I need to make $500 hosting a bake sale--could use some ideas

Some background:

The charity I cook for recently bought me an expensive restaurant range for their kitchen.  Actually, that wasn't expensive, compared to the estimate for the ventilation hook-up for the range hood.  I did warn them before they bought the oven, that this part would cost more than the range, and asked them if they still wanted to buy it.  I feel a bit bad about all of the expense I incurred them. They are having their annual boxed dinner event next month. A pro barbecues in the parking lot; we box it all up, and charge a flat fee. We make a lot of money this way. People order ahead of time, but walk-ins do come in and even eat there. We do about 350-500 boxes. I'm thinking that a bake sale table near the entrance may entice customers to buy something else to take home for later, or even to spend some of the change for the dinner at my table. I do also plan to put out a donation jar. NOTE; the meal includes a "dessert", if you can call Brownie Bites in a vending machine bag a dessert. (The company who makes them does kindly donate them to use, but, to me, that's not a real dessert).

I am donating all the baked goods I make, and will do this sale alone, including baking the food and packaging it. I will bake it 1-2 days ahead in their kitchen. I know I should ask for help, but, there are a few reasons I'd rather do it alone. Trust me!

My goal is to raise at least $500 in a 4-5 hour period.  I need to make things as easy and cheap as possible for myself. I am also throwing in a few Fall and Halloween crafts. Most of the components for these I already have in my craft stash. I'm not making a ton of stuff, though, but it has the advantage of being able to do it way in advance, and will sell as the highest-ticket items in the sale.

What I plan to make:

Peanut butter cookies (from a mix)

Chocolate chip """"""""""""""""""""""""

Oatmeal-raisin"""""""""""""""""""""""""

Cinnamon swirl crumb cake, cut into oblong bars (mix)

Mini banana bread loaves(mix)

Apple pie, whole pies ($10) and slices ($2)  Using pre-made crusts, but making my own filling.

Pumpkin muffins (part spice cake mix plus canned pumpkin I already have)

Pretzel rods, large, caramel and chocolate dipped

"""""""""""""""""""""""", white and dark chocolate dipped

Dark chocolate brownies, larger oblong bars ($1) (mix, but it's better than my from scratch ones. I make and sell these at the Bingo games like crazy. Everyone lover them, and the mix goes on sale for .79!)

Maple fudge

Buffalo Chex Mix

Any ideas how I can make my goal? Thanks.

hmmm I don't know if you want total variety but I'm a cake person & there's only one cake but it's not really cake cake, it's a coffee cake.

You could make a chocolate cake mix with a vanilla orange frosting & a vanilla cake mix with a chocolate frosting. lemon bars, raspberry bars, pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, chocolate dipped fruit, (that would be inexpensive & they're yummy!), cupcakes would be easy. I can't think of anything else at the moment. I think you've got cookies covered. You could sell the cupcakes if they're large type for like 3-4 a piece. what about little tarts? You can buy a frozen crust, defrost it, roll it onto little tart pans & then just sell that, like a little baby pie. you could probably sell those for 4 or 5 bucks a piece.

if I think of anything else, I'll post again

The high school orchestra would have bake sales at concerts.  They packaged every thing to sell for a dollar so they wouldn't have to make change.  I 2nd the cupcake idea.

a gluten free option would be nice too.  Blue diamond almonds now makes almond flower and the recipes are awesome.  So far we've made the brownies (not too much work) and the chocolate chip cookies.

msserena said:

 
hmmm I don't know if you want total variety but I'm a cake person & there's only one cake but it's not really cake cake, it's a coffee cake.

You could make a chocolate cake mix with a vanilla orange frosting & a vanilla cake mix with a chocolate frosting. lemon bars, raspberry bars, pumpkin pie, lemon meringue pie, chocolate dipped fruit, (that would be inexpensive & they're yummy!), cupcakes would be easy. I can't think of anything else at the moment. I think you've got cookies covered. You could sell the cupcakes if they're large type for like 3-4 a piece. what about little tarts? You can buy a frozen crust, defrost it, roll it onto little tart pans & then just sell that, like a little baby pie. you could probably sell those for 4 or 5 bucks a piece.

if I think of anything else, I'll post again

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I am told by blogs, etc. that cakes don't sell (pies do), but cupcakes are a must.  I forgot to list that in list! Not sure what kind I will make. Thanks for your ideas!

I would suggest carrot cake bars. Make a carrot cake mix, but divide the batter in half between two 9x13 baking pans. Frost with cream cheese frosting, which is easy to make. Slice them up into large bars - 2 x 4 inches and wrap them on a paper plate with plastic wrap.

Carrot cake sells like crazy.

Do people still like Rice Krispies bars? Years ago, I helped out with a bake sale and people went gaga over Rice Krispies treats. We couldn't believe it.

Also caramel popcorn. A woman brought smallish bags of caramel popcorn to the bake sale and those bags sold like crazy.

Muffins of any kind.

Little loaves of lemon cakes, using a pan that makes, say 4 small loaves at one time. 

Winchester said:

 
Do people still like Rice Krispies bars? Years ago, I helped out with a bake sale and people went gaga over Rice Krispies treats. We couldn't believe it.

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They do. Maybe instead of using Rice Krispies use different cereals instead. It would be a nice change from the typical Rice Krispies treat and might draw more people to your sale. I've done the treats with plain Cheerios before. Fruit Loops would be another good and colorful choice. I don't think flake type cereals would work too well. I'm sure there are gluten and allergy free recipies for Rice Crispies-type treats.

I think you have a pretty good assortment although the addition of the cupcakes would be good.