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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask how much you would pay for homemade Christmas cake

288 replies

TheHopefulBaker · 26/09/2025 14:13

I am looking into ways to easily earn a bit of extra cash. I make a christmas cake every year just for myself and family as I love doing it, so I'll be putting in the money and time regardless. Every year I get feedback that my Christmas cake is lovely and I should sell them.

I'm wondering if it would be worth it to invest a bit more time and effort to make a few more, and maybe make a bit of money. I was thinking I could take them along to my local car boot sale in October and November.

I'm just wondering how much to ask. I usually make medium round cakes and decorate them with marzipan and royal icing. Then add a few simple decorations on top. Nothing fancy.

I'll try add a photo of last year's

How much do you think people would pay for a cake like this at a car boot sale?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

to ask how much you would pay for homemade Christmas cake
to ask how much you would pay for homemade Christmas cake
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
warmapplepies · 27/09/2025 14:04

Undercooked cakes can also make you sick, same if the ingredients or toppings haven't been stored properly.

Ivy888 · 27/09/2025 14:45

TheHopefulBaker · 26/09/2025 18:36

Thanks so much for all the replies- some very good constructive feedback and lots to think about.

In my head I wasn't really planning to sell a lot of cakes or indeed make a lot of profit this year- more just get a sense of demand. As I said I make a couple of Christmas cakes every year anyway and have already bought the ingredients for these as always. Every year I have lots of mixture left over and usually end up making a mountain of Christmas cake buns that we just eat throughout the season, so I thought this year I'd use the left over mixture to make three or four extra small cakes and see how they sell...I just wondered what price to put on them. I was thinking £5 so the fact the majority have suggested £10 seems pleasantly surprising, considering I wouldn't be spending any extra time or money.

However I take the point that it probably isn't going to turn into a bigger money making project and I will lower my expectations. We have other things we'd like to take to a car boot so if we also sold three or four cakes at £10 that would be a nice way of recouping the cost of making them, which I usually pay for anyway just for fun.

I like the ideas about making smaller individual ones as well - that could be a good idea for the extra mixture.

Thanks everyone!!

You really need to check that you’re allowed to sell food at the car boot sale. You probably need food hygiene certificates.

PinkyFlamingo · 27/09/2025 14:57

DiscoBob · 26/09/2025 18:03

If it's on an occasional basis like this I don't think you do? I think it's wise to label it with ingredients and allergens but it's not like you need a hygiene certificate. Not to do bootsales a few times once a year.

Show quote history

It doesn't matter how occasional it is, maybe different EHOs have different rules but I know with my local council if you sell any food items as a home business you need to register your kitchen so it is inspected by the EH dept

PinkyFlamingo · 27/09/2025 14:58

It's free to register to

FeliciaFancybottom · 27/09/2025 15:33

tipsyraven · 26/09/2025 20:20

What a spiteful little post.

Show quote history

Yes, but the spite was far superior to anyone else's! I bet the DD is six foot and willowy as well.

Original poster
TheHopefulBaker · 27/09/2025 15:34

Just to be clear, I haven't ignored posts about food hygiene. I actually emailed the manager of my local car boot to ask about this. I have got a reply back saying it is all fine and you don't need to do any food hygiene registering or courses, just bring the cakes along and apparently a few people do it and they sell quite well. I do however appreciate that it's probably best to be extra safe so if I did decide to take any cakes I would call the local council and have a chat with them first to see what I would need to do. After reading all the posts though I think I've been convinced it's probably not going to work so I likely won't bother and will just keep my cakes for myself and family. Thanks for all the info and advice.

I think someone asked why I always have so much left over...I follow a recipe that's designed for one very large cake. This is because the first year I did it (many moons ago) I didn't realise until after that I didn't have a cake tin large enough 😂so I put the mixture into the two smaller tins that I had and then used the rest for the mini bun type things. And yes I know I could scale down the recipe but I actually like having lots left over. The family always enjoy snacking on the mini cupcake type ones throughout the season 😊

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 27/09/2025 15:36

PinkyFlamingo · 27/09/2025 14:57

It doesn't matter how occasional it is, maybe different EHOs have different rules but I know with my local council if you sell any food items as a home business you need to register your kitchen so it is inspected by the EH dept

Show quote history

Yeah, I know that now. Thank you. I would hope it's not as rigorous as someone actually setting up a full time food business. As in they wouldn't expect a professional kitchen?

PastaAllaNorma · 27/09/2025 16:02

@TheHopefulBaker you can do the food hygeine course in a day, and lots do them online. It's useful just to make sure you know everything you need to know, if you see what I mean.

