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The Cupcake Crackdown
Rated by 5 members
As if I need any more reminders of how much things have changed since the carefree days of my own childhood, I just got a doozy of a downer — Grace's school forbids homemade cupcakes.
I learned a week before her sixth birthday that any treats brought in for the class must be store-bought. While I concede that the health department codes and liability concerns that inspired the policy may be valid, I'm still disappointed.
Once I recovered from the cupcake crackdown, I set my sights on plan B. First things first — I had to break the news to the birthday girl.
"That's okay Mama, we'll just make cupcakes at home and eat them here," Grace said. Leave it to a kindergartner to have all the answers.
"Well, what would you like to take to school to share with your friends?" I asked.
"Remember those little cakes we had at Auntie's baby party?" she asked.
Little cakes, baby party...it took me a moment to put it together, but she was referring to petit fours we'd had at a friend's baby shower.
"Sure honey, we can get those," I said. And within a few online moments, I had birthday treats on their way.
I confess that deep down I like getting off the homemade hook. As I contemplate baking, frosting, decorating, and transporting 24 cupcakes versus lifting the lid on a box of exquisitely frosted, bite-size petit fours, I realize I've found a way to have my cake and eat it too.
Even if your school allows homemade treats, maybe you don't feel like baking, or your oven's on the fritz, or you're just getting back from a business trip. Regardless of your reason, petit fours might be an easy way to make a big splash at your next special occasion.
My favorite source is Divine Delights, an online bakery that ships fresh petit fours nationwide. They have a great selection of delectable little treats, beautifully embellished with simple bows or flowers or the more whimsical "mice-a-fours" which are shaped and frosted to look like little white mice. They're so cute, no one will care they're not homemade.
Member Comments On…
The Cupcake Crackdown
Hi! Yeah, petit fours are a bit pricey for the classroom and quite frankly, I'm not sure alot of the kids like them, especially when they only get one tiny little sweet. A friend of mine gets a giant decorated cookie every year for her daughter's classroom party. They sell them in most grocery stores. Also, what about store bought cupcakes? You can get fancy custom decorated ones if you order a day or two ahead at Target and many local supermarkets. Target also sells large trays of chocolate and vanilla frosted cupcakes - I think they come in a carry away tray of 24 for about 12.99. Easy, convenient, inexpensive and no one in my daughter's class was unhappy, including the teacher.
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Wow, wish I had that much extra money laying around to spend on treats for school! The shipping cost alone is about how much I spend on a present, can't even imagine spending $50 on snacks for the classroom for one day!! Come on, you do realize that most of the moms who read this don't have that kind of money right??
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Okay, while cute enough to warrant ooohs & aaaahs from all the little divas, those things cost more than we typically spend no a gift, much less treats for school! Seriously - how about something for us "average joes"???
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(too many characters to include this before, so now, here is the recipe):
Wacky Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
3 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vinegar
5 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup water
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix until you get a smooth batter. Do not beat.
Pour into greased and floured pan (8" square or 9" round) or 12 cupcakes or 24 mini muffins. Bake in oven until tests done - about 35 minutes for cake, about 20 minutes for cupcakes.
Substitutions:
Vanilla: omit cocoa. Double amount of vanilla.
Spice: omit cocoa. Add 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice.
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For a great recipe that is dairy and egg free, Google "Wacky Cake recipes". My daughter has a classmate who is allergic to nuts, dairy and eggs, and his mom always made these cupcakes which she would frost with Pillsbury Funfetti frostings (Betty Crocker has dairy in it). The recipe was developed during the Depression when butter and eggs were being rationed. For children allergic to chocolate, just omit the cocoa powder and either double the amount of vanilla or add 1 Tbs. pumpkin pie spice to the mix.
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We don't have a "no homemade cupcake" rule, but we have lots to bake/buy according to food allergies. My daughter has a classmate with a peanut allergy and my daughter has a several classmates with allergies to chocolate, protein and milk. I am not sure what we are going to do this year but I don't think they will go for celery and carrot sticks. I will definitely be using the familyfun recipe index to find some creative solutions.
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Thanks for the update. I didn't know that homemade goods were being forbidden in classrooms. I've added Devine Delights to my favorites list--I'd just like to look and dream on it for a while!
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