I love baking... but what to do with them afterwards?

liiights

Hello, i'm new to this, sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I thought this might be the right one to post it in!

Basically I LOVE to bake (if uni fails i'd totally start my own bakery/coffee shop haha... it's a lil daydream of mine) but I don't know what to do with the goods I make! I live far away from my family, I obviously limit/stop myself from eating much/at all as it's not the best thing for weight loss... there are only so many cakes and pastries and biscuits my boyfriend can eat, and I don't really have any friends. What can I do with these baked goods? Obviously the most obvious answer is to not bake any more but i'd be sad to stop doing something that makes me happy/is a hobby! Any ideas?

Thanks guys (and sorry if this is random!)

colibri23

Sometimes I bake for a local shelter specifically for domestic violence survivors (so lots of families/kids). You can see if there are any shelters (homeless, domestic violence, etc) around you, but make sure to check with them to see if they'll accept outside food like mine does. Also, you could take some in to class since you're in university, but again I might check with the professor ahead of time since some don't like food in class.

Kanuenue

I grew up baking, and I too had to figure out a way to enjoy it without waste or adding to my waist.

I will cut recipes in half/fourths/to a single egg. I set aside a few for me and partner, then I wrap up plates and hand them out to my neighbors. Keeps me friendly with the neighbors despite my crazy dogs. I have also started putting 1\2 my cookie dough batches in freezer bags, flattening & labeling them and keeping them available for single servings or when I have company stop by. Or whatever the reason, keeps them available without being in my face.

I also volunteer to bake for other clubs on campus when they have their fund raisers too. They appreciate it and get to break into my chocolate chip stash! I am sure there are opportunities to enjoy your baking without being left with a pan of goods in your house.

jayjay12345654321

A friend of mine loves baking cupcakes and decorating them in unique ways. She contracts with a local bakery to be the cupcake supplier. Maybe there's an opportunity like that for you if you can supply something they don't already sell to bring in more business. Here's one of her cakes.

Amitysk

Shelters, churches, food banks, senior centers would be great ideas!

xscat

Same problem!!! I LOVE to cook in general. It's so soothing for me. But as a person practically you can only eat so much...

I used to bring cookies/brownies/muffins that I made to work all the time. Sharing helps with portion control and makes people like you better. But the last two batches of cookies I baked were just soooo good that I was really reluctant to share them with anybody XD

BTW feel free to friend me if you live in the bay area. I love hosting dinners! And I promise I'll make healthy food

mbeuchert24

I haven't baked in a while for this very reason! I have 3 kids and my husband, but they still can't eat all I'm trying to make ha ha. I need to just start making it and bringing in half to work and leaving the other half for the family.

crystalfisher89

I will either bring stuff to work or I'll freeze it in single packages so I can grab and go too and don't have to worry about them going bad.

Francl27

I avoid it, lol. Or I eat everything in two days. My kids don't even help that much.

JesterMFP

I love baking too. The ways around it for me have been:

-bake less frequently (may not be the way you want to go!)

-bake to coincide with friends' birthdays, parties, Christmas, bake sales etc

-give stuff away at work, or to neighbours, friends etc (there is a limit to this)

-bake stuff that is freezable (for example I've found that brownies freeze quite well; cookie dough freezes and you can slice some off and bake as required) or that has a long shelf-life (for example I made gingerbread and lebkuchen before Christmas, both of which lasted ages and in fact got better with age)

-bake things that fit more easily into my goals (eg focusing on artisan breads rather than cakes; perfecting my protein brownies; baking fruit loaf, scones or gingerbread instead of ganache slathered, buttercream filled chocolate cake; saving the really calorie dense stuff for special occasions)

-bake in smaller quantities (buying tins for smaller cakes or loaves, baking 6 cupcakes instead of 12 etc)

MyM0wM0w

I love baking. I love experimenting with baking recipes and making the results look just beautiful...

I volunteered to do coffee hour baking at church 2 weeks a month and I'm in a community group that does a potluck every sunday night. They know I'm the one who ALWAYS brings dessert.

The rest go to my neighbors in my apartment complex and if I have a LOT I give it to the complex office and they put them out for resident's/prospective residents.

MinMin97

I eat them. That's why I don't bake:( I love to bake, but not right now! But I have my children bake, so I can remain detached!

chriscolh

Give birth to 5 boys. Leftovers are no longer a problem.
Seriously, I limit my baking days. I bake on Sundays, because that's our thing and my boys love it. We do big batches and choose a family in our neighborhood to take half to. Love it, and we are getting to know our neighbors better. My other treat making day is Wednesday because I am a cub scout leader and we have den meeting at my house on Wednesday afternoons, and my boys love a treat after den meetings. This year has been a learning experience for me since one of my scouts has gluten and dairy allergies. I have found new ways of baking without gluten and dairy! My key is timing - I always bake when I know I can share. That way, I don't have to worry about leftovers (which I will nibble on until they are gone. Really gotta work on that willpower thing!)
Good luck!

Magic_Chicken

and I don't really have any friends. What can I do with these baked goods?

