Earlier this month, pastry chef Paola Velez put a call out to her Instagram followers asking them to join her to combat racism using an unconventional method: baking.
We know that baking is a great way to destress, but Paola recognized its power to bring people together to tackle a problem. Within a few days, Paola created Bakers Against Racism, a community of hundreds of bakers ready to hop in the kitchen to make their favorite treats for a nationwide bake sale running June 15-20, 2020. All proceeds of these sales are being donated toward charities benefitting black communities.
How to Find a Bakers Against Racism Bake Sale Near You
The easiest way to support Bakers Against Racism is to shop a bake sale yourself. They’re scheduled in almost 200 cities across the country plus several abroad. Check out their Instagram stories and the hashtag #bakersagainstracism for sale announcements—new bakers are adding events and digital order forms regularly.
Depending on where you live, you might find some big names participating in the sales. Christina Tosi, pastry chef and Master Chef Junior judge, will be hosting Bakers Against Racism bake sales in Los Angeles and New York. Cheryl and Griffith Day, authors of one of our favorite vintage cookbooks and owners of Back in the Day Bakery, are hosting a sale in Savannah, Georgia. You can even get Blondery blondies or Georgetown Cupcakes shipped to you while supporting the sale.
While the group isn’t supporting a single nonprofit with the proceeds, participants are dedicated to donating to nonprofits benefitting the black community including Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Campaign Zero (where Christina is donating her proceeds).
How to Participate in a Bake Sale
You can join Paola and hundreds of other pro pastry chefs and home bakers—it’s not too late! The group asks participants to bake at least 150 dessert items, sell them and donate the proceeds to an appropriate charity.
You can do this individually, by hosting an old-fashioned (yet socially distanced) bake sale, or link up with neighbors or local bakeries. Many people and businesses are setting up digital order forms and packaging up their goodies for curbside pickup throughout the week.
If you’re ready to bake up hundreds of cookies, brownies or other treats, contact Bakers Against Racism to find out the next steps.
These Goodies Are Perfect for Bake Sales
1 / 60
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Here's proof that peanut butter and chocolate just belong together. These peanut butter blossoms are an easy family favorite and never fail to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Behr Track Cookie Bars
The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa
Homemade Butterfinger Bites
Bent on using up a stash of leftover candy corn, I decided to experiment. Turns out, if you melt it, mix it with peanut butter and coat the balls with chocolate, you get a softer, denser version of a Butterfinger bite. Who knew? They’re delicious! —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chocolate-Dipped Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
I created this recipe based on our family's love of chocolate-dipped ice cream cones. Red heart-shaped sprinkles make them fun for Valentine's Day. Vary the color to match the occasion. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
A minister's wife gave me this recipe...and my family loves it. It's a great treat to share. —Brenda Jackson, Garden City, Kansas
Beary Cute Cookies
These cheery and cute cookies will delight kids of all ages! I like to make fun foods but don't care to spend a whole lot of time fussing. So the idea of using candy for the bears' features was right up my alley. —Susan Schuller, Brainerd, Minnesota
Devil's Food Cupcakes with Chocolaty Frosting
I begged my aunt for this recipe when I was 16 years old, and it's still my very favorite. The silly monster eyes give these devilish cupcakes some Halloween fun! They are always on my husband's short list for special desserts. —Dawn Koestner, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Confetti Cake Batter Cookies
Mom and I took up cake decorating. Funfetti was our favorite cake, so we used the mix to make cutout cookies. Plain or decorated, they’re a fave at parties. —Danielle DeMarco, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
These fun treats put a sweet, fluffy filling between two chewy oatmeal cookies. The old-fashioned flavor is deliciously homey—always perfect for holiday trays. —Jan Woodall, Indianapolis, Indiana
Peach Crumb Bars
I had the most beautiful peaches and really wanted to bake with them. I started with my blueberry crumb bar recipe, and after a couple of tries, I am so happy with the results. My co-worker taste-testers are, too! —Amy Burns, Newman, Illinois
Coke Cake
I get a great response every time I serve this cake, and it seems like I'm forever sharing the recipe! Folks are always curious about the ingredients, and when I tell them the cake has cola in it, they are really surprised. The unusual combination of ingredients makes it moist and delicious. —Anna Baker, Blaine, Washington
Easy Confetti Pie
Sugar cone crust makes a pie that tastes like birthday cake when you add a colorful, creamy no-bake confetti filling. —Gina Nistico, Taste of Home Food Editor
Chocolate Chiffon Cake
