how can I lower my baking costs (and other things)

[_amyface]

I got a job baking for a small cafe/video store, and since it isn't incredibly lucrative, I was wondering if some of you could help me lower my baking costs. I went in last Friday with some ~*samples*~ and brought chocolate chip/pecan cookies, the mexican snickerdoodles from VCIYCJ, raspberry/almond muffins ("bakery style muffins" from Vegan Brunch

Comments

[petienka]

Actually, I really adore the Choco Chip Blondie/Bars from 'How it all Vegan' -- it's obviously more of a bar cookie thingie, but calls for straight-up oil instead of margarine or shortening (and uses relatively few ingredients besides -- the most expensive probably being the vanilla extract)....

[petienka]

(Oh, and also -- Joanne Stepaniak's book 'Table for Two' (a cookbook for those wanting to cook in smaller quantities) has a muffin recipe that makes only a half-dozen batch (instead of a full dozen). I don't have the book on hand at the moment, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't call for yogurt or egg replacer, etc...).

[megamuphen]

I've never had a problem subbing a little extra fake milk with a dash of vinegar for soy yogurt.

But I've also never had a problem making half-batches...

[_amyface]

yeah, I dunno what I'm doing wrong, maybe I'm just not measuring carefully enough

[neva_butterfly]

I think it would be worth a try blending some soft silken tofu with a spoonful of lemon juice and subbing for the yogurt. I have done that in breads with decent results but not sweets, so some experimentation might be required.

[_amyface]

good thinking, I'll give that a shot.

[luxylyx]

Blue bonnet light is vegan and cheap. See if that works.

[_amyface]

I don't think I've ever seen Blue Bonnet (I'm from Canada)
Thanks though!

[megamuphen]

In the US there are several (depending where you live) off-brand accidentally vegan margarines. If you haven't checked, it might be worth hangin' out in the margarine aisle reading ingredients. I haven't found any at my local grocery stores lately, but when I've lived in other places I've found a few brands. Probably stuff varies in Canada, but there's a chance!

[elinafromtheash]

To the best of my knowledge, and this only applies to BC, the only non-Earth Balance option is the vegan Becel and I'm not sure how that'd hold up to baking.

[_amyface]

Canada is weirder about coupon use, I've never actually looked into this, but I think I will now! I could be saving so much more money