This is a perfect way to make new friends!! Students LOVE free food!! If you live in halls, go knock on some doors, introduce yourself and take your goodies. Take them to lectures and offer them to the people sitting near you, or invited people to a study group and promise to provide cookies/cakes etc.

BattleTaxi

Find out if there are any shelters in the area that accept left over food. There is one in my area (Boca Helping Hands) that accepts food donations to give to poor/homeless.

RockWarrior84

give to homeless

Leslie1124

the homeless shelter idea is fantastic. do that!

Fuzzipeg

I agree with all the charitable ideas. How about putting your talents to some form of fund raising for a charity or charities.

Eleonora91

I have the exact same problem. I love baking, but I'm not so good at it, so I can't already sell anything. And my friends and flatmates never eat much I usually bake muffins, cupcakes or cakes if someone is coming around. Otherwise I keep some for my breakfast, but since most pastries are not edible after 1-2 days, I need to give them away.

mxmkenney

Bring them to work (or send them with your boyfriend) and leave them in the break room. They will be gone in 5 minutes.

Siobhan108

I too love to bake, but living near a university is helpful. I called the housemother of a fraternity and the guys love them. I also send boxes of goodies to my oldest grandson who is in the Air Force going to school. His friends love everything. I send them in the flat rate boxes and it's less then $18 and they get them in 2-3 days. I also take some to our local police and fire departments and they sent me a beautiful card with a picture them all eating my fudge.

CaitlinW19

Maybe you could bring them to work or church or something and have your own little "bake sale"...choose a charity or something that you can give the proceeds to. Or you could just sell them and make yourself a little extra cash.

I freeze some of mine for a later time, but if you bake a lot that wouldn't really help you. I also make healthy baked good mainly, and I'd bet yours aren't if you dream of opening a bakery! :-)

Maybe you could also put together some kind of group with friends where everyone brings casseroles, etc for people to take home. You bring them deserts and go home with some healthy meals?

msaestein1

I will either bring stuff to work or I'll freeze it in single packages so I can grab and go too and don't have to worry about them going bad.

This. I have the same problem. If a whole cake or pan of cookies are in my house, I will eat them in one night or two,.
Ally

iggyboo93

Totally feel your pain (as I'm staring back at a pan of nutella brownies). Trying to clean out the cupboard of sweets and ingredients so we transition to low carb / diabetic friendly. I used to pack extra in my kid's lunch box so she can share with her classmates. There are a couple kids in her class whose only hot meal is served at school. Sadly, a fight broke out over some cookies and the sharing had to stop. Also had to be careful since her class is "nut-free".

I got laid off last week but I used to take leftover sweets to the office and park them next to the coffee machine - they were usually gone by 10am. Now the hubby has to take things to work.

Unfortunately, I can't give any sweets to the shelters in town because they were not made in a certified kitchen.

mystian

Same problem here. I completely stopped because I don't think I should be eating ANY of the stuff I bake. I would have to get it out of the house ASAP, but even "tasting" it is bad for my willpower; also, my 5 year old son doesn't have any willpower - he loves food - so I try to keep high calorie treats out of the house. I have alot of frozen cookie dough that has been in the freezer for many months.

BUT - I love trying out new stuff and really miss the fun of baking. My co-workers used to love me to bake

rocsings

Well being that you aren't sharing your weight loss journey. Not sure where you are and where you're trying to go. If you have a serious weight problem, I would definitely suggest you bake for planned events only. I would not randomly bake because you have an idea in your head. I love all the ideas the other MFP'ers added. If you have an idea and are willing to donate the baked goods. Contact the business first to make sure they receive prepared food. Don't make any excuses for why you had to keep it.

If you're baking for a special event make sure your count is on point leaving nothing to spare. Your health is more important than eating what you bake. Separate your lifestyle from your hobby, possible career and you will do well. Just my opinion!! Wishing you much success!!

lisalsd1

I think you have gotten some good suggestions like donating to shelters, churches, food banks, giving some to neighbors, senior centers, taking some to work, sending treats with your bf/husband to his work. I ALWAYS half the recipe, so I don't have a lot of extras sitting around.

Francl27

I agree with halfing the recipe (it's just annoying when it's an uneven number of eggs).

My issue with giving them away is that I know a lot of people who just won't eat food made by others, because they're worried of allergens or general cleanness.

Achrya

...I eat what I bake. And I bake pretty often (once a week at least) I bake less/lighten up recipes sometimes but fundamentally I just don't eat the whole pan of whatever.

kristen2713

Hahaha!! I could've written this!! I end up sending it to my boyfriend's work, taking it to his family who lives close, or bringing it to my work for our employees. I love some of the other ideas here that people have posted though!!

lisalsd1

I hadn't thought about having to half the eggs when you half a recipe. I bake mostly vegan, b/c my daughter has an egg allergy. I sub ground flax + water for the eggs.

Another thought that I had is if you could find a "cookie exchange" type group online in your area. I'm sure there are other people who like to do the same thing and could swap recipes. This might be a good way to meet new people too.