For home baking businesses the requirements are pretty straightforward compared to someone making things with meat or uncooked dairy products. Baked cakes are a low risk item. So if you should decide to make a go of it in the future, give your local council a ring and they'll let know know what you need. I found mine to be extremely helpful!

nomas · 27/09/2025 16:08

Sounds like a lot of effort to earn £20.

Tesco are looking for Christmas staff too.

Breadcat24 · 27/09/2025 16:16

I like making cakes but I do not think I would sell at a car boot- mostly because I would not buy food there. But if you have a cafe you get on well with, could you make your cakes in their kitchen and let them sell them for you?
The way you describe left over mix makes me think cake pops might be an idea, also have you tried making christmas cake truffles
Grownup Christmas Cake Chocolate Truffles - Larder Love

Grownup Christmas Cake Chocolate Truffles - Larder Love

These easy Christmas cake chocolate truffles are made from your Christmas leftovers and are a super indulgent grownup treat

https://larderlove.com/grownup-christmas-cake-chocolate-truffles/

warmapplepies · 27/09/2025 18:13

@TheHopefulBaker the car boot manager sounds absolutely clueless - you absolutely do need a certificate and potentially a council inspection as well. It’s not particularly expensive so much better to have it than get caught out.

warmapplepies · 27/09/2025 18:14

DiscoBob · 27/09/2025 15:36

Yeah, I know that now. Thank you. I would hope it's not as rigorous as someone actually setting up a full time food business. As in they wouldn't expect a professional kitchen?

Show quote history

It doesn’t need to be professional but there are basic guidelines you need to follow around storage, allergens, hygiene standards etc.

DiscoBob · 27/09/2025 18:18

warmapplepies · 27/09/2025 18:14

It doesn’t need to be professional but there are basic guidelines you need to follow around storage, allergens, hygiene standards etc.

Show quote history

Yeah, temperatures and storage etc. that's fair enough. I did the hygiene certificate ages ago, it was pretty easy.

warmapplepies · 27/09/2025 18:23

DiscoBob · 27/09/2025 18:18

Yeah, temperatures and storage etc. that's fair enough. I did the hygiene certificate ages ago, it was pretty easy.

Show quote history

Yeah it's super straightforward. I have a few friends who have registered as home bakers and they've never had any issues.

stovokor · 27/09/2025 18:28

I’d pay £50-60 for a made-to-order Christmas cake from a farm shop.

I’d pay £40ish for one made by somebody I know.

I’m afraid I would not be buying one at all from stranger at a car boot sale.

Worriedalltheday · 27/09/2025 18:36

Car boot sale? The last place I would buy food. Also I think the icing needs to be tidier. Anyway Xmas cakes are everywhere and at such reasonable prices so l would just buy it at a store.

DiscoBob · 27/09/2025 19:27

warmapplepies · 27/09/2025 18:23

Yeah it's super straightforward. I have a few friends who have registered as home bakers and they've never had any issues.

Show quote history

That's cool. I always wanted to do something like that at home but feared my kitchen was too old and manky. Tbh it probably is. I did it when I worked for a catering place in a big shiny kitchen!

HaveItOffTilICough · 27/09/2025 20:17

The thing you have to ask yourself with any commercial venture, even a small scale one, is “What does the customer care about?” - and more pertinently, do they care enough to pay extra?

Why is a customer going to pay more for your cake than one from M&S or Waitrose? It will be either for the taste of it or the look of it. Therefore customers care that you have used high quality ingredients, and are prepared for that. What they don’t care about is the fact that you can’t buy ingredients on a large scale in the same way a big retailer will - so if your ingredients aren’t any better, they won’t care that you paid more for them. Similarly, if your icing is very intricate and looks fantastic, they will appreciate they need to pay for your time. They won’t care that you could only make one or two cakes at the time while M&S can bake 100 or more at once in an industrial kitchen.

PinkyFlamingo · 27/09/2025 20:24

DiscoBob · 27/09/2025 15:36

Yeah, I know that now. Thank you. I would hope it's not as rigorous as someone actually setting up a full time food business. As in they wouldn't expect a professional kitchen?

Show quote history

No problem. Not professional no but can only speak for my local EHO, they are loads rules eg as to which cleaning spray to use etc! (Aldis and Lidls are ok) It's basic stuff like checking dates on food colours, how you store ingredients like flour and sugar etc.
Having a dishwasher is better with my EHO otherwise I would need to use Milton sterilising tablets!