If you want to offer family and friends a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. Beautiful high layers of rich sponge cake are drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. —Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri
Toffee Turtle Squares
Here's an easy way to make turtle candy for a big group. These bars are very rich, so a little square will do ya. —Glenna Tooman, Boise, Idaho
Winning Apricot Bars
This recipe is down-home baking at its best, and it really represents all regions of the country. It's won blue ribbons at county fairs and cookie contests in several states! Easy to make, it's perfect for potluck suppers, bake sales, lunchboxes or just plain snacking.—Jill Moritz, Irvine, California
Peach Blueberry Pie
"What a flavor!" That's what I hear most often after folks try this pie I invented one day when I didn't have enough peaches to fill the crust. —Sue Thumma, Shepherd, Michigan
Spiced Cappuccino Kiss Cookies
This recipe combines two of my favorite flavors: coffee and cinnamon. You can always find them on my holiday treat trays. —Cynthia Messenger, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
I'm a busy schoolteacher and pastor's wife. I wouldn't dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without these tempting peanut butter treats. They're quick, easy to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky
Spicy Applesauce Cake
This picnic-perfect cake travels and slices very well. With chocolate chips, walnuts and raisins, it's a real crowd pleaser. —Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington
Pistachio Cake with Walnuts
It didn't take long for this cake from the 1970s to become the favorite birthday cake of my husband, Joe. —Patty LaNoue Stearns, Traverse City, Michigan
Blue-Ribbon Butter Cake
I found this buttercake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
Loaded-Up Pretzel Cookies
Coconut, M&M’s and salty, crunchy pretzels make these loaded cookies unlike any you’ve ever tasted—or resisted. —Jackie Ruckwardt, Cottage Grove, Oregon
Berry-Apple-Rhubarb Pie
I make this family favorite every year for a gathering at my sister's, where the recipe is known as "Uncle Mike's pie." I use only fresh berries, apples and rhubarb that I grow myself. —Michael Powers, New Baltimore, Virginia
Cherry No-Bake Cookies
I've always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added a few drops of almond extract, and voila! We won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
My secret to these rich, no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter-chocolate pairing. These irresistible chocolate peanut butter pretzel bars were the first to sell out at our PTA bake sale! —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia
Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Cinnamon Bun Cookies
I love cinnamon rolls, but working with yeast can be scary. These cookies give you the taste of a cinnamon roll in cookie form—no yeast required! They look like flattened cinnamon rolls and feel special enough to serve around the holidays. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois
Raspberry Pie Squares
Making pie for a crowd may seem impossible, but not when you turn to this crowd-pleasing recipe! The sweet-tart raspberry filling pairs well with a flaky homemade pastry. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Rainbow S'moreo Cookies
Homemade Oreo-style cookies are pretty great on their own, but they're even better when you add graham cracker crumbs to the cookie dough, stuff them with marshmallow creme, and then roll them in sprinkles. You can change the color of the sprinkles depending on the holiday or occasion you're baking them for. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Key Lime Pie Cupcakes
I bake over 200 of these cupcakes for our church suppers, and we always run out. If you can't find Key lime juice, use lime juice. Just add a tad more sugar. —Julie Herrera-Lemler, Rochester, Minnesota
Juicy Raspberry Pie
This pie is packed with jammy raspberry flavor and looks stunning. Have some fun with the top pie pastry and punch out star shapes for a festive look. — Karen Berner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Carrot Cake
My family's best carrot cake recipe dates back to my great-grandmother! We bake up a few of these carrot cakes for special occasions to make sure there's enough to go around. You'll love the texture this pretty, moist treat gets from pineapple, coconut and, of course, carrots! —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland
Strawberry Cookie Cups
I learned to bake beside my mom and grandmother. When I was on break from college, I knew just how to entertain myself: I made cookies. Sharing this recipe with my mom and grandmother was a proud moment.—Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
Frosted Banana Cupcakes
Go bananas with baking…especially when you have a bunch to use up. Ripe bananas are the secret to these down-home cupcakes. They look, smell and taste the best! —Jane Dearing, North Liberty, Indiana
Bake-Sale Lemon Bars
The recipe for these tangy lemon bars comes from my cousin Bernice, a farmer's wife famous for cooking up feasts. — Mildred Keller, Rockford, Illinois
Surprise Carrot Cake
A cousin gave me this carrot cake recipe. It's a wonderful potluck pleaser with its "surprise" cream cheese center. My husband and our two young children love it, too! —Lisa Bowen, Little Britian, Ontario
Rainbow Layer Cake
Fruity gelatin helps create the rainbow effect for this pretty cake. Lemon frosting is a nice and springy finishing touch. —Dawn Shackelford, Fort Worth, Texas
