What to make for Ukraine charity fair? Easy recipes for a good cause

What's the problem?

Charity fairs bring people together, spark creativity, and, most importantly, raise funds to support those who need it most. Organizing a charity fair for Ukraine is a fantastic way to collect money for humanitarian aid or to support Ukraine's armed forces, but every time a charity fair comes around, many people face the same dilemma: What should I make? 

What's the solution?

School charity fair. Photo: Facebook

Delicious food can bring in the most donations, but choosing what to cook for a charity fair can be tricky. The food needs to be tasty, safe, easy to transport, and convenient to sell — especially if people want to take some home.

Rubryka has put together a list of simple yet impressive treats that both kids and adults will love. These ideas will turn your charity fair into a vibrant culinary festival — where every bite helps support Ukraine.

How does it work?

School charity fair. Photo: Facebook

Quick cakes and pies 

Homemade cakes and sweet pies are a staple of any fair. They always grab attention — after all, many people associate them with the warmth and coziness of home. They're easy to transport and can be sliced into portions right at the fair. Plus, most cakes and pies are quick to make and require only a few ingredients.

Photo: cookforyourlife

Ingredients:

• 250 g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)
• 200 g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 170 g butter
• 50 g flour
• 30 g cocoa powder
• A pinch of salt
• 100 g walnuts

Instructions:

1. Lightly chop the walnuts and toast them.
2. Break the chocolate into pieces, place it in a bowl with the butter, and melt it over a double boiler.
3. Beat the eggs with a mixer, then add the sugar. It's crucial that the sugar doesn't fully dissolve but remains slightly crystalline. This is what gives brownies their signature crispy top while keeping the inside moist and fudgy.
4. Combine the egg-sugar mixture with the melted chocolate.
5. Add the flour, salt, and cocoa powder, then mix in the walnuts.
6. Grease a square baking pan, line it with parchment paper, pour in the batter, and spread it evenly.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 35–40 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick. The brownies are ready if you hear a slight crunch, and the toothpick comes out a little moist.
8. Let them cool completely before cutting.

Photo: cookorama

This cake can be made with any berries or fruits — fresh, from jam, compote, or even frozen.

Ingredients:

• 250 ml kefir or sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 150 g sugar
• 50 g butter or vegetable oil
• 250 g flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 apples
• 5 g cinnamon
• 1 tbsp sugar (for sprinkling)

Instructions:

1. Whisk the eggs and sugar until well combined. Add the oil or melted butter and a pinch of salt, and mix.
2. Sift the flour and baking powder together, then pour in the kefir or sour cream and stir until smooth.
3. Slice the apples thinly and toss them with cinnamon.
4. Grease a baking dish with butter and dust it with flour. Pour in the batter, then arrange the apple slices on top, pressing them slightly into the batter. Sprinkle with sugar for a caramelized crust.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 40–50 minutes, checking for doneness with a skewer.
6. Once baked, you can dust the cake with powdered sugar and cut it into squares or diamonds.

If you're short on time, a wafer cake with ready-made layers is the way to go. Despite its simplicity, it's always among the first to sell out!

Photo: Viktoriia Vakiv

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of wafer sheets (8 pieces)
• 2 tbsp sour cream (15–20% fat)
• 150 g butter
• 400 g condensed milk (regular or caramelized)
• 100 g salted peanuts

Instructions:

1. Beat the softened butter, sour cream, and condensed milk with a mixer until smooth.
2. Crush the peanuts using a rolling pin or a blender.
3. Spread a thin layer of cream over a wafer sheet, sprinkle with some nuts, and repeat until all layers are stacked.
4. Generously sprinkle the top layer with nuts, then refrigerate the cake for 1–2 hours before serving.

Cookies, cupcakes, and pastries

Even the simplest cookie can become irresistible if shaped creatively, decorated with colorful icing, or packaged with a bit of imagination. Plus, cookies, cupcakes, and pastries are easy to take home to share with family members who couldn't make it to the fair.

Photo: Tetiana Krempovych

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 100 g butter
• 3 cups flour

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter, then mix in all the other ingredients.
2. Knead the dough and roll it out to a 5–6 mm thickness.
3. Use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut out circles. Make minor cuts around the edges and shape them into bows. A step-by-step guide is available here.
4. Bake at 170°C for 20 minutes.

