Hello! New here--I'm wondering what you all do with all the cakes you bake or do you always bake with a purpose? I don't plan on launching a business but would love to make at least a cake a week for fun once I get the basics mastered.

I know most schools won't allow homemade products but surely there is someplace that would welcome a cake, right? Maybe a shelter or something? Anyone donate their cakes?

I'm thinking this week, I can make them for church because they have a social afterwards and homemade foods are welcome. Other than that, I need to come up with a plan because I can't POSSIBLY keep all that sugar in my house. LOL!

I send them with my husband to work but you could also give them to nursing homes for the staff. I used to work in nursing homes and the staff (especially the night shift-they always feel like they get left out) loves to have goodies. I like the church idea too as well as shelters.

I give the cakes to my mother and she takes them to work. Or I'll take them to work, but I definetly don't keep them in the house!

I take them to work.

I take them to work and send them in with my fiance to work. He is now very popular over there. LOL.

Sometimes I toss them

I work so I bring my "practice" cakes to work. I'll leave one at home or cut one in half or bring the whole thing. I know what you mean by having too many cakes around. LOL. You can also invest in "dummy" cakes made of styroform--I haven't yet. They sell them at some of the cake decorating stores or bakery/stores where I live. See if any family or friends like a particular cake and they you can really experiment! Good Luck!
Christine...Onebigdogmama

The best part about sending in pratice cakes with my fiance, is that now - his company orders from me once in a while!!

Perrystcakes, people from my moms job are my best customers. It's an excellent way to market your cakes!

Family and friends are usual willing to take free cake! Neighbors would probably accept one too. Hubby's work, your work, or any family member's work would enjoy them as well.

I will take them to my mom's work. She's a nurse practitioner who works in a doctor's office and there are always drug reps looking to order cakes.

She used to work in an emergency room and they also loved the cakes because soemtimes they were too busy to eat lunch or dinner.

I send mine to work with hubby, all the guys in his shop love them all the time, if made one every day they would be happy,lol. I also bring them to my friends home and she take a big chunk of the cakes every time. I have only made 1 so far that I actually threw out. It took me a really long time to make and I was making it for practice, so I knew no one was going to be eating it.

Mine all go to work with either my hubby or my mom. I have gotten a few orders for cakes from my hubbies job. I can't keep the cakes at my house, my kids are tired of looking at them and my jeans are tired of me eating them (I've gained 8 lbs, doesn't sound like alot, but I've only been decorating for 2 months!!! At this rate, I'll end up looking like a big 'ol balloon at the Thanksgiving Day Parade!) Dummy cakes...now why didn't I think of that before?!?! Guess it was because all of the sugar was clouding by judgement...lol!

I give them to the neighbors.....my friends who have business downtown (great advertising).....relatives....church events.....and every potluck that I attend...I TAKE THE CAKE!

This has truly paid off as wonderful advertising as I'm getting my business off the ground. Every order I've gotten has come as a result of my handing out free cake.

THEN WHY AM I GAINING WEIGHT ANYWAY???????

I usually bake with a purpose but sometimes I just want to play with a new technique or recipe...if that's the case, the cake goes into work with DH. I have gotten a lot of orders in return, so I guess it pays off in the end!!

In addition to family, friends, and the office which were already suggested, you may want to contact your local Girl or Boy Scouts. I once donated four cakes which were auctioned off durig their annual bake sale.

I give them away, but lately I have been thinking of building a cake launcher. Launch them across the mall parking lot perhaps. When someone gets "Buttercreamed", they'll say "Hey....where'd that cake come from?!"

Dale, that is so hilarious. Since, I have a hard time unloading my practice cakes (everybody is always watching their weight), then I'm for that idea.

I would love to find good homes for my practice cakes, but the home is usually on my hips. Unfortunately, my hips don't have any money so really not my best marketing promotion. My husband works out of the home but he has a company base here so I think I'm just going to start taking them over there with a business card. That's for the cakes that turn out well. There are still some I'm really unhappy with. I can feel my hips smiling.

Dale, you crack me up!

I take mine to work, give them to friends and have taken several to my hairdresser. I've also thrown a few in the trash (these were recipe experiments that went terribly wrong)---heehee...Oh well back to the drawing board.

Just thought of something else...I took one of my cakes to the Ronald Mcdonald House here. They were very appreciative..If there is one in your city, call ahead and ask if they would like the cake, I'm sure they would love it.....We have 50 families staying in the House here for kids being treated at St Jude Children's Hospital...I am going to try and get a huge batch of cookies done for Christmas...

When i first started making cakes i would send them to hubby's office, so much so i started getting the orders for the bday party's they celebrate at office, so now i dont send cakes as every month or two i have to make one for whoever's bday it is. I have taken a couple of cakes to my boy's school to raise funds for the tsunami victims, during the school fete and open day. I was looking forward to sending some for the church fete but was advised to send something else, that was ok.....
Not a practice cake but i would definately like to make a special cake for some orphan childrens. When i see my kids enjoy my cakes, the orphans come to my mind. I am going to do this one day

Dale needs therapy.

When I was working and taking my Wilton classes, I took them to work... People loved that!!!

Now if I have anything to practice on, I give it to my family and friends and if not, to my husband to take to work...