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Crazy about chocolate chips? This chewy, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie has plenty, not to mention lots of heart-healthy oatmeal. The gang’ll come back for seconds so this big batch recipe is perfect. This is the best 'oat choc chip cookies recipe' you'll ever taste! —Diane Neth, Menno, South Dakota
Black & White Cereal Treats
When my daughter was just 7 years old, she had the brilliant idea of adding Oreo cookies to cereal treats. Now 24, she still asks for them on occasion; they're that good. —Tammy Phoenix, Ava, Illinois
Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies
As someone who grew up in the country, I love getting out into nature whenever I can. I also love home-style recipes, including these yummy brownies. —Carol Prewett, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Carrot Cupcakes
To try to get my family to eat more vegetables, I often "hide" nutritional foods inside sweet treats. The carrots add wonderful moistness to these cupcakes, which have a rich cream cheese frosting. Now we can have our cake and eat our vegetables, too! —Doreen Kelly, Rosyln, Pennsylvania
Ultimate Chocolate Cake
Semisweet chocolate chips add rich flavor to this moist chocolaty cake that's lower in fat. Slices of it are excellent for dessert or a snack. —Kay McMicken, Charlotte, North Carolina
Speedy Brownies
Since you dump all the ingredients together for these brownies, they take very little time to prepare. There's no mistaking the homemade goodness of a freshly baked batch—they are rich and fudgy! —Diane Heier, Harwood, North Dakota
Buttermilk Cake with Caramel Icing
This fabulous cake and caramel frosting are so tender, it melts in your mouth. It's been a family favorite since the '70s and it goes over really well at church potluck meals. —Anna Jean Allen, West Liberty, Kentucky
Lemon Chiffon Cake
This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
Giant Lemon Sugar Cookies
These wonderfully chewy cookies have a light lemon flavor from both the juice and zest. The sanding sugar on top adds sparkle and a bit of crunch. —Michael Vyskocil, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
Easy Cake Mix Bars
I take this dessert to work for Friday pick-me-ups. It's one of my favorite yellow cake bar recipes. I love to share them because they're so easy to eat, easy to make and easy on the wallet. —Amy Rose, Ballwin, Missouri
Mamaw Emily's Strawberry Cake
My husband loved his Mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
Butterscotch Toffee Cookies
With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast. —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia
Caramel Brownies
I love to cook. My family can't possibly eat all the sweets I whip up, so my co-workers are more than happy to sample them—particularly these rich, chewy brownies that are full of gooey caramel, chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts. —Clara Bakke, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes
Our grandkids love these cupcakes and don't believe us when we tell them there are veggies in them! I'm always asked for this recipe, which makes a tasty treat after school, packed in lunches or served as dessert after dinner. —Carole Fraser, North York, Ontario
Favorite Coconut Cake
When I need an impressive dessert for a special occasion, this is the recipe I depend on. My guests are glad I do! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Black Forest Sandwich Cookies
Speed up prep time for these sandwich cookies by using chocolate wafers from the cookie aisle. You can even make them ahead of time if you need a few extra minutes to decorate for a party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies
I converted these blondies to be gluten-free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were really craving brownies one night, and this cakelike treat hit the spot! They're a great spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York
Best Chocolate Cake
With a tender crumb and rich frosting, a layered chocolate cake always impresses, no matter the occasion. One bite and you'll agree this cake recipe is awesome! —Elvi Kaukinen, Horseheads, New York
Orange Dream Mini Cupcakes
The bright taste of these cute cupcakes reminds me and my friends of orange-and-vanilla frozen treats. —Jen Shepherd, St. Peters, Missouri
Toffee Bar Brownie Torte
Heads will turn when you serve this showstopping cake. The mild espresso frosting nicely complements the bittersweet brownie layers.—Megan Byers, Wichita, Kansas
Ginger Peach Pies
I love ginger in any way, shape or form, so I always look for ways to include it in recipes, especially desserts. Peaches and ginger star in this mini pie that offers the right amount of sweetness and spice. —Rae Endicott, Branson, Missouri
Rainbow Cupcakes
I’ve been making these colorful cupcakes with my mom since I was in high school. The cheery sweets are as fun to make as they are to eat. —Tammy Quinn, Lynden, Ontario
Lattice-Topped Pear Slab Pie
A lattice top serves as a charming frame for this special holiday dessert filled with fresh pears and candied fruit. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you like. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
The post Bakers Against Racism Bake Sales Are Popping up Across the Country appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lisa Kaminski