Turns out I know nothing about brownies!

[LisaR]

I know it seems sacrilegious but I hate brownies so my knowledge of them is pretty slim. I bet it has been 15 years since I have made them and that was from scratch.

DD is going to make some boxed brownies to sell at a baseball concession stand.

1. If she makes them on Friday in the aluminum disposable pans and puts the plastic lid on them, will they keep for the Friday night game and the Saturday afternoon game?

2. Will it be okay to serve them out of the disposable pans (cut in advance, scooped up with a spatula and put on a napkin when someone buys one) or is it best to wrap them individually in Saran Wrap?

3. Is there a standard size she should cut them? I know you can make them any size you want but what would be the best size to sell?

4. This is the important question. How much would one pay for a brownie? I truly have no clue. When I go to buy the mix tomorrow, I will look in the bakery case and get an idea of what they are going for but I don't know if a grocery store price would be the same as a concession stand.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[kellyg403]

I vote for individually wrapped. The size you cut them will determine the price you are asking. At our bake sales, they are decently sized for 50 cents each.

I will admit to not being a baker myself. I admit that I was never more glad when my daughters became teenagers and did it themselves. I do know that they have done friday evening baking for sat. My guess so they can cool enough to go in the individual packaging.

I also have not made a brownie in 15 years...I think kindegarten for one of the kids. When the school changed to everything had to be bought with ingredients on the label..well, I was the happiest mother of the school!


Kelly

 

[luvmy3]

I wouldn't serve them from the pan, I would either wrap them indivually or before sending them in just cut them and stack them so they are easy to grab and give. I think 50 cents is reasonable, but I'd be willing to pay more for a good brownie

 

[LisaR]

I wouldn't serve them from the pan, I would either wrap them indivually or before sending them in just cut them and stack them so they are easy to grab and give. I think 50 cents is reasonable, but I'd be willing to pay more for a good brownie

It's coming from a box so I am not sure it would qualify as a "good brownie" so we better stick to .50 cents.

 

[mjkacmom]

I seem to always be making brownies for things (bake sales, baking committee, class treats...). I buy the 6 bag Ghiradeli box at Costco (the best brownies ever!). They tell you the pan size you need to make a single batch, double, triple, etc. - 1 box of brownie mix doesn't make much). I line my pan with quick release reynolds wrap. I bake the brownies (usually 50 minutes), let cool, and then wrap and freeze. When I need them, I let defrost for about 1/2 hour, and then cut - perfect edges, no crumbly mess. You can also in half and freeze, and take out batches when you need them.

Brownies stay good for several days, if wrapped.

 

[Christine]

I seem to always be making brownies for things (bake sales, baking committee, class treats...). I buy the 6 bag Ghiradeli box at Costco (the best brownies ever!). They tell you the pan size you need to make a single batch, double, triple, etc. - 1 box of brownie mix doesn't make much). I line my pan with quick release reynolds wrap. I bake the brownies (usually 50 minutes), let cool, and then wrap and freeze. When I need them, I let defrost for about 1/2 hour, and then cut - perfect edges, no crumbly mess. You can also in half and freeze, and take out batches when you need them.

Brownies stay good for several days, if wrapped.

I agree that the Ghiradelli brownies are WONDERFUL. And, personally, I find they actually taste a little better the next day.

For a bake sale, I would precut and wrap each one.

 

[msjprincess]

I make them in cupcake tins with cupcake liners.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I've never eaten a boxed brownie I haven't liked. OTOH, I've gotten some pretty nasty ones from bakeries.

Whatever mix you use, make sure it's "family sized" and baked in a 13 x 9 inch pan. If you cut them into 20 pieces--4 lengthwise and 5 across--you can charge 50 cents for them.

And I agree with PPs that they should be individually wrapped if sold that way. They will stay fresh wrapped in plastic because it keeps the moisture in.

 

[minkydog]

Well, one thing about brownies, they're nigh indestructible so they'll keep about a week. Wrap them individually so they can put it in their backpack or purse--keeps them moist too. We sell them for 50 cents.

 

[shortbun]

I agree that the Ghiradelli brownies are WONDERFUL. And, personally, I find they actually taste a little better the next day.

For a bake sale, I would precut and wrap each one.

We use the ghiradelli too. scrumptous! yep, wrap them.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Another vote for Ghiradelli's mix. I would also wrap individually in plastic wrap before the first game. Much easier to serve that way and less chance of them getting sneezed on or something.

I think 50 cents is a good price, and I'd cut them smallish. You know the cost of living in your area better than I do, but around here, you'd pay a buck for a large but preservative-filled, processed in a factory months ago brownie from a vending machine. But not everyone wants a brownie that big, so cut them smaller, charge 50 cents and people who want more can still get 2 for a buck!

I make them in cupcake tins with cupcake liners.

That's a great idea! I have one of those brownie pans with the insert so they bake individually and they are all supposed to get crispy edges, but it doesn't work very well.

 

[LisaR]

I've never eaten a boxed brownie I haven't liked. OTOH, I've gotten some pretty nasty ones from bakeries.

Whatever mix you use, make sure it's "family sized" and baked in a 13 x 9 inch pan. If you cut them into 20 pieces--4 lengthwise and 5 across--you can charge 50 cents for them.

And I agree with PPs that they should be individually wrapped if sold that way. They will stay fresh wrapped in plastic because it keeps the moisture in.

Thanks! This is really helpful.

I will definitely have DD individually wrap them, too. That saves me from buying the disposable pans.

 

[bas71873]

And I trick I just recently learned is that brownies cut "smoother" with a plastic knife! Don't know why, but they do.

 

[DaisyLynn]

Anyone else REALLY want a brownie now??

 

[LisaR]

Anyone else REALLY want a brownie now??

I honestly don't like them but I admit, after thinking and talking about them multiple times today, I just might have to try one!

 

[Hannathy]

as far as individually wrapped I hope everyone means using zip lock sandwich bags!

That is what we use for our bake sales.

we price everything 50 cents a baggie makes it easier lie 2 cookies or 1 decent size brownie.

What really sells with the high school kids is the Puppy Chow! We put 1 cup in a baggie and sell it for 50 cents and sell out as many batches as we can get sent in.

I wouldn't make them more than a day ahead.

 

[LisaR]

as far as individually wrapped I hope everyone means using zip lock sandwich bags!

That is what we use for our bake sales.

we price everything 50 cents a baggie makes it easier lie 2 cookies or 1 decent size brownie.

What really sells with the high school kids is the Puppy Chow! We put 1 cup in a baggie and sell it for 50 cents and sell out as many batches as we can get sent in.

I wouldn't make them more than a day ahead.

I'll bite. What the heck is Puppy Chow?

Not sure if it matters or not but the target crowd is not high school age. This is a community college baseball team. The crowd is probably 40% 18-26 year old college kids and 58% parents who come to watch their kids play. The other 2% are grand-kids. Although, some Saturday games have occasionally drawn in a local high school baseball team but I think that has only happened twice this season.

 

[Hannathy]

http://www.chex.com/recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=45860&CategoryId=447

It is rice chex covered with melted choc chips and peanut butter and then dredged and covered in powdered sugar! what teen can resist choc, peanut butter and sugar.

We get 10 bags per batch and would sell 5-6 batches every sale.
Plus all the other stuff.

 

[sbell111]

Well, one thing about brownies, they're nigh indestructible so they'll keep about a week.

When we make them at home, they are lucky to last the day.

 

[LisaR]

I can't believe brownies are this complicated for me!

My mom overheard my DD and I talking about the whole brownie thing so while she was out, she bought everything and is donating it. I start going through the bags to put things away and she bought frosting, too.

I never thought about frosting. Isn't that going to stick to the wrap? I don't remember eating brownies with frosting. Maybe that is why I never liked them!

To frost or not to frost.........