I have recently started making cake balls. I found the great recipes on this web site. I have taken boxes to a graduation party for free (trying to get out my new product). I have also taken boxes to work. I told both the people doing the graduation and the people at work that this was a new product I was trying to sell. I have had several people ask me for the recipes. I really don't want to be rude and tell them that this is a product I am trying to market, but what else do I say? Do you hand out recipes when people as you for them? How do you turn them down politely? Thanks for any response I recieve as this is my first post 
I used to hand out my recipes a little too freely but my aunt who's a caterer and my mom said I shouldn't since it's become a business. You can tell them it's just a "trade secret" or you can give general info about it. I just say " I add things like pudding and buttermilk or use butter." Besides, my recipes keep changing anyway. 
you can do what i do.... say, 'i don't really have a recipe, it's different everytime'
people have asked me for my recipe for lemon chicken (just something i make for my family), but it's hard to give out because i don't use one. i just add stuff until it looks and tastes good.
when I took some cake balls to the hospital's yearly bake sale two of the little old ladies that volunteer there just attacked me begging for the recipe.
I dutifully wrote out what I did and thought that would be the end of it. Nope, one lady too a look at my directions and promply ordered 4 dozen cause it "looked too complicated".
She is my best customer- buyes them in bulk and freezes them. Five dozen will last her about a six weeks.
The other woman pocketed the paper but six months later she asked for another copy To this day she still hasn't made her own.
I won't give out the secret anymore. I feel like I need to follow them home and give a demo and who needs that pressure.
mommachris
Could you say it's an old family secret? Or maybe give out a partial recipe-Lists ingredients but not measurments-say cake scraps and any of the following: flavoring extracts, coffee flavoring, buttercream, walnuts, pecans, nuts, cofffe liqueur, flavored liquer, ganache, white chocolate, dark chocolate, coconut, etc. Tell them you make them in such large quanities it would be impossible to break it down. No one will ever be able to recreate yours, and they would either continue to order from you to experiment or admit defeat and still come back to you.
Also, IMHO, you can never make something as good as the original, especially if it was purchased from a bakery, or if DH's mama made it! By giving a recipe guideline with so many options you gain trust from your customers and hopefully mass orders since they should never be able to get it 'just right.'
One more quick idea-You could tell them to check label on the box for ingredients. Use an elegant (maybe like an address label) sticker outside the box which simply states contains: X, Y and Z. It's the same thing you would get on any store label and you're killing 2 birds with 1 stone; giving out the recipe so to speak, and identifying ingredients for allergic people.
Good Luck,
Gail
I just smile and say "sorry, I can't give out my secret recipe"
I made the mistake of sharing the recipe for cake balls with my mom and she has proceeded to give it to every single person she knows, plus make some and take them to HER (not food related) business, and give everyone who asks the recipe. So I can count on never selling these, since everyone in town knows how to make them!
I will only share recipes with a select few people who I KNOW will keep it to themselves. Or CC members, of course!
edited for clarity
Kindly let them know that unfortunately you are unable to release the recipe.
I admit it's frustrating to have people ask for recipes...but for me, it's a whole different reason. My reason for not really sharing, is simply b/c inevitably, when I share a recipe...someone will massacre it -where it's NOTHING like the original 
Like once I shared my recipe for red velvet cake w/ a church member, and this gal took it upon herself to frost it w/ nasty old cream cheese 
- I waited until she walked over and asked me what I thought about it, and then said well you ruined it...and threw my slice of cake away. The look on her face was priceless 
Well, this isn't about a cake recipe but just regular food. When I first got married and learned how to cook, I asked my SIL for several recipes and each time I asked her she'd laugh and say "Ancient Chinese secret" and laugh and walk away. She's never given me one single recipe, but I've gone to her house while she's cooking and have figured things out.
She's not in a business where she sells her food or anything, she just likes to be praised for the good food she makes and doesn't want anyone else to have them.
Funny you should mention this, this very subject just came up earlier today... http://forum.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=3207113#3207113
I wouldn't share the recipe if you are trying to sell them. They will - or SHOULD - understand.
I have given out a few recipes to differet people. It really depends on who it is, WHERE they live and their intentions.
As long as you tell them no politely, they should be very understanding. Good luck!
I just smile sweetly and say "If I tell you, I'd have to kill you". While their laughing thinking I'm kidding, I'm slowing walking away. It works everytime.
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