Viewing figures for Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off are stronger than ever, with 4 million people watching every week and even more expected to watch the grand final on 26th November. Some of us are left so inspired by the bakes and showstoppers that we want to pick up the mixing bowl and get creative in the kitchen. But there’s one sticky question you might want to consider before you start shopping for ingredients and scrubbing your old tins: Is it cheaper to bake or buy?
With the rising cost of ingredients and energy, many wonder whether it's more cost-effective to channel their inner Pru or stick to shop-bought. This blog will explore the costs of baking versus buying cakes, looking at everything from birthday cakes to Christmas cakes.
Cost of Baking a Cake vs. Buying a Cake
If you’ve been inspired by the latest season of GBBO, you might be thinking about baking your own showstopper cake. But how much does it really cost to bake a cake?
The Cost of Baking a Cake
When considering the cost of baking a cake at home, you’ll need to factor in several things, from the cost of ingredients to the amount of energy your oven’s going to use. This will differ depending on the complexity of the cake, so let’s look closely at the expense of a Victoria sponge, a chocolate Birthday cake and a traditional Christmas fruit cake and compare.
- Victoria sponge
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Let’s assume you’re baking a standard 8-inch Victoria sponge cake. Here’s a rough breakdown:
- Flour: £0.50 (200g)
- Sugar: £0.30 (200g)
- Butter: £1.20 (200g)
- Eggs: £0.65 (3 eggs)
- Baking powder: £0.10
- Milk: £0.10
- Vanilla extract: £0.20
- Icing sugar (for sprinkling on top): £0.05
- Jam: £1.20 (165g)
- Fresh cream: £1.20 (300ml)
- Electricity cost (approx. 40 minutes): £0.50
This brings the total cost to £6.00 for a homemade sponge cake. This will fluctuate based on brand preferences, where you shop, and whether or not you already have some ingredients in your pantry.
Now, compare this to the average cake price at a supermarket or local bakery. A similar-sized Victoria sponge cake typically costs around £5–£10, depending on where you buy it. Therefore, baking it yourself will either cost you an extra £1.00, you’ll break even, or it could cost you an additional £1.00-4.00 to buy in. Then the decision might be down to your baking skills and willingness to put the time in….
- Chocolate Birthday cake
Let’s assume you’d like to share your special blowing-out-the-candles moment with friends and family, so you need a cake to feed 12. That would mean making or buying a 10-inch cake and the ingredients list would look like this:
- Flour (300g): £0.20
- Sugar (300g): £0.30
- Cocoa Powder (100g): £1.00
- Baking Powder (1 tbsp): £0.10
- Butter (250g for cake + 100g for frosting): £2.50
- Eggs (4 large): £1.20
- Milk (100ml): £0.10
- Vanilla Extract (1 tsp): £0.20
- Icing Sugar (for frosting, 200g): £0.30
- Chocolate for Covering (150g of quality chocolate): £1.50
- Birthday cake topper design: £2
- Electricity cost (approx 40 minutes): 50p
Total cost: £9.50
Prices vary widely for supermarket chocolate birthday cakes depending on how posh your supermarket is and extra design elements. M&S and Waitrose will be more expensive than Asda and Aldi (let’s not forget the ‘caterpillar-gate’ row over the M&S Colin and Aldi’s Cuthbert, which was about £2 cheaper). On average, you’re looking at between £10-£15 for a large chocolate cake, which could suit you if your child has a popular hobby like football or loves a TV show like Peppa Pig or Pokémon. But what if your little darling wants a cake shaped like a badger or an aeroplane?
Local bakers can create anything your heart desires, but you won’t get any change from £50. More elaborate designs with fondant, multiple tiers, or custom decorations can easily cost upwards of £100.
So let’s do the maths. Baking a birthday cake at home will save you about £0.50 - £6, depending on the design. That doesn’t sound a lot given the time it takes to bake a cake and decorate it. However, if you can’t find a cake to suit their tastes in a supermarket, making it yourself could save you a whopping £40+ vs. outsourcing to a professional baker.
- Traditional Christmas cake
Christmas cakes are more expensive to make than your typical sponge cake due to their rich ingredients and longer baking time. A traditional fruitcake recipe might include dried fruits, brandy or rum, marzipan, and royal icing. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:
- Dried mixed fruits (500g): £3.00
- Brandy (100ml): £2.00
- Butter: £1.20
- Brown sugar: £0.50
- Eggs: £0.60
- Flour: £0.50
- Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.): £0.30
- Marzipan: £2.00
- Royal icing: £2.00
- Electricity cost (2.5-hour bake): £1.80
The total comes to approximately £13.90.
How Much Does a Christmas Cake Cost?
The cost of a Christmas cake at a supermarket or bakery ranges from £15 for a basic one to £25 or more for premium options. Specialty bakers offering custom-designed cakes can charge significantly higher. Depending on your budget, you could save between £1.10 and £16.10 by baking your celebration cake at home.
Is Baking or Buying More Affordable?
So, is it cheaper to bake or buy? The answer to this question depends on whether or not you bake often and already have basic ingredients like flour and sugar in your kitchen.
If you’re buying all the ingredients for the first time and unlikely to use them again, it’s probably cheaper to buy a supermarket cake given that you’re only saving around £1 - £6 on a birthday cake and potentially being out of pocket on a Victoria sponge. For special occasion cakes like Christmas cakes, the cost of baking can also be quite close to the cost of buying, especially if you opt for premium ingredients. However, the joy of baking your own Christmas cake and customizing it to your taste can make the experience more fulfilling. Shop bought cakes are mass produced whereas you can make your own cake much juicier (and add extra brandy). Plus, there’s something truly rewarding about presenting a homemade cake to friends and family, knowing it’s been made with love (and maybe a little inspired flair from Bake Off).
Final Thoughts: Inspired by The Great British Bake Off
Inspired by the Great British Bake Off 2024, it’s easy to see why so many people want to try their hand at baking. While it can certainly be a little more economical to bake cakes at home, the benefits and cost savings vary depending on the type of cake and the occasion. And, critically, how good a baker you are! There’s no point saving on the cost of shop-bought if what’s meant to be a delightfully light sponge cake looks and tastes more like a bit of shoe leather.
So, if you love baking and enjoy the creative process, making your own will almost always be more satisfying, tastier (and usually cheaper) than buying one. However, if you’re short on time or looking for something more elaborate, it might be worth splurging on a professionally made cake. The cost of baking a cake is generally lower than buying a high-quality store-bought one, but it requires time, patience, and practice. For special occasions like birthdays and Christmas, making your own cakes can be a fun and cost-effective option. Whether you're trying to replicate a Great British Bake Off showstopper or just want to enjoy a simple homemade cake, the choice between baking and buying ultimately comes down to your budget, time, and how much you enjoy the process.
So, next time you watch the Great British Bake Off and feel inspired to create your own masterpiece, why not give it a try? You might just discover that baking your own cake is not only a little cheaper but more satisfying, too. If not, at least it won’t cost you more than buying it and you get to lick the bowl.
If you want to save money on other life expenses, check out these blog posts:
How to save money on a family holiday
How to reduce the cost of cat or dog ownership
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