We just got asked if we would like to participate in the welcome party for incoming freshman at UNC. Our bakery is literally right on the doorstep of the front quad lawn and the University is our landlord.

We are signing up for the One Card Plan which allows students to use their room and board money to buy food from outside vendors. It is a key part of our marketing plan.

BUT It is for August 19th, and my oven for the bakery won't even be here. Since it's for my new business, I can't use the restaurant oven...which means that I would need to do them in my home oven !!!!!!!

Storage, transport, etc. are all going to be an issue, and I'm not sure we can do it. We don't even anticipate being open until October.

Should we try it ? or is it just crazy ?

Yes, txkat, it is crazy!!!! Do you have a friend's commercial oven you could use? Last year, I had a friend that was a caterer, bake a ton of puff pastry at my shop for some giant event. She came in on a day I was closed. I came in and assisted. I was glad to help her out. You know bakem, freezem, thawem, icem, boxem and eat some for quality testing.
Hey, I rented a small freezer from a rent-a-center type place for a month when my big commercial one died. I put it in the middle of my showroom, as I didn't have any extra space with electric. I am sure you will figure it out. I am so happy for you and your new venture. CindiM

For perspective- Depending on the batter, cupcakes take approximately 15 minutes to bake give or take. Let's say you can fit 48 cupcakes into the oven at a time.

Unless my math is off, that's 3000 cupcakes/48 in the oven at a time x 15 minutes baking/60 minutes in an hour = 15.6 hours of baking

Is it crazy? I think yes but that's me. I baked cake layers for 14 hours straight in a commercial kitchen and it was nuts. I would think negotiating something like this in a home kitchen would add time. I was also doing this by myself, which means I was the only one mixing and baking. Do you have someone to help you?

Cupcakes are easier, but you will still have to mix, put into pans, bake, take out to cool, put more pans in the oven, mix up more batter, repeat that about 60 times.

You could use rolling racks for storage....

I too think that would be too ambitious of an order to try to tackle from a home oven. Besides, is your home kitchen licensed that's alot of cupcakes all around the house. Contact your fellow bakeries in the area and see if you can rent time in there kitchen for the production. Depending on how much the university is paying for this order and whether or not is would be profitable would determine whether or not renting a kitchen is feasible or not.

Katrina,
Unfortunately, I don't have a commercial kitchen to lend you. But if you decide to do it, I can come out to Chapel Hill to give you a hand, if you need help. Just let me know!

Lisa Imhof

I would totally do it...

But then, I've been accused of being a tad crazy.

Good luck!

Hi txcat,

I'd be happy to help if you want! I can donate some time and my liscensed kitchen.

Let me know,
Kathi

sorry but I can't help but laugh.

3,000... WOW!

Better you than me with that order... at least until the check is cut.

I wish you the best of luck. Keep us updated on the adventure I'd love to hear how it goes.

wow 3000 cupcakes....... good luck. and congrats on opening you brand new shop. Hopefully I will be there some day!!!

Have I told you all lately that you are Awesome

I am going to see if I can get some of my deco work done by pfeil and holing and if the will make my little rams for the cupcakes. then I think we may try it.

wow!!!
first of all....3000!!??!! Thats an insane number...that being said..I'd totally do it. but like Polekitten said...being sane was never anything I was accused of.
2nd...what an awesome site to have so many offer to help!! I love CC and you better belive that if I was closer to you I'd be there with apron tied to pitch in.

You can totally do this order, chug some coffee and fire up that oven.
I am not sure if it is possible but can you rent a commerical kitchen or oven? Would the college let you use theirs if you told them the situation wit your oven?

Good luck with that order. It could be a great thing for you in the long run.

Do it! I'm one who can't say no to a challenge! I'd say go for it! Do you have a neighbor with a stove, or is there a restaurant near by (or at the school) that could lend you an oven for a few hours?

Where there's a will, there's a way!



-Michelle

If I were even remotely close to you I'd be over to help in a heartbeat too. I'd do it.. but sanity isn't one of my strong points either.. . I'd definitely see about renting some kitchen space and getting the rams outsourced and have at it. Be sure to get a picture of you surrounded by thousands of cupcakes.. maybe bake up an extra few batches and make cupcake angels.. .

