What Is a Virtual Bake Sale and How to Host One

We will provide you with the tools you need and can connect you with our network of bakers to help with the treats!

In 2020, everything went virtual — including bake sales. For the past six years, Icing Smiles volunteers have been hosting Violet’s Bake Sales so we can deliver more smiles to critically ill children and their families. 

We held our first virtual bake sale in January 2021, and our supporters have hosted over 60 virtual bake sales since. You don’t need to be an all-star baker or Sugar Angel to host a bake sale, either. We will provide you with the tools you need and can connect you with our network of bakers to help with the treats.

So what is a virtual bake sale, you might ask, and how do I host one? Here’s everything you need to know. 

What Is a Virtual Bake Sale?

A virtual bake sale requires no physical venue. Instead, you use your phone, email, and social media to promote a personalized bake sale event page featuring different dessert packages. Then your local friends, family, and neighbors preorder which delicious desserts they would like from you, and you — or a Sugar Angel in the area who is willing to provide baked goods for your bake sale — can then bake and deliver the treats. The great part about a virtual bake sale is you receive the orders in advance.

How Do I Host One?

Starting a bake sale is easy to do! Icing Smiles provides you with the tools you need.

To get started, Icing Smiles will provide you with the contact information of Sugar Angels in the area who may be willing to provide baked goods for your bake sale. You can always bake your own goods as well.

If you’re working with a Sugar Angel, you’ll talk with the baker and decide on tiered boxes for you to offer as options for your bake sale supporters. You and your Sugar Angel can get as creative as you’d like, but here are some suggestions:

• Tier 1: 3 cookies, 3 brownies for a suggestion donation of $10
• Tier 2: 3 cookies, 3 brownies, 6 cupcakes for a suggested donation of $20
• Tier 3: 6 cookies, 6 brownies, 12 cupcakes for a suggested donation of $30

Looking for some easy cookie recipes with short ingredient lists, can be made ahead, and/or don’t require special equipment? Here are three favorites of Icing Smiles board members and professional bakers Chef Charity George of d’zrt Cake Studio, Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes, and Anne Heap of Pink Cake Box.

After you’ve selected your packages, a Violet’s Bake Sale coordinator will create a personalized event page for you to share with your friends and family to order from. You can share the pickup and delivery plans and collect orders all through our fundraising page. Your bake sale coordinator will also have the Icing Smiles Social Media Team help out with posts for your event. 

How Much Time Does It Take?

We recommend planning four weeks ahead so you have time to promote your bake sale. This gives you time to connect with your bake sale coordinator and decide on your package design; decide bake sale time frame and pickup or delivery date; enlist volunteers to help with organization, baking, and delivery; create and promote your event page, provided by Icing Smiles; and apply for a permit if needed (contact your local department of agriculture to determine if a temporary permit is needed).

Who Is Violet?

Violet was the first child to be served an Icing Smiles cake back on Jan. 27, 2010 — her seventh birthday. The cake was made by our founder, Tracy Quisenberry. 

“I delivered our first cake to this beautiful 7-year-old girl,” Tracy recalls. “I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that the experience would define what Icing Smiles would become. She was reserved and barely spoke, yet she left a mark that motivated me to see where this journey would lead.”

Violet’s mom, Robin, remembers how impactful the moment was for her family, too: “Violet had never had a fancy cake like that before. Not only was it beautiful, but it was delicious. Tracy did such a great job capturing Violet’s personality without even meeting her in person before making the cake! It was the best cake ever!”

Later that same year, Violet lost her battle with cancer and earned her angel wings. Violet represents the vision of Icing Smiles and defines so much of our mission. Her sweet smile has stolen the hearts of so many and continues to welcome everyone to Icing Smiles. We will forever share a birthday with this little angel and honor her with our bake sale fundraiser.

“Not only has Icing Smiles helped us with the cake, but everyone has supported us by keeping her memory alive,” Robin says. “This means so much to our family. My biggest fear is no one remembering her or thinking of her anymore. She will always be seen and known by the followers of Icing Smiles, and I am so thankful for this.”

2023 Violet’s Virtual Bake Sale

In honor of Violet’s birthday, Jan. 27, we are launching some special incentives for people who host a virtual bake sale from Feb. 1 to March 31. We want 2023 to be the best year of bake sales ever, so we’re raising the stakes! Check out these amazing incentives:

• Raise $100: Icing Smiles swag grab bag
• Raise $250: Icing Smiles bracelet
• Raise $500: Icing Smiles power bank charger and all items in previous categories
• Raise $1,000: Icing Smiles 14 oz Yeti coffee mug with MagSlider lid and all items in previous categories

Our top fundraisers will also win prizes:

• 1st: Apple iPad
• 2nd: Shoe Bag Bakery Bag
• 3rd: Fat Daddio’s cake pan tower

Sign up to host a bake sale today!

Bake a Difference

When you volunteer to host a bake sale with Icing Smiles, you will have a team of supporters behind you to ensure its success. We are here to help you and make this fun and easy for you while supporting our mission.