maximum £1.50 with extras.
Cheap extra
Cake pops
Cake pops are much easier to make than you may think. They look fancy but really don't break the bank and with a basic recipe like ours, you'll be able to make loads in one go. Candy melts can be bought online to save the pennies.
Get the recipe: Basic cake pops
To make 20 cake pops you will need:
Total: £6.06
Price per cake pop: 30p
Price to sell (per cake pop): at least 60p to double your money. Sell them maximum £1 with extras.
Cheap extras
Blondies
If brownies work, blondies will too! These white chocolate classics are really simple and they taste delicious too. You can pack them with fresh berries and dust with icing sugar - they're perfect for tempting someone to try something new!
Get the recipe: White chocolate and raspberry blondies
To make 12 blondies you will need:
Total: £5.82
Price per blondie: 48p
Price to sell (per blondie): at least 96p per blondie to double your money. Sell them at maximum £1-£1.20 with extras or gift bags.
Cheap extras
Doughnuts
Impress your buyers by rustling up a batch of homemade doughnuts. Not only will they smell delicious, encouraging bake sale goers to buy, they'll look good too - especially if you present them on sticks or piled sky high!
Get the recipe: Cinnamon ring doughnuts
To make 20 doughnuts you will need:
Total: £1.43
Price per doughnut: 7p
Price to sell (per doughnut): at least 14p per doughnut to double your money. Sell them at 50p maximum with extras like on sticks or coated in other toppings like chocolate.
Cheap extras
Where to next?
Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 12 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies.