The leaves are turning, fall sports are gearing up, and class is in session! These are the best back-to-school bake sale recipes that'll effortlessly get you through autumn PTA events, field-trip fundraising, holiday parties, and more. They're easy, budget-friendly, and as tasty as they are cute, so your treats will fly off the table faster than you can say, "Get to class!"
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Easy back to school bake sale recipes that actually make money!
Back to school means new supplies, fresh lunchboxes, and bake sales! It's tough enough if you have one kid, but when you've got more than that, you need simple, delicious recipes—and as a mom of eight, that's my specialty!
Say bye to stale, store-bought stuff, and get excited for tempting cookies, delicious cakes, cute cupcakes, drool-worthy candy, festive holiday treats, and home-baked breads.
These easy back-to-school bake sale recipes are sure to impress and still leave time to help with homework!
🍪 Cookies
Everyone loves a bite-sized, bake-sale treat. These easy cookie recipes are quick to make and packed with flavor!
Grandma's Molasses Crinkles are sweet, chewy cookies that people of all ages love. They have a rich brown sugar flavor and the perfect blend of fall spices, including ginger and cinnamon!
Buttery, chewy, and covered in lots of cinnamon-sugar goodness, Old-Fashioned Snickerdoodles are a classic cookie recipe for good reason. Preparing them only takes five minutes, so they're pretty much effortless.
These chewy Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies have the perfect blend of nutty, sweet flavor. Better yet, they're made with leftover frosting, so you can repurpose it into a completely new, delicious dessert.
Bakery-Style, Soft Sugar Cookies are a type of easy drop cookie recipe, which means you just mix up the batter and scoop it onto a baking sheet. From start to finish, they're done in just twenty minutes.
Allergy-friendly dessert recipes are a must for bake sales! These Nut-Free Gingerbread Snowball Cookies are buttery, crumbly, and so addicting to eat. The cinnamon flavor tastes just like your favorite holiday cookie.
These Quaker Oats Oatmeal Cookies are a classic recipe that generations of families love. They are done in just fifteen minutes with no chilling time, so they're a quick recipe... great for when the kids "forget" they need to bake something.
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are easy to make with a boxed cake mix, so you don't have to fuss with measuring too many ingredients. They're soft, chewy, and oh-so-pretty!
Everybody needs a chocolate fix, and these Chewy Brownies deliver just that. The rich, decadent brownie batter is studded with crunchy pecans for the perfect blend of delicious flavors and textures.
More great bake sale cookie recipes
- Fudgy Brownie Cookies combine two classic desserts into one.
- Chocolate Whoopie Pies are so soft and taste like mini cakes!
- Caramel Apple Cookies have a festive fall flavor.
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are a perfect GF option.
- S'mores Cookies are a campfire favorite!
🍰 Cakes
My favorite cake recipes are easy to make and easy on the budget. Sheet cakes come together quickly, so they're perfect bake-sale treats!
Texas Tornado Cake is a pineapple rum cake that's so easy you don't even need a mixer. Prep takes just ten minutes for gooey, coconut pecan goodness!
Delicious and as cute as can "bee," these Busy Bee Cake Pops start from a box mix, so they're extra simple to make. These fly off the bake sale table as fast as if they had real wings!
Made from scratch, White Texas Sheet Cake is moist, decadent, and nutty. Better yet, it's done in just a half hour, complete from start to finish!
Everybody loves a good, old-fashioned Texas Sheet Cake. Rich, fudgy, and topped with buttery pecans, this easy cake recipe takes only five minutes to prep and twenty in the oven—easy, peasy!
Strawberry Sheet Cake is simple and quick, so even the kids can help with this one. The whipped strawberry and cream cheese frosting is literally the icing on the cake... it's good enough to lick off the spatula!
Moist and full of festive fall flavor, 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cake is a breeze to prepare. This recipe freezes great, so you can save some extra slices for yourself to enjoy later in the season!
Churro Bundt Cake transforms the classic county fair treat into an easy bundt cake recipe. It's packed with vanilla and cinnamon flavor, with a tasty streusel swirl running through the middle. Unique, simple, and delicious!
Packed with old-fashioned flavor, Coca Cola Cake is moist and sweet. The crackly chocolate glaze on top is extra fudgy and absolutely impossible to resist!
More great cake recipes
- Classic Vanilla Layer Cake is buttery, tender, and oh-so-pretty.
- Lemon Sheet Cake with Lemon Frosting bursts with citrusy, zesty flavor.
- Peach Sheet Cake with Glaze is fresh, easy to make, and hard to resist!
- Key Lime Sheet Cake tastes like a vacation in every bite.
- Peanut Butter Sheet Cake with Icing is done in under one hour!
🧁 Cupcake recipes
These easy cupcake recipes are a great idea for back-to-school bake sales because they're already individual portions. You don't need to fuss with cutting or serving—you don't even need a plate!
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes have a spiced cinnamon flavor, so they stand out from all the other bake-sale cupcakes. They're super soft, and no one can resist a treat with mini marshmallows on top!
Don't wait for the "big day" to make these White "Wedding Cake" Cupcakes—they're delicious for any occasion. The whipped cream cheese icing is rich and creamy but not overly sweet.
Flavored with strawberry, fresh lemon, and vanilla, Pink Lemonade Cupcakes are bright and cheery. No one will be able to resist their pretty appearance, and after the first bite, they'll be sure to head back for seconds!
White cake and marshmallow filling makes these Copycat Little Debbie Zebra Cakes impossible to resist. Plus, since they're homemade, you'll earn extra brownie points among all the PTA parents!
Still looking for your new favorite cupcake flavor? I've tested lots. Check out my list of the 91 Best Cupcakes on the Internet—there's something for everyone!
More awesome cupcake recipes
- Berries and Cream Cupcakes taste light and summery.
- Cereal and Milk Cupcakes are super unique and adorable.
- Peanut Butter Cupcakes have the best nutty frosting.
- Cotton Candy Cupcakes are colorful and topped with the real stuff!
- Honey Lavender Cupcakes deliver springy flavor in each bite.
- Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes taste just like they're made with all-purpose flour.
🍭 Candy
Homemade candy is a special treat—it's a perfect gift, so people often buy it to share with friends and family. Stand out at the next school bake-off with these easy homemade candy recipes.
This is the best Old-Fashioned Fudge recipe because it's super creamy, simple to make, and you don't need any fancy equipment. The pecans add a satisfying crunch, but you can swap them for another nut or even M&M candy.
Buckeyes are a bake-sale favorite and disappear in no time. They're creamy and sweet and take less than an hour to make. The hardest part is trying not to eat them all as you go!
Great for school holiday fundraisers and a perfect gift, Christmas Cookie Fudge appeals to all ages. Young ones love the cookie flavor and sprinkles, while the nostalgic fudgy texture transports the rest of us back to the good 'ol days.
Sweet and salty? Check. Smooth and crisp? Check. Easy and quick? Check and check. Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites are an easy truffle recipe that takes just 10 minutes to make. They're so addicting!
In less than half an hour, you can enjoy the rich, nutty goodness of Creamy Pecan Pralines. This Southern dessert recipe is a classic and one of my family's all-time favorites.
More mouthwatering candy recipes
- Peanut Brittle is a classic candy treat!
- Coffee Truffles are smooth, rich, and satisfying.
- Homemade Marshmallows are easier to make than you'd think!
- White Chocolate Passion Fruit Truffles have the perfect blend of flavors.
- Oreo Truffles only require three ingredients and no baking.
🎃 Holiday recipes
The holiday season seems to get busier each year. Save time before Christmas break and try these delicious, easy holiday bake-off recipes!
(Bonus—they double as easy party treats and fun winter break activities for your kids!)
Nightmare Before Christmas fans go batty for these Jack Skellington Oreo Pops. Cute, clever, and quick to make, they're a fun bake sale treat everyone will love.
Spooky Halloween Rice Krispie Treats are super easy and fun for kids of all ages. Premade Rice Krispy treats save you time on last-minute Halloween party prep!
Another one of my favorite Halloween desserts, Nutter Butter Ghosts are too cute to resist at any holiday bake sale. Made with peanutty cookies and just two other ingredients, these are an easy, no-bake dessert everyone will love.
Anyone who likes sweet and salty desserts (like chocolate-covered pretzels) will love these ghoulish Halloween Pretzel Ghosts. They're effortless to make and just the right amount of spooky fun.
These Candy-Filled Christmas Tree Cones are a festive, showstopping holiday bake-off treat. Made with royal icing and sugar cones, this fun Christmas recipe makes everyone feel some holiday magic!
No-Bake Christmas Wreaths are like old-fashioned cornflake cookies made with crisp cereal and gooey, buttery marshmallows. The festive dessert is easy to assemble but looks as if a gourmet chef made it.
More amazing holiday recipes
- Back to School Pencil Twinkies get straight-A's this semester!
- Double Chocolate Halloween Cookies are tasty and a bit spooky.
- Halloween Candy Cookies tempt any candy lover.
- Ghost Cupcakes are 1/10 difficult and 10/10 cute!
- Halloween Spider Cookies are packed with yummy peanut butter flavor.
🍞 Breads
Breads are a great bake sale option for those who prefer something a little less sweet. Plus, you can eat 'em for dessert and breakfast!
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are one of the finer things in life. Gooey, soft, and so fluffy, my quicker recipe saves valuable time—without sacrificing any flavor.
Blueberry White Chocolate Muffins strike the perfect balance of flavors—a buttery crumb, juicy blueberries, and sweet white chocolate. Plus, they only take a half hour.
Moist and tender Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread reinvents your favorite classic banana bread recipe. It features macadamia nuts, pineapple, and coconut for the perfect tropical trifecta of flavor.
A classic bake sale recipe, Pumpkin Bread features all of your favorite flavors of fall. It's warm and sweet and tastes perfect with tea during the busy back-to-school season.
Amish White Bread has a delicious, classic flavor that makes perfect lunchbox sandwiches. Homemade bread isn't hard to make, but some still shy away. Make it, and you'll impress the other parents and school staff!
More incredible bread recipes
- Zucchini Bread has a great cinnamon flavor and is so moist.
- Gluten-Free Banana Bread is made with just one bowl!
- Cinnamon Crunch Knots take less than an hour.
- Quick Chocolate Bread tastes like cake but is so much easier.
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread makes the best toast—don't forget butter.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Remember a cake server, spatula, or tongs. It's better to use a utensil rather than your hands to serve desserts.
- Some school bake sales allow samples—bring extra if this is the case.
- We eat with our eyes first. Desserts that look prettier (sprinkles, smooth cuts, candy toppings, pretty packaging, etc.) sell more quickly.
- Bring plates/napkins for those who want to enjoy a treat as they browse. Pack "doggy bags" for those who want to take the dessert home.
- Dessert recipes with cream cheese frosting must remain chilled. Bring extra ice packs, just in case!
🎁 How to package bake sale items
- Wrap individual-sized treats (candy, cake pops, cookies) in cellophane baggies, securing each one with a pretty ribbon or raffia.
- Use clear disposable plastic cups for treats that need more support, like cupcakes. Then, place each cup in cellophane and seal with ribbon.
- For larger items like sheet cakes and loaf bread, use foil baking dishes and cover them tightly with plastic wrap.
- Most baking stores sell plastic clamshell containers that will hold a dozen cupcakes, making transport and selling super easy.
- Let the people see what you're offering. Cover the desserts with a glass dome or plastic wrap rather than aluminum foil or opaque plastic lids.
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Spread the word weeks—or even months—in advance. Use social media, flyers, and local signs, if possible. Prepare reminders as the day gets closer to ensure no one forgets.
Cookies, brownies, and cupcakes tend to sell the fastest at school bake sales.
Preparation is key! Choose desserts that are budget-friendly to make. You can often bump up the price tag on high-ticket, big desserts, like full sheet tray cakes, loaves of bread, and dozens of cupcakes.
School bake sales are a type of fundraiser used to raise money for educational purposes—field trips, sports equipment, and more.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
Back-to-school bake sales don't have to be a huge headache or take a lot of time. Remember that packaging is everything so make sure that your packages show off the goodies inside!
Bake sales, when done right, can make a nice chunk of money for band, clubs, and other things that the school district might not have money to pay for. Go for a variety of small, inexpensive treats as well as a couple of larger, more expensive items like cakes or pies.
Most of all, enjoy! Having fun is part of the experience.
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