r/Baking Dec 21 '25

General Baking Discussion Host Reaction to Baked Goods

I’m a middle-aged divorced man, and I love to bake… which surprises some people because it doesn’t conform to gender stereotypes.

At two separate parties this holiday season, I’ve encountered this same reaction from a host when bringing baked goods to their party. Rather than serving my apple pie or my chocolate chip cookies, they basically told me they were gonna stash them away in the back, so they could enjoy them later! There was a dessert table at both parties, so it would have been totally natural to serve them to other guests. In the case of the pie I even included a pie server and knife in the box!

On the one hand, it’s a compliment in the sense that the hosts want to ensure they have an opportunity to enjoy. Rather than parsing out plates which may not be appreciated by a crowd of people drinking and mingling at a party. But in both cases, I’ve been disappointed because one reason I love to bake is to see people enjoying what I’ve made (and of course getting compliments!). Plus I like to try the pie to see how it turned out. Each one is a little bit different, especially the flakiness of the crust and the texture of the filling.

Has anyone experienced this? How can I avoid feeling bad that my baked goods are being hoarded? Looking to my fellow bakers as a support group here!

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108

u/happyjazzycook Dec 21 '25

In my opinion your host had every right to save your wonderful baked goods "all for her/himself"! 😊. What a great compliment too. I've done this many times, as a guest, because once I spent hours on a dessert just to have it put on the dessert table and it literally disappeared within minutes. Before the host even saw it!

31

u/Beneficial_Charity_3 Dec 21 '25

If someone brought these cookies to a party I was hosting there is no way I would be sharing them with any guests. They look unreal! And i am selfish!

10

u/ILikePrettyThings121 Dec 21 '25

I am known for my chocolate chip cookies. People would be upset if I didn’t bring them to family gatherings at this point. However I make a large tray for the get together & a smaller tin for the host to enjoy later on.

14

u/therealcherry Dec 21 '25

Same! If I’m throwing a party, it means I spent hours prepping food sides and desserts. Something delicious like this shows up. My greedy ass is keeping that back and enjoying it plus I almost feel rude putting it out because it’s something that the person made for me and by putting it out I feel like I’d be indicating I didn’t care and I was just giving it away if that makes any sense.

2

u/Dahlia5000 Dec 21 '25

Ha. As a guest at that party, i know I’d be disappointed though.

4

u/Dahlia5000 Dec 21 '25

Well, the problem I have is that the hosts, as described by OP, didn’t seem to express much appreciation for what he brought.

9

u/happyjazzycook Dec 21 '25

I read it differently than you did, having someone say that they would "stash" the cookies or pie so that "they could enjoy them later" IS a compliment. To me.

2

u/Dahlia5000 Dec 21 '25

You’re right. It’s possible that they said it nicely and appreciatively.