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Original poster

Baking a cake versus buying

56 replies

TaterTots · 26/09/2016 14:44

A former colleague has posted on FB about a bake sale at her children's school. Some parents have brought in shop bought cakes and she has taken exception to this. Her argument is that a crap homemade cake is still better than a shop bought one.

Predictably, it has kicked off. Some responses are simply pointing out that it could be a time issue rather than lack of baking skills. However, others are a bit more vitriolic - 'How can you judge someone's parenting skills based on whether they bake or not?!?' etc. - which strikes me as a bit extreme.

What do you think? I regularly bake for bake sales at work and would never buy cakes for them - defeats the object for me. However, this is strictly voluntary - if I was a parent and it was a school thing I might feel 'obliged'; in which case if my rock buns were actually like rocks, I might be heading to Greggs Cake

OP posts:
HardcoreLadyType · 26/09/2016 16:23

I have always noticed that the cakes that are covered in sweets are the most popular.

You can usually buy uniced fairy cakes from the supermarket, in which case, those, a bit of icing made with icing sugar and water, with a bit of colouring, and a liberal sprinkling of dolly mixtures, would usually be as popular as anything carefully hand crafted.

Having said that, we have made cake pops (a few years ago) which were very popular, but incredibly labour intensive. And they never charge enough for them, as others have already said.

willconcern · 26/09/2016 16:25

I think your former colleague is a judgmental twat. People like her are the reason I would rather boil and eat my own head than go on the PTA.

Eolian · 26/09/2016 16:27

I prefer homemade cakes and would rather buy those at a cake sale. However, I fail to see how bringing shop-bought ones 'defeats the object' (as it says in the OP). Surely the sole object of a cake sale is to raise money. So if people bring shop-bought ones and parents are happy to buy them, what's the problem?

ghostyslovesheep · 26/09/2016 16:30

I also think it's depressing that women pass judgement on other women in 2016 because they don't bake or just so happened not to have the time to bake that week...I know your OP says parents but I bet my house the criticism was aimed mainly at mums not dads

oh this in spades

I can bake - my kids can bake - but I'm fucked if I am going to spend precious down time making fairy cakes when Morrisons sell them for 99P

she needs a giant grip

StrawberryQuik · 26/09/2016 16:34

I'd bake a cake, but that's because I like baking and find it relaxing. I can't do anything fancy but my standard Victoria sponge or brownies are usually nicer than from a supermarket.

Interesting point about the patriarchy, I bet 99% of the time it's the mums asked to bake something/run a stall/make nativity costumes.

Nocabbageinmyeye · 26/09/2016 16:39

I think once the kids are happy and it raises a couple of quid then let the bakers bake and the buyers buy, it really doesn't matter or at least it shouldn't matter. I certainly wouldn't be ranting on Facebook about it Confused

Original poster
TaterTots · 26/09/2016 16:40

I know your OP says parents but I bet my house the criticism was aimed mainly at mums not dads.

If it was anyone else I'd agree, but she's very into gender neutral toys and all that business. (I hope she doesn't use MN as she'll definitely recognise herself Blush)

OP posts:
DirtyBlonde · 26/09/2016 16:41

I think it is incredibly bad form to start telling parents off because you don't like the form their contribution takes. It is exactly the kind of meanness that puts a lot of parents off PTAs etc."

That's the basis of the LDC thread in Classics, isn't it?

Original poster
TaterTots · 26/09/2016 16:47

However, I fail to see how bringing shop-bought ones 'defeats the object' (as it says in the OP).

Because to me it's not a 'bake sale' if you haven't baked it. If I couldn't bake I'd contribute as a purchaser/donor instead.

OP posts:
Waltermittythesequel · 26/09/2016 17:13

Because to me it's not a 'bake sale' if you haven't baked it. If I couldn't bake I'd contribute as a purchaser/donor instead

You need a hobby. Preferably one that doesn't involve baking.

Why would you even remotely care??

Eolian · 26/09/2016 17:28

I'd say it was called a bake sale because it's a sale of baked goods.