Pawparazzi · 27/09/2025 21:16

Holliegee · 26/09/2025 14:54

I’m not as harsh as some of the posts, I don’t think a car boot is the best place to sell them but, I think if you made small ones and put all the ingredients on a tag and wrapped them in cellophane and rented a stall at a Christmas market in a church hall or something you could sell them, marketed as gifts for elderly relatives or single people.

WHAT ON EARTH does this mean?
' .... marketed as gifts ...,..for single people'?
That is so offensive.

Dippythedino · 27/09/2025 21:25

My local car boot doesn't allow home made food to be sold only certified food trucks. So I would check with the car boot sale management first.

If you want to make extra money, why don't you get a Christmas temp job instead? Hospitality and retail are desperate for temporary staff during the festive period. You'd make more money for less cash outlay on your side.

LucyintheSky21 · 27/09/2025 21:36

Well OP, whereabouts are you? Because I think your cake looks amazing. I love Christmas cake and although I do bake, I can’t make Christmas cake. My mum used to make a beautiful one every year, but since my dad passed away a few years ago, she won’t make it anymore (my Dad used to love it). Ever since, I have been looking for a really delicious and moist Christmas cake. No one sells one! If you’re not a million miles away from me, I’d be more than happy to buy one from you!

TartanMammy · 27/09/2025 22:34

TheHopefulBaker · 27/09/2025 15:34

Just to be clear, I haven't ignored posts about food hygiene. I actually emailed the manager of my local car boot to ask about this. I have got a reply back saying it is all fine and you don't need to do any food hygiene registering or courses, just bring the cakes along and apparently a few people do it and they sell quite well. I do however appreciate that it's probably best to be extra safe so if I did decide to take any cakes I would call the local council and have a chat with them first to see what I would need to do. After reading all the posts though I think I've been convinced it's probably not going to work so I likely won't bother and will just keep my cakes for myself and family. Thanks for all the info and advice.

I think someone asked why I always have so much left over...I follow a recipe that's designed for one very large cake. This is because the first year I did it (many moons ago) I didn't realise until after that I didn't have a cake tin large enough 😂so I put the mixture into the two smaller tins that I had and then used the rest for the mini bun type things. And yes I know I could scale down the recipe but I actually like having lots left over. The family always enjoy snacking on the mini cupcake type ones throughout the season 😊

You've got bad advice there. You absolutely do need to be registered.

www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/starting-a-food-business-from-your-home

Starting a food business from your home

This page provides specific information for those running a food business from home. Please read all the pages in this guide to ensure you have the information you need to run your food business.

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/starting-a-food-business-from-your-home

Everyonceinawhile · 27/09/2025 22:55

TheHopefulBaker · 27/09/2025 15:34

Just to be clear, I haven't ignored posts about food hygiene. I actually emailed the manager of my local car boot to ask about this. I have got a reply back saying it is all fine and you don't need to do any food hygiene registering or courses, just bring the cakes along and apparently a few people do it and they sell quite well. I do however appreciate that it's probably best to be extra safe so if I did decide to take any cakes I would call the local council and have a chat with them first to see what I would need to do. After reading all the posts though I think I've been convinced it's probably not going to work so I likely won't bother and will just keep my cakes for myself and family. Thanks for all the info and advice.

I think someone asked why I always have so much left over...I follow a recipe that's designed for one very large cake. This is because the first year I did it (many moons ago) I didn't realise until after that I didn't have a cake tin large enough 😂so I put the mixture into the two smaller tins that I had and then used the rest for the mini bun type things. And yes I know I could scale down the recipe but I actually like having lots left over. The family always enjoy snacking on the mini cupcake type ones throughout the season 😊

After reading all the posts though I think I've been convinced it's probably not going to work so I likely won't bother and will just keep my cakes for myself and family.

Don't let people put you off and destroy your confidence, do it, it might be fun and you never know, it may turn into a little business ! 😁

Ignore the negative people on here, you obviously have a passion for baking and at the end of the day the most successful business usually stem from a passion for something …..give it a go

Original poster
TheHopefulBaker · 27/09/2025 23:09

@LucyintheSky21 and @Everyonceinawhile thank you so much for the sweet comments. I appreciate the honest feedback and it's what I wanted but the reality check has been a bit tough haha

I hadn't even thought about selling to people outside of some sort of event like a car boot or market, but I suppose I could look into that, I think someone mentioned a facebook page. I'm up north in Yorkshire so not sure what sort of distance I could think about reaching...There's been a lot of ideas on this thread so lots to think about, but I think it definitely won't be the quick earner for this christmas that I was hoping 😂 It could be more of a long term project to work on and sort of build up by selling the odd one here and there maybe.

OP posts: