Selling homemade treats at school can be a simple way to earn a little extra money, whether you’re helping pay for a class trip, raising money for a sports team or club, or just giving your child a way to make some spending money.
But you don’t need to make anything fancy to have a successful sale. In fact, the treats that sell best are often the simplest ones.
You want something that’s inexpensive to make, easy to portion, simple to carry to school, and tempting enough that kids (and even teachers) will want to grab one.
That’s really the sweet spot. So as you look through these ideas, don’t feel like you have to choose the most complicated treat on the list. A simple cookie or brownie can be just as popular as something that takes hours to decorate.
One quick thing to keep in mind: check your school’s rules before selling homemade treats. Some schools have restrictions on homemade food or specific allergy guidelines, so make sure you know what’s allowed before you start baking.
Easy Treats To Make And Sell At School
1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
You really can’t go wrong with chocolate chip cookies. They’re familiar, easy to make in large batches, and popular with just about everyone.
Ingredients: butter, brown sugar, white sugar, egg, vanilla, flour, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips
Method: Cream the butter and sugars together, then mix in the egg and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, scoop the dough onto a baking sheet, and bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap two cookies together in a clear cellophane bag and tie it with a small ribbon, or stack three in a small paper bag. Depending on your costs and what people are willing to pay at your school, these can make an easy $1–2 treat.
2. Fudge Brownies
Fudgy brownies are rich and chocolatey without requiring much decorating. You can also cut one pan into plenty of small pieces, which helps keep the cost per serving down.
Ingredients: butter, sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, vanilla, flour, salt, optional chocolate chips
Method: Melt the butter with the cocoa powder, then whisk in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the flour and salt, adding chocolate chips if you’re using them. Pour the batter into a lined pan and bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely before cutting them.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Cut the brownies into small 2-inch squares and wrap each one in wax paper. Twist the ends closed to make them look a little like candy wrappers and keep your hands off the brownies when you’re handling them.
3. Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are a nice choice if you want something that feels a little different from the usual cookies and brownies. They’re bright, sweet, and surprisingly simple to make.
Ingredients: flour, butter, powdered sugar (for the shortbread crust); eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, flour (for the lemon filling)
Method: Mix the flour, butter, and powdered sugar together to make the shortbread crust. Press the mixture firmly into a pan and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes. While the crust is baking, prepare the lemon filling by whisking together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and flour.
Pour the filling over the hot crust and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the filling is set. Let the bars cool completely, dust them with powdered sugar, and cut into squares.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Keep lemon bars chilled until you’re ready to sell them, especially if your school is warm. Place each one in a mini cupcake liner and then into a small clear container or bag so the bars don’t stick together.
4. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars
If you like oatmeal raisin cookies but don’t want to scoop out individual cookies, turn them into bars instead. You get the same chewy, cinnamon-filled flavor with less work.
Ingredients: butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, raisins
Method: Mix the butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla together. Stir in the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and raisins. Press the mixture into a lined pan and bake at 350°F for 20–22 minutes. Let it cool completely before cutting into bars.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap or small treat bags. They’re sturdy enough to pack in a lunch bag or carry to school without making much of a mess.
5. Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are one of the easiest options on this list because you don’t even need to turn on the oven. They’re also inexpensive to make, especially when you’re preparing a large batch.
Ingredients: butter, mini marshmallows, rice cereal
Method: Melt the butter in a large pot, then add the marshmallows and stir until smooth. Fold in the rice cereal until everything is well coated. Press the mixture into a lined pan, let it cool, and cut into squares.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap each square individually in plastic wrap or a small clear treat bag. Because the ingredients are inexpensive, these can leave you with a good profit even when you keep the selling price affordable.
6. Mini Cupcakes
Mini cupcakes are a fun option when you want something that looks a little more special than a cookie without making full-size cupcakes.
Ingredients: cake mix or homemade cake batter, mini cupcake liners, simple buttercream frosting, sprinkles
Method: Line a mini muffin tin with mini cupcake liners. Fill each liner about two-thirds full with the batter and bake at 350°F for about 10–12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before adding a small swirl of frosting and a few sprinkles.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Place 2–3 mini cupcakes in a small clear box or arrange them on a small paper plate and wrap them in cellophane. A little frosting and a few colorful sprinkles can make them look much more appealing without requiring fancy decorating.
7. Cake Pops
Cake pops are small, colorful, and easy to eat, which makes them a fun choice for a school treat sale. They also give you a good way to use leftover cake.
