What snacks for Mary Poppins concession stand?
Posted by sshutterbugdc@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 57 comments
My daughter’s elementary school in Washington DC is putting on a production of Mary Poppins. We’d like to sell some packaged snacks with a UK theme at the concession stand, as a school fundraiser.
Can anyone suggest some fun and appropriate snacks, as well as a place to order them? They would need to be in small individual packages, but purchased in bulk so we can make a profit. Thanks!
UppaGrizi7@reddit
Probably a bit late here, but Top Hats are super easy to make very popular party treats in Northern Ireland and Scotland https://eatcookbake.com/chocolate-marshmallow-top-hats-cakes/.
paintingcolour51@reddit
I haven’t seen them for a while but there’s British lollipops (suckers) which are actually whistles that let you play a tune on them! Perfect for toot sweets! Might be hard for you to get hold of but worth seeing if there’s a version in your part of the world. I was amazed they didn’t have anything labeled as toot sweets on the uk Mary poppins tour!
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
That’s such a fun idea! Actually I’ve seen these at a local music store with the other silly stuff at the cash register. My daughter loves them. Would be a big seller I bet
miowiamagrapegod@reddit
Beamish living history museum's Edwardian sweet shop
paintingcolour51@reddit
The snowies are good and colourful for kids (although our idea of colourful probably isn’t their idea of colourful as our colours are so muted). White chocolate buttons with hundreds and thousands (tiny round sprinkles) on one side.
Someone mentioned Dolly mixtures. I think these were sold on the Mary Poppins tour!
Ok_Young1709@reddit
Umbrella biscuits? Could get a cut out shaped like an umbrella and ice them.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Beyond my skill set, but it’s a cute idea!
Ok_Young1709@reddit
You can get the premade cutter thing, and usually can get icing pens too 😊 dunno how easy it is to find black though but it's then basically just drawing with icing
Interesting-Biscotti@reddit
Is it closer to the book or movie?
The book refers to gingerbread (in the shape of stars I think) and barley sugar. Probably a whole lot more I've forgotten.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
There’s a lot in the script that I don’t remember from the movie, so must originate in the book. It’s pretty close to the Broadway musical.
El_Scot@reddit
If you can't get a spoonful of sugar, then maybe try for Sugar Mice - there's the joke about "catching mice" in the love to laugh scene, and they have sugar in the title, so it's a 2 for 1? They're very British, but hoping the novelty will kick in too.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Wow, those are memorable!
pennikin@reddit
https://www.browniebites.net/stinkin-adorable-mary-poppins-party-food-ideas/
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Brilliant.
C0nnectionTerminat3d@reddit
jammie dodgers - they’re biscuits (translation; cookies) with berry flavoured jam (translation; jelly) in the centre. you can get mini snack packets of them :)
Another one you could do is prawn cocktail flavoured crisps (translation; chips), as far as i know you guys don’t have them in the US right? but they might not be as popular with the kids. They’re not that fishy flavoured despite the name, Quite vinegar-y imo but might be fun to try.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Thank you! I was just reading about jammie dodgers in Ruth Ware’s “Turn of the Key”! Funny coincidence.
Almosttasteful@reddit
If you can't get them then you could make an approximation - just make sugar cookies sandwiched with a mixture of raspberry and strawberry jam (as smooth as possible). (The top cookie needs a central hole cut out so you can see the jam, obviously!) They'll be a bit sweeter than bought ones but close enough I think?
Coconut ice is very traditional, although old fashioned now and tends to baffle children :-D You need unsweetened dessicated coconut as it's very, very sweet. Cut it into bite size (ish) cubes and sell in packs of 9 at most, I'd say.
If you're up to making fudge, people used to make that and sell it - rum and raisin, or clotted cream were always the two classic flavours.
Lemon sherbets were a big thing for a very long time, so if you can get those, or anything with that 'theme' then that would work well!
Hope that helps and apologies if I've taken so long to type that I've repeated what other people have said, hope it goes well!
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much!
