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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that people will pay £2 for a cake pop?

222 replies

theotherloobyloo · 07/12/2011 13:34

I'm planning to start a baking/cake business at home, and am thinking of just doing cake pops. DH says that I am barking to think that anybody would pay £2 for a bit of cake on a stick - is he just being a miserable git (always a possibility) or is he on the money on this one? I'm done my sums and I think that to make a go of cake pops I'd have to get about two quid a pop (as it were). All views appreciated ... even if you think that cake pops are boakworthy yummy mummy dross

OP posts:
FootprintsInTheSnow · 07/12/2011 20:35

Actually - this thread has made me go and want to make cake pops with the kids.

Rosie - is the Lakeland machine really good? I normally avoid these 'single function' gadgets, but I'm soooo tempted after clicking on your link. (Completely unrelated to the pre Christmas economy drive me and DH are on...)

Get0rf · 07/12/2011 20:37

I just had a look at that cake pop machine.

FATAL. I have to resist going on the Lakeland website as I end up wanting everything they sell.

I don't think that cakepop machine would be much good. Can you imagine - it takes 4 minutes per batch. So you would have to stand over the machine and wait. In the meantime, you would have to resist eating all of the 6 warm cakepops you have just baked. I would end up eating the lot before they get iced.

WholeLottaRosie · 07/12/2011 20:42

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pointydog · 07/12/2011 20:43

No way.

Have to be a little pirce of art for that price rather than a lot of sticky crumbs.

Get0rf · 07/12/2011 20:46

Did you sneakily pop a couple in your mouth as you cooked them, rosie?

worzelswife · 07/12/2011 20:47

I had a bit of a laugh seeing that cakepop machine - totally unnecessary (but just imo and I've never made them so could be very wrong). You just roll them up by hand, easy peasy. I do love the gadgets Lakeland try and convince you you want or need. Reading the catalogue with a cup of tea is one of my favourite hobbies.

I can see why you would want to charge £2 OP - they look very fiddly if you're going to decorate them nicely, and the candy melts used to coat them look very expensive. But I agree with everyone else. No one is going to buy them regularly. They're just too expensive. I'd pay a pound, but only if out by myself. It adds up too quickly if you have to buy them for several dcs.

I think if you do decide to go ahead with this you should target weddings and christenings, where people expect to pay more already.

worzelswife · 07/12/2011 20:48

Actually whole if they are just balls of little cake, they do sound yummy.

Damn it, I'm going to end up buying one aren't I? shakes fist at Lakeland.

Silverlace · 07/12/2011 20:49

I like baking so when I saw the machine in Lakeland I thought "I can do that and don't need to spend £20 on a machine". I bought loads of chocolate and sprinkles and frosting to mix with my cake.

It was the biggest faff ever! It took forever to get them into nice rounds and don't get me started on getting the chocolate on them.

Far too much work, the £2 each will be your labour costs alone, never mind ingredients.

To those with a Lakeland machine - isn't the cake too soft to hold on a stick? Surely with the icing on, the stick breaks through the cake? Just a thought, at least making them with the broken up cake and frosting you get nice firm balls. Xmas Wink

pinkmagic1 · 07/12/2011 20:52

I have just googled cakepops and I think your DH might be right, sorry. I would pay around 75p at the most.

Get0rf · 07/12/2011 20:53

at nice firm balls

How do you get the size to be consistent when you make them yourself? I think it is a rat race when I make meatballs, they end up in all sorts of sizes (really small and uniform when I first start off, then increasingly bigger as I get bored and want to finish the bloody boring task).

OriginalChristmasPoster · 07/12/2011 20:54

Coming soon to your Lakeland catalogue...

A must have gadget to clean your cake pop machine with Grin

Quenelle · 07/12/2011 20:56

I confess that I paid 2.50 each for two slices of homemade cake at the Natural History Museum last month. They tasted like nectar and were worth every penny.

And they came with free dinosaurs.

LynetteScavo · 07/12/2011 20:57

I pay £1.75 per cake pop. They are perfect, taste fabulous, and are perfectly decorated.

I put one in each party bag at DDs party last year, and let all siblings take one home. They looked lovely displayed in a vase.

I have tried making cake pops. They were a tragic (if tasty) mess. Yes, I would pay £2, but not often.

ArtVandelay · 07/12/2011 20:57

Damn you - you made me look at the Lakeland website, I can't stop and now my bath is getting cold.... Angry

WholeLottaRosie · 07/12/2011 20:57

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Silverlace · 07/12/2011 20:59

Get0rf to make nice firm balls you need to weigh the mixture first so that they are all even. I can now do this with accuracy since my mum bought me new digital scales from guess where? Yes, Lakeland. They weigh to a gram and even tell me the temperature in the kitchen. Never thought to ask before but now everytime I weight something I now know how cold the room is too!

Get0rf · 07/12/2011 21:02

Oh my lord you have to weigh each ball as well? I am amazed that they aren't a fiver each in that case, they must take ages to make.

I want those scales, silverlace. in fact I want everything the Lakeland cataligue ever sells. I have banned myself from the Lakeland shop out of necessity.

WholeLottaRosie · 07/12/2011 21:03

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curlywurlycremeegg · 07/12/2011 21:05

It may depend where you are, we are 'up north', but we have stopped making cake pops at the farmer's markets we do as people aren't prepared to pay over £1 a pop and this doesn't really cover the cost and time for hand made ones.

Get0rf · 07/12/2011 21:05

I am reading everyone's posts in that chef voice from South Park Grin

wildstrawberryplace · 07/12/2011 21:08

Those Russian doll cake pops in the gallery on daenery's link are amazing. I wish I could make those!

penguin70 · 07/12/2011 21:09

I used to follow a friend of a friend on FB - popcakeprincess - she started selling basic pcs at £1 and fancy ones at £2 but had to put her prices up - I presume her client base could tolerate it. Try following her for a while - a lot of business seems to be done via her FB page, might be interesting for you. Think if you're in an affluent area it helps - her P&P costs are very high.

Get0rf · 07/12/2011 21:09

They are amazing aren't they - all the cake pops on that site look so beautiful, far too good to eat.

LAbaby · 07/12/2011 21:18

They cost $1 at my local Starbucks so no. But I do love them - so I would be tempted!

DitaVonCheese · 07/12/2011 21:26

I want to eat everything on this page. They don't sound too fiddly to me ...

I have banned myself from having anything to do with Lakeland :(

(However, am up north so need to get myself to a farmers' market pronto)

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