Ingredients: baked cake, a few tablespoons of frosting, candy melts, lollipop sticks, sprinkles
Method: Crumble the cake into a bowl and mix in just enough frosting to make the mixture hold together. Roll the mixture into small balls and chill until firm.
Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into the melted candy coating, then gently push it into a cake ball. Dip the entire cake pop into the melted candy coating, add sprinkles if desired, and place it upright to set.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap each cake pop individually in a small cellophane bag and secure it with a twist tie. This keeps the coating from getting smudged and makes each one easy to pick up and take away.
8. Mini Bundt Cakes
Mini bundt cakes look impressive because of their shape, but they’re actually pretty easy to make. They’re a good option if you want to sell something for a little more than a basic cookie.
Ingredients: standard cake batter, powdered sugar, milk
Method: Pour the cake batter into a greased mini bundt pan and bake at 325–350°F for about 15–18 minutes, or until the cakes are cooked through.
Let them cool completely, then drizzle with either a simple milk glaze made from powdered sugar and milk or a rich chocolate glaze made with powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Place each mini bundt cake in a small clear bag or box. The shape does most of the decorating for you, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time making them look fancy.
9. Mini Donuts
Mini donuts are another treat that looks cute without being difficult to make. Baking them in a mini donut pan also means you can skip the mess of deep-frying.
Ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, egg, butter, vanilla, cinnamon sugar or a simple glaze for topping
Method: Mix the batter and spoon or pipe it into a greased mini donut pan. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes. Let the donuts cool slightly, then dip them in glaze or roll them in cinnamon sugar.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Stack 2–3 mini donuts in a small clear bag or treat box. They’re small enough for an easy snack between classes and can be sold in little groups instead of one at a time.
10. Whoopie Pies
Whoopie pies are made with two soft cookies and a sweet, creamy filling in the middle. They look like a bigger treat, but they’re fairly simple to put together.
Ingredients: cocoa or plain cookie batter; butter, powdered sugar, and marshmallow fluff for the filling
Method: Bake small rounds of cookie batter in a whoopie pie pan and let them cool completely. Beat the butter, powdered sugar, and marshmallow fluff together until smooth. Spread the filling onto one cookie and place another cookie on top to make a sandwich.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap each whoopie pie individually in cellophane or place it in a small bakery box. Since the filling can get messy, individual packaging makes them much easier to handle and sell.
11. Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods
Chocolate-covered pretzel rods give you that sweet-and-salty combination people love, and you don’t need to do any actual baking. They’re also quick to make in large batches.
Ingredients: pretzel rods, melting chocolate (dark, milk, or white), sprinkles or crushed candy for topping
Method: Melt the chocolate according to the package directions. Dip each pretzel rod into the chocolate, leaving part of the pretzel uncovered for easy handling.
Add sprinkles or crushed candy while the chocolate is still wet, then place the pretzels on parchment paper until the coating has hardened.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap each pretzel rod in a clear cellophane sleeve and tie the top with a small ribbon or twist tie. They’re already eye-catching, so you don’t need much extra decoration.
12. Homemade Chocolate Fudge
Fudge is rich and chocolatey, so you can cut one batch into small pieces and still have each piece feel like a proper treat.
Ingredients: sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, butter, vanilla
Method: Melt the condensed milk, chocolate chips, and butter together over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the mixture into a lined pan, chill until firm, and cut into small squares.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Keep the pieces fairly small since fudge is rich. Wrap each square individually in wax paper or place them in small treat bags to make them easy to pick up and sell.
13. Chocolate Bark
Chocolate bark is one of the easiest treats to make, and you can change the toppings depending on what you already have in your pantry or what happens to be on sale.
Ingredients: melting chocolate, mix-ins such as pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, sprinkles, or crushed candy
Method: Melt the chocolate and spread it into a thin layer on a parchment-lined tray. Sprinkle your toppings evenly over the chocolate, then chill until completely set. Once firm, break the bark into smaller pieces with a small kitchen knife or bench scraper.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Place a few pieces in small clear bags and seal them with a sticker or twist tie. You can sell them by piece or create small bags with a set number of pieces.
14. Caramel Popcorn
Caramel popcorn is a fun step up from plain popcorn, and one batch can make enough small bags to serve a whole crowd.
Ingredients: popped popcorn, butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, baking soda, vanilla extract
Method: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then add the brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for a few minutes, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla.
Pour the caramel over the popped popcorn and toss until evenly coated. Spread the popcorn onto a baking sheet and bake at 250°F for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let it cool completely before breaking into pieces and packaging.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Divide the popcorn into small paper or clear cellophane bags. Smaller portions keep the price affordable while still giving you plenty of bags to sell from one batch.
15. Flavored Popcorn Bags
If you want to offer more variety, flavored popcorn is an easy way to do it. You can use the same basic popcorn and simply switch up the seasoning or toppings.
Options include cheddar popcorn, cinnamon sugar popcorn, birthday cake popcorn, and popcorn lightly drizzled with chocolate.
Ingredients: popped popcorn, melted butter or oil, and your choice of seasonings or toppings, such as cinnamon sugar, Parmesan and garlic powder, ranch seasoning, melted chocolate, or birthday cake sprinkles.
Method: Toss the warm popcorn with melted butter or oil, then add your chosen seasoning or toppings. Toss well to coat the popcorn evenly.
For toppings like melted chocolate, drizzle them over the popcorn and toss gently to distribute. Let the popcorn cool completely before putting it into bags.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Give each flavor its own sticker, label, or ribbon color so buyers can easily tell them apart. You could also offer a few different flavors and let people choose their favorite.
16. Muddy Buddies
Muddy Buddies are crunchy, chocolatey, and easy to make without turning on the oven. They’re also a good option when you need to make a lot of small portions at once.
Ingredients: cereal squares such as Chex, chocolate, peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar
Method: Melt the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter together until smooth. Pour the mixture over the cereal squares and gently toss until the pieces are coated. Transfer everything to a large bag, add the powdered sugar, and shake until the cereal is well coated.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Divide the finished mixture into small snack bags or clear treat bags. You can make quite a few portions from one batch, which makes them a practical choice for a school sale.
17. Homemade Granola Bites
Granola bites give you a less sugary option for people who want something sweet but not quite as indulgent as a brownie or cupcake. They’re also easy to make without an oven.
Ingredients: oats, honey or maple syrup, peanut butter, mix-ins such as mini chocolate chips or dried fruit
Method: Mix all the ingredients together until the mixture is sticky enough to hold its shape. Roll into small balls and refrigerate until firm.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Pack 3–4 bites together in a small bag or container. A simple label such as “Not Too Sweet Granola Bites” can help shoppers quickly know what they’re buying.
18. Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallow Pops
These are simple to put together but look fun and colorful, especially when you add bright sprinkles. They’re also small enough to make an affordable school treat.
Ingredients: large marshmallows, lollipop sticks, melting chocolate, sprinkles
Method: Push a lollipop stick into each marshmallow. Dip the marshmallow into melted chocolate, then add sprinkles before the chocolate sets. Place the pops upright or on parchment paper until the coating has hardened.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Wrap each pop in a small cellophane bag and secure the top with a twist tie. They look cute on their own, so you don’t need complicated packaging.
19. Mini S’mores Kits
Mini s’mores kits are one of the quickest options on this list because there’s no baking or cooking involved. Everything is simply portioned and packed together.
Ingredients: graham cracker squares, mini marshmallows, chocolate squares or chocolate chips
Method: Divide the graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate into small portions. Place each portion in a small clear cup with a lid or a snack bag. That’s it—there’s no cooking required.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Add a small label that says “Make Your Own S’mores Kit” to make the idea clear. Clear cups with lids work especially well because buyers can see all the ingredients inside.
20. Mini Cheesecake Cups
Mini cheesecake cups have that bakery-style look without requiring you to make a full cheesecake. They’re a good choice if you want to offer one slightly more special treat alongside the simpler options.
Ingredients: graham cracker crumbs and butter (crust); cream cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla (filling); optional fruit topping
Method: Line a mini muffin tin with liners and press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each one. Bake the crusts at 325°F for about 5 minutes.
Add the cheesecake filling and bake for another 12–15 minutes, or until the filling is set. Let them cool, then refrigerate until you’re ready to serve them.
Packaging & Selling Tip: Keep these refrigerated until sale time. Place them in small containers with lids so the tops don’t get damaged. Because they look more like a bakery treat, you may be able to charge a little more for them than you would for a basic cookie or popcorn bag.
How To Price Homemade Treats For School
If you’re hoping to actually make some money from your school treat sale, rather than just cover what you spent, pricing matters. The good news is that you don’t need a complicated formula to figure it out.
Start by adding up the cost of the ingredients you used for one batch. Include everything from the butter and sugar to the chocolate chips and toppings. Then divide that total by the number of treats the batch makes. That gives you the ingredient cost for each treat.
Next, add the cost of your packaging. If a cellophane bag, sticker, or small box costs $0.10 per treat, add that to your ingredient cost. Now you have a better idea of what each treat actually costs you. The amount you charge above that cost is what you have left as profit.