I_really_love_pugs@reddit
You can get bun cases and little Union Jack flags for in buns (Amazon or Shein probably sell them) then do cupcakes? Victoria sponge ones would be very English if you can make or source them.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
The flags would really make the theme of the whole thing clear 😊
TimboJimbo81@reddit
Make a load of flapjacks always a winner
lilleralleh@reddit
British flapjacks, not American flapjacks (pancakes)
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
So glad you said this, lol. I googled them
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
Dolly mixture. Very British, good for little kids because it's colourful and cute and from almost the right era.
alrighttreacle11@reddit
Yes unfortunately not many kids like the taste
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
Of sugar?
alrighttreacle11@reddit
It doesn't taste of sugar it tastes of liqurish none of my 6 kids ever ate them and they were always left over after their parties
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
I think you're confusing dolly mixtures with licorice all-sorts. Dolly mixtures aren't licorice flavoured
alrighttreacle11@reddit
Oh I maybe! I'll buy some next time and try them, I think I grouped them together with liqorish alsorts
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
I think they get mixed up fairly often. They're not massively exciting, slightly flavoured fondant icing
saz2377@reddit
I never liked dolly mixtures as a kid. For some reason I always got bought them as well despite not liking them!
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
That does look very appropriate, thanks!
Superior_human1234@reddit
grown-woman@reddit
There are chocolate biscuit bars called Penguin bars sold in the UK...not sure how easy they are to get where OP is! https://britmunchiesforusa.com/mcvities-penguin-milk-chocolate-biscuit-bar-7pk-172-2g/
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Oh my gosh, you are so clever!
Superior_human1234@reddit
I just really love Mary Poppins.
DameKumquat@reddit
Sell birdseed, a bit more than tuppence a bag?
Princes_Slayer@reddit
If they could get hold of ‘choc lick’ they could sell it as pretend bird seed for people to eat
Whollie@reddit
School dinner cake!
A traybake sponge topped with white icing and sprinkles. Literally a British school lunch staple which is having a bit of a comeback in cafes these days.
Icy_Gap_9067@reddit
Chocolate mice, if you can get a mould you could make your own.
pajamakitten@reddit
Tunnock's teacakes and caramel wafers.
tonytown@reddit
When I was a Victorian urchin, my favourite treats were candied lamprey, pickled snouts, and meat pies that were actually people.
But Mary Poppins was more Edwardian times which what had more 'refined tastes'...
RevolutionaryMail747@reddit
Toffee apples you might need to buy apples and make your own toffee, chocolate truffles, mint humbugs, sherbet lemons, toffee bonbons, barley sugars, mint candy canes and lemon drops and this site does some and Licorice all sorts.
RevolutionaryMail747@reddit
And roasted chestnuts or potatoes. That would be very authentic.
lilleralleh@reddit
Something cherry flavoured? For Cherry Tree Lane
TimboJimbo81@reddit
Humbugs
Zal_17@reddit
I'd suggest a spoonful of sugar.
Barring that, there's some pretty traditional English cakes that are really easy to make (should be able to get all ingredients easily).
Cornflake tart is a British classic and absolutely delicious, and a simple chocolate cornflake/rice Krispie cake is a school fair tradition.
School cake/old school cake should be easy to make, and is a favourite in Britain too. Known for being served in schools as a treat.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Googling those now 👍
Lunaspoona@reddit
Penguins! For the scene where they go through the pavement
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
Sadly, that part is not in the musical. Good idea tho!
Real23Phil@reddit
I think I remember seeing toffee apples in Mary Poppins.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
That sounds very appropriate!
Bartghamilton@reddit
In addition to jammy dodgers I load up on Jaffa cakes when I’m in London if you’re open to buying something. Otherwise I’m thinking they ate lemon cakes in the movie. So could make something lemon and call them that.
WildPinata@reddit
Rather than getting British goods direct, I'd look at what British goods are freely available in your area. Things like shortbread, Cadbury chocolate (even if not made in UK), fudge etc. If you're buying at import costs you're unlikely to be able to sell them at an appealing price point whilst still making a profit, whereas there are lots of things you can buy wholesale or even at Costco that would fit the bill.
Consider maybe dressing up your concession stand as a British sweetshop (candy store - see Charlie and the Chocolate factory for an idea) and selling standard items instead. Do you have to have sealed packaging for health restrictions? If not 'penny mixes' are just bags of mixed candy (like gummies, hard candies, caramels etc) and can be bought wholesale and mixed beforehand, then sold at a decent mark up.
sshutterbugdc@reddit (OP)
These are really fun ideas! Thank you, I will bring this to the committee
WildPinata@reddit
No worries! As a Brit in North America I pay a crapton to get home comforts imported. If people don't generally care (as most people at a show won't) the price tag can feel super steep. Better that money is going in your theatre group's pocket!
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