A coworker is asking me to bake a cake for a benefit cake auction. She has no specifications besides something that will grab attention and raise some $$. We've agreed on a 9-10 inch round cake. What do you all suggest? I have a wedding cake and Veggie Tales birthday cake that same weekend, so I don't have a lot of time to invest in this cake since I start back to work (high school teacher) tomorrow. She at first mentioned a thin layer chocolate cake or german chocolate, but then was leaning towards a buttercream decorated cake. My only idea if I decorate a cake is to do it in our school's colors & mascot since the man's twin sons both play football there.

Help please! What have you had great success with at something like this?

I haven't done a cake for an auction so cannot comment from personal experience but there are several cakes that I think might work well.

These 2 cakes wouldn't require too much time smoothing your b/c and the roses could be done pretty quickly for either one:

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1397028

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1159296

This one has chocolate covered strawberries:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1161599

Something like this with the school colours perhaps?:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1153968


Or maybe a kit kat, M&M cake?:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1270304


Here's one that someone did for an auction of their school logo:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1194371

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1312732


The possibilities are endless but for some reason I have my mind on chocolate and cookies tonight, I think I need to go and get my fix
.

Anyway, I think the idea of using the school colours and the mascot is a great idea too.

Good luck.

Thanks...lots to look at. The strawberry one looks delish!

I'm not sure who this one belongs to, but I'm thinking of it versus the school-related one.

Well, the pic will not load. It's just a tall round white cake with ganache dripping off the top. Simple pearl border.

It does look good doesn't it! That particular cake was made by DollyCakes.


Here's another that is very similar done by shelbur10:

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=688493


I personally think it's better to go with something that would fit all occasions (ie gift/dinner party/bday cake etc.) as it might bring in more bids than to do a school mascot but that's just my humble opinion.
However if you do a more general style cake but use the school colours that would work too.
I also liked these cakes because IMO they would require a little less time because you don't have to worry about smoothing your icing and dipping strawberries aren't too hard either. The only thing you'd have to do at closer to the time of the event that might have to worry about is that you would have to work with the strawberries and the cookies closer to the time of the event so they stay fresher longer.

Have fun!

Similar to these but with a pearl border?:

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=248923

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1416307

Similar to those...maybe this will work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11571463@N05/3163783254/

I would do something that relates to the organization that will benefit from the auction. I chaired a cake auction committee for a few years and those that related to the organization generally sold for more- unless it was a super-wow design.

It's for a man that needs an organ transplant. I have considered our local high school's colors/mascot.

But, I think I might go with a round layer cake (not sure on flavorings yet, but need something that sounds & is delish!) covered in fondant with cherry blossom & tree limb coming up side.

Perhaps you can call it Tree of Life then?

That would be a very nice touch. Thank you!

I did one last Fall for a teacher battling cancer. Since it was Fall, I did a bale of hay with leaves, pumpkins, gourds and a scarecrow on it. It was an 8 in. cake and it raised $90. I was thrilled.

Maybe, since it is still summer, you could do flip flops (I think those are so fun) or watermelon or a picnic scene. Or since it's close to back to school, you could make a backpack and some fondant accessories like pencils, erasers, etc....

I think a general theme as opposed to a school logo might appeal to more "shoppers," but that is JMHO.

Let us know what you decide to do and how it fares at the auction. It's nice of you to donate your talents for someone in need.

You're welcome. I think the cherry blossoms with a branch fits into a general theme. Birthday, anniversary, reunion, family get together- it fits for all of them.

I did a cake for an auction once quite a few years ago. Instead of doing bringing an actual cake, I had my portfolio out (with prices) so they could see what they would be getting . I also had a huge gift card (like the huge checks, but not quite that big) and a small gift certificate for the winner to turn into me.

The winner got a cake by me of their design for their event.

The cake ended up going for a lot of money because they knew they still ended up with a good deal (win a bid for $200, help a good cause and get an amazing cake worth more than $200 for their next family event)

They were more inclined to bid high for a cake that they would get to design for their special day (someone has a wedding coming up, someone has a 50th anniversary party....) They already know they are going to need a cake and they already know they expect to pay upwards of $500+ they would be thrilled to bid $400 for your charity to get a wedding cake.

When I did the cake, I based it on my cost and a heavily discounted labor price (next to nothing) so they really got their monies worth for their bid.

If you're really busy that weekend, doing that might be the way to go.

That is an awesome idea...think I might do that in addition to the actual cake. A coworker was actually purchasing this cake (basically cost) so I'm not really making a profit on it. Since I've had the man's son before in my class, it would be great for me to make a contribution as well. I think I'll get to work on that now!

I ended up going with a chocolate (cake mix extender) sponge cake with vanilla buttercream. Thanks to all of you for the input! I hope it brings in the $$...

I charged my coworker only $25. The cake raised $100.

That's awesome. Glad it went so well.

Yay! It seems like I'm always holding my breath when my cake comes up for auction. Congratulations!

This was a first for me, so I'm pretty pleased. Thanks for all the advice!