Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question about Cupcake Day, please have a read of our Frequently Asked Questions below to see if your question has already been asked. If your question isn't here, please ask This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

 

General / Registration

 

Website

 

Making Cupcakes

 

Reconciliation

 

Competitions

 

 

 

What is Cupcake Day for the SPCA and how does it work?

Cupcake Day for the SPCA is a fun, community-driven annual fundraiser for the SPCA. Cupcake Cooks around New Zealand bake cupcakes and sell them, with the money going back to their local SPCAs and the many animals they help every day.

See our How It Works section for more information.

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When does Cupcake Cook registration open?

Registration for Cupcake Day 2013 is now open!

Sign up for email updates

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When does Cupcake Cook registration close?

Registration for Cupcake Day 2013 closes on Sunday 25 August.

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Can anyone participate in Cupcake Day? How old do I have to be?


Yes, absolutely anyone can participate in Cupcake Day. There is no age limit – Cupcake Day is for anyone aged 1 to 100!

We have broken our registration options down into three categories. Please choose the one that suits you best.

  • Individuals – for Cupcake Cooks who wish to bake and sell their cupcakes by themselves
  • Schools – for schools who wish to take part in Cupcake Day
  • Teams – for organisations, groups or teams who wish to take part, e.g. you and your best friends, or your Year group from school, or your department at work

If you are participating as a school or team, only one person needs to register on behalf of the group. There is a question on the registration form which asks approximately how many bakers will be participating - this gives us an idea of exactly how many people will be baking for Cupcake Day.

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Why do I have to register to become a Cupcake Cook?

Registering as a Cupcake Cook gives you access to the Resources page, where you can download useful Cupcake Cook resources such as Cupcake Day posters and Cupcake Cook stickers. You will need to wear a Cupcake Cook sticker when selling cupcakes to identify you as an official fundraiser for the SPCA.

As a registered Cook you will also have access to your Dashboard where you are able to update your contact details. After Cupcake Day you will also be able to use the Dashboard to send in your funds raised and enter the Most Creative Cupcake competition.

Having registered Cupcake Cooks also helps the SPCA keep track of how many fundraisers we can expect to have supporting us on the day.

When you register as a Cupcake Cook you will be asked to choose a username and password. This ensures that the information you provide to our registration system remains secure.

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I've registered as an Individual but now my friends want to join me – can we change our registration to a Team?

Yes you can. If you wish to change your registration category at any time you can do so by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name, registered category and the category you wish to change to (including a Team Name if you wish), and we will update your details on our Cupcake Cook database.

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I'm busy on Monday 26 August. Can I hold my Cupcake Day event on another day?

Yes, you can. You may hold your own Cupcake Day event on any day that suits you best; just remember to send your funds raised in to the SPCA by the deadline, which is 5pm, Friday 6 September. Sending your funds in by the deadline will keep you in the running for our Most Money Raised competition, and will help us to keep an accurate tally of how much has been raised for your SPCA.

We've put together a special editable Cupcake Day poster for those Cooks who wish to do their Cupcake Day events on another day. This poster is available for download from the Forms & Downloads page under Resources. (You must be logged in to see this page.)

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How do I download my posters and stickers?

All registered Cupcake Cooks will have access to our Cupcake Cook resources, including posters and stickers. Once you have registered as a Cupcake Cook, these resources will be available for download from the Forms & Downloads page under Resources. To access this page, you will need to login to the website using your username and password.  The posters will be available for download very soon.

 

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Why do I have to download my Cupcake Cook resources? Can't they be posted out to me?

In previous years, we have sent these resources out to Cupcake Cooks via NZ Post, but have found that this method of delivery is not the most efficient or cost-effective, with each pack incurring postage fees and some getting lost in the mail. When you have over 2,000 registered Cupcake Cooks needing a pack each, the cost of postage can really add up!

By not posting these resources and instead allowing Cupcake Cooks to download them at their leisure, we are making sure more of the money raised through Cupcake Day will be spent on helping animals in need. We are also reducing our impact on the environment by printing less and using less paper.

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Is there a particular cupcake recipe I have to use? Can I make vegan/sugar-free/dairy-free/egg-free/gluten-free cupcakes?

No, there is no particular recipe you have to use. Choose your own absolute favourite cupcake recipe and go all out! We know everyone's tastes are different, and we love seeing the huge variety of cupcakes that end up being made for the day.

