Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the Great East Side Bakeoff FAQ! Whether you’re a first‑time baker, a seasoned home baker, or someone thinking about donating to the bake sale, this page is here to make everything clear and stress‑free. We’ve gathered the most common questions so you can arrive confident, prepared, and ready to have fun.
Can I enter more than one item?
Yes! You may enter as many items as you’d like. Each competition entry requires its own $10 fee (East High students enter for free).
Can younger kids participate?
Yes! Younger kids are welcome to donate baked goods to the community bake sale or enter the contest if they’re excited to try it. They simply pay the standard entry fee. Once they become East students, contest entry is free.
Can professional bakers enter?
We can’t stop you — but in the spirit of our British inspiration, this is a contest for home and amateur bakers. If you’re a professional, we’d love your involvement in other ways:
- Donate something special to the bake sale
- Bake a showstopper for the Cake Raffle
- Sign up as a volunteer
Your expertise can elevate the event without overshadowing the amateur competition.
Do you accept items that require refrigeration?
No. For food safety reasons, we cannot accept items that require refrigeration (cheesecakes, cream pies, custards, etc).
What about special diets?
For the baking contest, special diet entries (vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, etc) will be judged in their regular category (e.g., Cakes & Cupcakes). There is no separate special diet judging category.
At the bake sale, we will have dedicated nut-free and gluten-free tables to help keep folks safe and comfortable.
You will be asked to declare all allergens at drop-off.
How much should I bring?
For the contest, a standard batch, loaf, pie or cake is perfect. For cookies or bars, aim for 6-12 pieces so judges have enough to sample and we have enough to sell afterward.
For the bake sale, the sky’s the limit! The more we sell, the more funds we raise.
Do items need to be fully cooled?
Yes. Warm items can affect judging, ruin packaging, and create food safety issues.
Can I enter store-bought items?
For the contest, no. Entries must be homemade.
For the bake sale, yes! Store-bought items are welcome as long as you can declare the allergens. Individually wrapped items are preferred, and savory snacks (like chips) can be a nice change of pace!
Will I get my dish back?
Sorry, no. We cannot return dishes, so please use disposable trays, plates or containers (or things you don’t care about getting back).
Can I bring my item early or late?
We can only accept contest items during the official 12:15-1:30 p.m. drop-off window so judges will have time to review everything fairly. If you arrive late with your contest entry it will be donated directly to the bake sale. Bake sale items can be accepted until 3 p.m. (though earlier is better).
Do I need to pre-slice or pre-portion my entry?
If you can, yes – it helps speed things up tremendously. For the bake sale, taking the additional step to package the items for sale is even better. Volunteers can support slicing and packaging, but your help in making things run seamlessly is appreciated!
Do I need to stay during judging, or be present to win?
No (though we’d love it if you’d stick around!). Once you’ve dropped off your entry and completed intake, you’re free to go. You do not need to be present to win – just make sure your contact info is correct so we can notify you if you’ve earned recognition.
I’m a local business. How can I get involved?
We’d love your support! Reach out to our planning committee at secretary@easthighboosters.org to discuss sponsorships, donations or other ways to participate.
What payment methods do you accept?
We can accept cash, card and Venmo at the cashiers table. You can also pay online in advance to save time.
For the bake sale, you’ll buy tickets at the cashier table and use them to ‘pay’ for baked goods and activities, like the cake raffle or cookie decorating station. This helps make things move quicker. Please note that there will be a separate cashier at the Boosters table where you’ll be able to buy bigger ticket items like East shirts, hats and bags of Just Coffee with labels designed by East students.
Still have questions?
We’re here to help. Reach out to secretary@easthighboosters.org
On your mark, get set, bake!