Couple questions. How many freshmen are there? And WHERE will you be serving them? If there are 3000 freshmen, don't expect all of them to want cupcakes - other things will be offered, girls will be afraid of the freshmen 15 (more like 25!) and not all kids go to the opening event.

Now, if the campus people said to EXPECT 3000 people to want them and you will be serving them there alongside other meal offerings, out of say, 5000 invitees, that might be different.

I've worked in residence life for a long time (before staying at home) and kids have an INSANE amount of food choices now on campuses - like a food mall... I just don't want you to lose a ton of money on these.

Oh, and if the university is BUYING these from you as part of their opening, then if it gets wasted, it's not your problem - you've been paid.

Melissa

Add me to the list if you need more help...I'm in Efland...just about 20 minutes away.

I must know more about your bakery...are you opening on Franklin? Oh wait...you're the one going into the old Julian's space?!?!?!!?

First of all....congrats! Second, if I were in your shoes I would TOTALLY DO IT! Third....wish I were closer so I could join in and help you!

Why can't things like that happen to me?!

Girl, you tighten up your apron and tell them YESSSSS!!!! It sounds like a potential calvary is coming to help you. Even though I don't know you (and I am a Hokie inside and out) I'd be on my horse too, if I didn't have prior committments myself.

Good luck and make sure you have a plan for the success after you pull this off!

Give us an update.

Get on it, sister! And I mean now! If you split the baking into two days, that's just two whole work days (with a little overtime, assuming you've got to get the first batch mixed up while the oven warms up), which leaves a buncha time for decorating. Get some cute (simple) chocolate molds or something so you just pipe on some icing and smoosh on a little chocolate foot, or similar decorating simplicity (but still way kewl-er than picks). Take these folks up on the offers for help, and let us know how it goes! Wooohooooo for you!

You could also start baking now and freeze.

Yes, it sounds crazy but if you don't have other orders to worry about right now - why not?! It's a great opportunity to get your foot in the door! Good luck to you whatever you decide!

Debbie

What an adventure! I agree! If I were closer to you, I'd be there in a heartbeat! I think you should go for it! With all the help offered here and the advice, I'm sure you can do it. Congrats on your business. Let us know how it goes.

best of luck from TX!! I hope you do this cuse i know that it will be beneficial for you. when i was at UT there was a bakery that would deliver cookies to the dorms & we could use our dining dollars. you are gonna bank it! if i weren't in tx and closer to you i'd totally be there to help you out!!

chris

DO IT ! And CC people are WONDERFUL..... allow them the chance to help out..... If I were closer, I'd be there in a FLASH to help out.......I think it would be great fun to get some CCers together and have a "bake-a-thon"........ Take LOTS of pictures throught the venture and post them so we can all be part of it !

Go for it. I like the idea of starting to bake now if you have the freezer storage space.

If you don't want to freeze you could see if your local church or synagouge would rent out their kitchen for a day or two.

Did I mention that I come complete with two kitchenaid 6 quart mixers, my own Thermapen and, if you're really desperate and don't care that I'd be baking "unlicensed" at home, double wall ovens?

And I can do 14 hours baking standing on my head! I'll mix in the street if I have to. Come to think of it...with the heat we're having, who needs ovens?? We can probably bake on the damn sidewalk!!


Say the word....

I say go for it!!! One suggestion... get those ice cream scoops that have the trigger slider on it... get your bowl of batter and a flat spatula, scoop your batter scrape the top with the spatula and use the trigger slider to empty it into the cupcake liners/tin. Makes it go alot quicker and keeps them all uniform in size and height!

I would also suggest using the spatula method for icing them instead of using a tip... uses less icing and would allow a flat surface for a decoration

My motto has always been "Bite off MORE than you can chew, then chew it!!!"

Oh I'd love such a challenge. I did over 700 monster M&M cookies last year for a school fund raiser. Did a test run on how M&M's froze on a baked cookie several weeks before the start of it (They freeze well, btw and don't run or bleach out when thawed)

You'll be amazed how quickly they'll go once you get your rhythm, and I guarantee you won't wanna look at another cupcake anytime soon!

Good luck!!