The economic crowd pleaser

[Rosere]

I've been told that included in my new role is a part responsibility to cater for a charity tea morning in 2 weeks. This is fine, except for 2 things.... My baking skills are limited to banana bread and rice crispie buns, and I've limited funds to be spending on ingredients.
I've no doubt I can manage traybakes, what's a good crowd pleaser and also economic to produce?
Can I make banana bread and slice it? Is that acceptable? Many thanks.

Everyone loves rice crispie cakes. That's a winner.

Pimped up flapjack - buy one of those boxes of Celebrations or Heroes, chop them and stir them in - or just drizzle with melted milk chocolate

Rice Krispie Squares - buy supermarket own label rice krispies, marshmallows and either butter or marg and you're sorted

If it’s in two weeks, they might be expecting something Christmassy.
I’d do these simple shortbread biscuits in star shapes skintchef.co.uk/easy-homemade-kids-shortbread-recipe/

Thanks all. Some own brand Krispie buns are on the menu, and I'm going to attempt those shortbread biscuits at home first @Ricekrispie22, maybe use a star cutter or something Christmas shaped. Thank you!

Rocky road is super easy and always a winner. You could add dried cranberries to make more festive

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12412/rocky-road

Gingerbread, fairy cakes, sponge cake, scones?

Snowy Rocky Road. You use white chocolate and bung in a few extra silver balls, cranberries and pistachios for festiveness. Don’t put Heroes in anything. They are vile.

Gingerbread cookies

Mary Berry’s all in one brownies - easiest bake ever and so good

I tried scones once. Made them way too wet. They were like puddles. Am a very novice Baker 😂😂 all these sound great. My 6 year old is dying to help ☺️

Victoria sponge cake
Scones - you can take some jam with you for those who want it?
Rock cakes
Mini cupcakes - different flavors - red velvet, carrot cake, chocolate, vanilla
Finger sandwiches with various fillings e.g. cucumber or smoked salmon with cream cheese

Blueberry muffins

I would do;
Homemade mince pies- using ready made pastry, and a star of pastry on the top. (Don’t overfill or they will boil over and burn) Dust with icing sugar once cold.
Festive rocky road- use ginger biscuits and dried cranberries. Drizzle with white chocolate and scatter a few cranberries on top.
And shop bought scones, split and fill with jam and whipped cream then dust with icing sugar
Basically, cheat and dust with icing sugar. That usually works for me!

I just made Mary Berry's gingerbread traybake for our school fete. It was dead easy (put everything in a bowl and mix) and tasted fabulous.

I made two alterations:I did half treacle half golden syrup and a plain icing.

Honestly, nothing expensive, dead easy, christmassy and really tasty. I'm doing it for our Christmas day pudding with vanilla ice cream.