AnnieOnnieMouse · 26/09/2016 17:29

Hahaha, you haven't been to our local WI. Lazy load of codgers won't make a cake or biscuit, except for one wonderful retired cake maker.
I do bake, but hated doing anything for PTA, as, like others said, things were grossly underpriced. A packet of bought fairy cakes and a bit of icing and hundreds and thousands is what they got from me. . I do make proper cakes for sale for other events, tho.
If it raises funds, then no-one should complain.

Original poster
TaterTots · 26/09/2016 17:36

*You need a hobby. Preferably one that doesn't involve baking.

Why would you even remotely care??*

What a stupid thing to say. If someone says to me 'Would you be able to help us with a bake sale?', I expect to have to bake. It doesn't keep me awake at night.

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 26/09/2016 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Waltermittythesequel · 26/09/2016 17:38

It seems you and your 'friend' are both bothered enough by other people's baking or lack thereof, to post on the Internet about it.

I just couldn't get that worked up about it.

Dozer · 26/09/2016 17:39

Bake sales are a classic example of "wifework".

Original poster
TaterTots · 26/09/2016 17:44

WalterMitty - I presume 'friend' is in inverted commas because you think I've invented her and really it's me who's said this on FB? Sorry love- no cigar.

As for being 'bothered enough', if you think this is the least significant thing you'll read on MN today, think again.

OP posts:
RubbleBubble00 · 26/09/2016 17:44

Life's too short to worry about it tbh. (Plus you can buy plain ones and wack some icing and decorations as a great cheat)

MrsMook · 26/09/2016 18:07

For the local fete, we request that donated cakes for our Brownie stall are homemade, purely because experience tells us that obviously shop bought ones don't sell and end up coming home at the end of the day. We have the advantage that the event is on a Sunday, so the girls (and mums inevitably) have chance to bake on Saturday. We tend to have enough donations from a core of enthusiastic girls to cover the stall and not mean that everyone feels obliged to donate.

I favour home made cakes as they won't contain soya flour that irriates my digestive system.

School is having an event this week. I wouldn't donate shop bought cakes. I'm not sure if I'll have the chance to bake cakes as I'm spending the day before making enough bread dough for the brownie unit Confused

Hopefully we ask politely enough, and we give the reason for favouring home baking.

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/09/2016 18:16

If I billed my time, at a market rate. So with ingredients, time and mileage, my cupcakes would cost $10 each. DH bills his time for everything he does. Because men are trained to value their time. Women's time is not valued. Those 5p cupcakes made by busy, talented women are kind-of insulting.

I'd be far better off working, earning money and just giving it to the school. This school is my dream!

Baking a cake versus buying
icy121 · 26/09/2016 21:06

OP so you clearly agree with your ex colleague then?

3 words: get a life. Why the fuck would your colleague/you need to pass judgement on other women for their choice to bake or not? "It defeats the purpose" really?

Change the name to cake sale instead of bake sale and problem solved.

Personally think this retrograde throwback to baking bollocks is bollocks. My mum and my grandmother would be appalled if they thought I gave a fuck about making cakes; I'm not a baker. I don't enjoy baking. I don't bake. If I were asked to contribute to a cake sale, I would provide a couple of boxes of mr Kipling French fancies. Because they're delicious.

If you enjoy baking then crack on. But don't judge other people. It's so unnecessary.

ayeokthen · 26/09/2016 21:09

I bake because I enjoy it, not because I feel I should. I spent a fortune making cakes for a bake sale for nursery and they sold them for buttons but I didn't mind as it brought money into the nursery, and it was my choice to spend that money. Whether they're shop bought or homemade, surely the point is that someone has bothered to contribute?

BaronessBomburst · 26/09/2016 21:20

A M&S shop-bought cake is much nicer than a heavy, margarine flavoured sponge by an inept baker.
However, a good homemade sponge is far nicer than cheapo genovese from the local garage.
So, it all depends on the cake.

eurochick · 26/09/2016 21:21

I love baking but it's a weekend activity. Unless the cake sale is on a Monday I wouldn't be able to do it. I have zero free time weekday evenings.

Original poster
TaterTots · 26/09/2016 21:25

OP so you clearly agree with your ex colleague then?

No. If you read my post, I say that I wouldn't buy cakes to sell at a bake sale, BUT I do it on a voluntary basis because I enjoy baking. If I didn't, I just wouldn't do it. I also say that if I was a parent and felt obliged to contribute, I might think differently.

OP posts: