Tasty/cheap cakes and snacks?

sioban_2

I am trying to 'create' a job for myself at my friends newly opened coffee shop and looking for some ideas.

Background is coffee shop opened in Nov and although it is really busy in morning, business is slow heading towards lunchtime. They do currently sell some food (muffins,banana bread and toasted sandwiches filled with bacon, cheese and egg which are bought in and then toasted in the shop), but are reluctant to stock too much in case of waste.

The stuff they stock is all bought in and therefore expensive - I reckon that if they/I made food they could make it less expensive and get more business.

I am looking for ideas and recipes for anything that is easy to make, doesn't cost much to make and will last a couple of days in a fridge so there is not much waste.

Anyone have ideas?

Toxic_Lemon

With the current trend of baking cakes rising rapidly, why not do some cup cakes or slices of cake? You could also do variations of flapjacks or oat bars as I call them (I have a great recipe for healthy ones if you like) as these last a long time and don't have to be all sold off every day.

My Mum made some Cornish pasties over the weekend and we worked out they cost 24p each to make and are divine. So that's another idea for you.

zippybungle

Toxic_Lemon wrote: »

With the current trend of baking cakes rising rapidly, why not do some cup cakes or slices of cake? You could also do variations of flapjacks or oat bars as I call them (I have a great recipe for healthy ones if you like) as these last a long time and don't have to be all sold off every day.

My Mum made some Cornish pasties over the weekend and we worked out they cost 24p each to make and are divine. So that's another idea for you.

I would be interested in your recipes and also the pasties.

Zippy x

level200

If you are baking goods that will be sold you will have to get checked out by the Environmental Health department - they will have to issue a licence permitting you to sell food cooked on certain premises.

Hope this helps: http://food.gov.uk/foodindustry/regulation/hygleg/hyglegresources/sfbb/

sioban_2

Thanks for these - think booster bars could prove a huge hit.

Anyone got more idea's for savoury snacks that can be microwaved or put on a sandwich toaster to heat?

angeltreats

I used to run the kitchen in a coffee shop/restaurant so might be able to give you a few ideas.

Will you be cooking at home or on their premises?

Do they have a freezer? How much fridge space is there? What other kitchen equipment is there on the premises?

Flapjacks are a great idea. Scones are also brilliant, you can make a big batch and freeze them, defrosting them as necessary. Plain, sultana and cheese all go down very well. You can buy clotted cream in individual portions and it also freezes very well.

Also soup is more or less essential for a coffee shop. It's usually dirt cheap to make so provides a tidy profit. You could do a soup of the week (most soup will keep in the fridge for a week) and of course it can be microwaved easily.

Jacket potatoes - not that nice microwaved but it is possible. Cook them in an oven until they're done, then cool them down and keep them in the fridge. There are loads of fillings that could be made up in advance like tuna mayo, or made up and microwaved (roasted veg is nice, serve it with a blob of goat's cheese on top).

Is there a refrigerated display out front? If so, chocolate eclairs sell very well, and choux pastry is easy to make in big batches and freezes extremely well, defrosting in a matter of minutes so you can fill a few with cream and melt some chocolate to go on top.

Home made cookies - always very popular. Make cookie dough, shape it into a log, wrap in cling film and bung in the freezer (or it will also keep well in the fridge for a week or two). When you need cookies, cut off a couple of slices and bake. There's a recipe in the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook for white chocolate & pecan cookies which is fantastic and very easily adaptable for all sorts of flavours.

A Victoria Sponge is always popular! As are cupcakes of most kinds.

To be honest, a lot depends on the clientele. There have been things that I really thought would sell but that got completely ignored, and also things I made just to try out a recipe but didn't think would be popular, and they ended up becoming regular items on the menu. If you have older customers, they will buy completely different things to young mums with kids, or couples in their thirties. A lot of it is trial and error. However DO NOT worry about having a huge & extensive range/menu. A few things, all home made and good quality, will always be better than lots of choices of nasty bought-in food.

Oh and definitely do a food hygiene course, and label EVERYTHING in the fridge and freezer with a description, date it was made and initials of who made it ("chocolate brownies, 10/4/12, AM") this more than anything will keep the EHO happy when he comes to visit

I'm rambling a bit now, sorry

Penny-Pincher!!

What about quiche?

You also have bread pudding which uses dried bread and will keep for a few days easily or be freezer and literally costs pennies to make.

I think the scones are a good idea too.

Soup would be good also as stated above. I would prefer mid morning to have a small bowl of HM soup and roll to a latte, but maybe thats just me. You could use all cheap veggies and add soup mixes which are dirt cheap and pad out with tinned pulses or kidney beans etc. Very nice!

BitterAndTwisted

Twinks Hobnobs are the answer to nearly all of your biscuit and snack needs. Plus home-made shortbread, especially the millionaires shortbread our Scottish friends are so fond of.

I'd also be having a think about what products can be stored for a couple of days after baking without spoiling or going stale. Things like the banana bread which you already have, or slices of ginger cake and carrot cake. Everybody loves scones so think about sweet ones and maybe some nice savoury ones with cheese.

sharalee99

Toxic_Lemon wrote: »

With the current trend of baking cakes rising rapidly, why not do some cup cakes or slices of cake? You could also do variations of flapjacks or oat bars as I call them (I have a great recipe for healthy ones if you like) as these last a long time and don't have to be all sold off every day.

My Mum made some Cornish pasties over the weekend and we worked out they cost 24p each to make and are divine. So that's another idea for you.

I also would be very interested in the healthy flapjacks if you don't mind sharing? I avoid the shop bought ones, as seem to be so high in everything!

McKneff

Savoury quiches always go down well, dont make great big ones though, you dont want to be selling them for 3 days or so.

sioban_2

Thanks all for your replies - now to start cooking!