Photo: Marianna Popovych

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder or 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup kefir
• 1/2 cup liquid honey
• 1 egg
• Vanilla extract
• Zest of half a lemon

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. Add the egg, kefir, and honey.
2. Stir well with a spatula for 3–5 minutes until the batter is smooth.
3. Spoon the batter into silicone muffin molds.
4. Bake at 180°C for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.⠀

Short on time? Ball pastries will save the day! Add a surprise inside to make them more exciting, like a cherry, dried plum, or apricot.

Photo: skyba

Ingredients:

• 400 g condensed milk
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 250 g tea biscuits

Instructions:

1. Grate or crush the biscuits into fine crumbs using a meat grinder or blender.
2. Mix the biscuit crumbs with cocoa powder. Gradually add condensed milk while stirring until you get a moldable mixture.
3. Shape the mixture into small balls or potato-like shapes. Roll them in crushed biscuits, ground nuts, or shredded coconut for an extra layer of flavor.
4. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.

Trifles

Trifles, colorful, layered desserts in disposable cups, are gaining popularity for a good reason. They are delicious, convenient, and visually appealing, making them a crowd favorite. Almost any traditional dessert can be transformed into a cup treat: Napoleon cake, Three Chocolates dessert, Tiramisu, colorful jellies, or mousses. Kids love this presentation, but don't forget to include a small disposable spoon or fork for each serving!

Photo: smachnenke

Ingredients:

• 500 g sour cream (30%)
• 200 g sugar
• 200 g biscuits (sweet crackers or small poppy-seed cookies)
• 10 g gelatin
• 3 packs of jelly in different colors

Instructions:

1. Prepare the jelly according to the package instructions, but use half the water to ensure it sets firmly. Refrigerate until solid.
2. Once the jelly is set, dissolve the gelatin in room-temperature water and let it sit for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, beat the sour cream with sugar until fluffy. Slowly pour in the dissolved gelatin while mixing continuously.
4. Cut the jelly into small cubes. Break the biscuits into pieces (small crackers can be used whole).
5. Gently fold the jelly cubes and biscuits into the sour cream mixture.
6. Spoon the mixture into individual cups and refrigerate for a few hours until set.

No time? For a super-fast treat, layer colorful marshmallows, candy-coated chocolates, popcorn, mixed nuts, or freshly chopped fruit in lidded cups. Simple, vibrant, and delicious!

Savory baked goods

Charity events are often filled with sweet treats, but savory options like pizza, hamburgers, and even varenyky can be even more popular, especially among adults. Make pigs in blankets croissant sandwiches with lettuce, cheese, and ham, or canapés to draw a crowd to your table. Sandwiches can be customized with different deli meats, cheeses, and vegetables to ensure something for everyone. Even classic pizza can be made more exciting if served in a mini or as pizza rolls.

Photo: foodideas

Ingredients:

• 100 g tomato sauce
• 100 g olives
• 100 g hard cheese
• 1 pack of ready-made yeast dough
• 100 g ham or salami
• Spices to taste

Instructions:

1. Slice the olives into rings, cut the ham or salami into circles, and grate the cheese.
2. Roll out the dough and spread tomato sauce evenly over it.
3. Add ham and olives, and sprinkle cheese.
4. Roll the dough into a log and slice it into 1–1.5 cm thick pieces.
5. Place the rolls on a baking sheet and sprinkle them with more cheese and spices.
6. Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake for about 20 minutes.

Feel free to experiment with fillings — try adding fresh veggies, mushrooms, chicken, or even canned pineapple for variety.

No time? Store-bought puff pastry can save the day. Another fun and easy idea we spotted on TikTok:

Photo: TikTok

To make this simple savory snack, you'll need just three ingredients:

• A pack of store-bought dough
• A few sausages
• A wooden skewer for each serving

Instructions:

1. Thaw the dough and cut it into strips about the width of a sausage.
2. Slice the sausages into rounds.
3. Thread a strip of dough and a sausage slice alternately onto a wooden skewer.
4. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds for extra crunch.
5. Bake until golden brown in a preheated oven.

Don't forget the drinks!

One thing that's often missing at fairs is drinks. While food is always plentiful, refreshments are often overlooked. To solve this, prepare homemade compote, fresh juice, or lemonade. All this delicious food needs something to wash it down!

For something special, try uzvar (a traditional Ukrainian dried fruit compote), rosehip tea, herbal teas, or homemade iced tea.

Make it fun! Give the drinks creative names like Health Elixir, Vitamin Boost, and Superhero Potion. With a little extra effort, your table will be the highlight of the fair.

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