For example, let’s say a batch of chocolate chip cookies costs $7 to make and gives you 24 cookies. That’s about $0.29 per cookie for ingredients.
If each cookie costs another $0.10 to package, your total cost is about $0.39 per cookie. Sell each one for $1, and you’d make about $0.61 per cookie, or roughly $14.64 from that batch.
This is why simple treats can sometimes be more profitable than elaborate ones. A mini cheesecake cup might cost $0.60–$0.80 once you factor in the ingredients and packaging, but you may not be able to charge enough extra to make all that additional cost worthwhile.
Treats like Rice Krispie treats, fudge, and popcorn can be much cheaper to make per serving, while still selling for a price people are happy to pay.
How To Package Treats For School
You don’t need expensive packaging to make your treats look good. A few simple options can work for almost everything on this list.
Clear treat bags are great for cookies, bars, chocolate bark, and popcorn because buyers can see exactly what they’re getting.
Small paper bags are another inexpensive option for things like donuts and popcorn. For treats that can easily get crushed, such as cupcakes or mini bundt cakes, small cupcake boxes can be worth the extra cost.
Plastic cups with lids work well for things like mini s’mores kits and cheesecake cups because they keep everything contained and make the treats easier to carry.
For fudge and similar treats, you can use parchment paper sheets or wax paper and secure it with a simple sticker. Small food-safe containers are also useful for treats with frosting or creamy fillings that could get messy in a bag.
It’s also a good idea to label common allergens when they apply. A simple note such as “contains nuts,” “contains dairy,” or “contains gluten” can help people make an informed choice and may be required by your school.
How To Choose The Best Treat To Sell
With 20 treats to choose from, you don’t have to overthink it. Look for options that are easy to make, affordable, and practical to sell at school.
The best choices tend to be:
- Inexpensive to make, so you have room for a decent profit
- Easy to make in large batches
- Already portioned into individual servings
- Easy to eat without making a mess
- Sturdy enough to survive the trip to school
- Good-looking without requiring expensive decorations
- Safe to keep at room temperature for several hours, if refrigeration isn’t available
If a treat checks most of these boxes, it’s probably a good choice for a school sale. You don’t need the fanciest option on the table.
In many cases, simple treats are easier to sell, easier to make in large quantities, and easier on your budget.
School-Sale Tips That Can Help You Sell More
A few small choices can make your sale less stressful and help you get more out of the treats you’ve made.
• Keep portions small enough to keep the price affordable, especially if most of your buyers are kids. A $1 treat is much easier for a student to buy with their allowance than a $4 treat, even if the more expensive one took longer to make. You can also offer a few different price points so there’s something for people with different budgets.
• Package everything before you get to school. Trying to bag and label treats while you’re selling can get messy and slow you down. Having everything ready also makes your table look more organized and keeps unnecessary handling of the food to a minimum.
• Make your treats look appealing, but don’t spend so much on decorations and packaging that they eat into your profits. Clean, simple packaging is usually all you need.
• You can also take advantage of holidays, seasons, and school events. Pumpkin-shaped treats in October, heart-shaped treats around Valentine’s Day, or treats that match a school fundraiser can grab attention. You don’t have to completely change your menu either. Sometimes a simple seasonal decoration or themed sticker is enough.
And finally, make sure you know the school’s rules before you start baking. Some schools have specific requirements for homemade food, ingredient labels, allergens, or packaging. Checking ahead of time can save you from making a batch of treats that you’re not allowed to sell.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a huge budget, professional baking skills, or a table full of elaborate desserts to make a school treat sale work. Start with a few treats that are inexpensive, easy to make, and simple to package.
If you’re not sure what will sell, don’t make huge quantities of everything at once. Try a few different options and pay attention to what disappears first. Once you know what people actually want to buy, you can make more of those treats the next time.
The goal isn’t to make the most impressive treat. It’s to make something people want, keep your costs under control, and make enough profit to make all that baking worth your time.
Recommended reading:
35 School Emergency Kit Essentials Every Girl Needs
30+ Apps Every Girl Should Have To Make Life Easier
Jennifer is a relationship coach with a bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages and Literary Studies and over 10 years of blogging experience. Since 2016, she has been creating thoughtful, easy-to-read content on relationships, self-improvement, and everyday living, with a focus on helping readers make informed decisions and build healthier, more fulfilling lives. She enjoys cooking, reading, meditating, watching TV, and spending quality time with her husband and two adorable daughters.