If you need some inspiration, check out our Recipes page to help you get started.

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How many cupcakes should I make?

This is totally up to you! The more cupcakes you make, the more you will be able to sell, and so the more money you will be able to raise. But there is no need to go overboard with cupcakes, just make a number that suits you best. You could even take pre-orders before the big day so you know how many you will have to make.

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How much should I sell my cupcakes for?

This is your choice. We suggest maybe one cupcake for $3, or four cupcakes for $10. Of course, the more elaborate and creative your cupcake decorations, the more you could sell them for.

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Where should I sell my cupcakes? Is there a particular place?

There is no particular place from which cupcakes are to be sold on the day. You can sell your cupcakes wherever you like - your workplace or school, at your community group's meeting, at gatherings, or even just at home to family and friends. Some Cupcake Cooks even sell them outside their local shops. If you decide to do this, please remember to ask for permission from your local Council.

We strongly recommend that all Cupcake Cooks read MPI's Food Safety Tips booklet before taking part in Cupcake Day. This booklet contains important tips around safely preparing and handling food at events.

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Can I make something other than cupcakes?

Yes, you can. As well as cupcakes, we have had Cupcake Cooks sell other baked goods such as slices and muffins. If you’re an arts-and-crafts type of person, you could also consider crocheting or knitting some decorative cupcakes to sell!

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I'd like my pets to join in the fun on Cupcake Day too. Is there a special recipe for cupcakes that are safe for animals to eat?

Animals should only be fed cupcakes that have been made especially for them using safe, animal-friendly ingredients, as the ingredients in ‘people cupcakes’ can often be very unhealthy – and often dangerous – for animals to consume. Chocolate in particular is incredibly toxic to many animals.

We have put together a special Pupcakes recipe for dogs, so the four-legged cupcake lovers in your life can celebrate Cupcake Day too!

Please remember, even though these Pupcakes are safe for your dog to eat, they are special treats, and all treats should be given in moderation.

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Will I be able to claim any money back for expenses incurred from making cupcakes for Cupcake Day?

Sorry, you will not. Cupcake Day is a fundraiser, and as such all money raised from donations and from the sale of cupcakes must come back to the SPCA. Cupcake Cooks must make cupcakes at their own expense, and no amount of money can be removed from the funds raised to reimburse these costs.

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Where can I buy cupcakes on the day?

We will be compiling a list of participating outlets, and will update this website with a link to this information closer to the day. If you would like to be included on this list, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with information (e.g. where you will be based on the day, and start/finish times if possible).

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How do I send you the money I raised?

Once you’ve done a tally of your fundraising efforts, fill in the online reconciliation form to send your funds raised back to us. The form will be available on the website after Cupcake Day. If you login using your Cupcake Day username and password, the system will fill in most of the fields on the reconciliation form with the details you provided to us when you registered as a Cupcake Cook.

The form will allow you to send money back to us instantly via credit card, or will provide you with our bank details so you can send in your funds via online banking or bank deposit. These payment options are preferred as they are quick and secure.

If you wish to send in your funds raised via cheque, please still fill out the online reconciliation form so we have a record of your funds raised and know to expect your cheque in the post. Please also complete the Cheque Payment Form and attach it to your cheque, so we are able to link your cheque back to the online reconciliation details you provide us with. Please make all cheques payable to the RNZSPCA.

Please do not send cash in the post.

Once we have received your funds, we will send you an email to thank you for your fundraising efforts, along with a link to where you can download your official Cupcake Day Certificate of Participation. Please allow a few days' processing time for this.

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How do I enter the competitions?

We will be running three competitions this year; Most Money Raised, Most Cupcakes Baked, and Most Creative Cupcake. In all, there will be five prizes and titles up for grabs:

  • Most Money Raised by an Individual
  • Most Money Raised by a Group (covers those registered as a School or Team)
  • Most Cupcakes Baked by an Individual
  • Most Cupcakes Baked by a Group (covers those registered as a School or Team)
  • Most Creative Cupcake

To enter the Most Money Raised and Most Cupcakes Baked competitions, all you have to do is send in your funds raised by filling in the online reconciliation form, which will capture the information required. To be eligible for entry you must send in your funds raised by the deadline, Friday 6 September, 5pm.

Entries for the Most Creative Cupcake competition will open on Monday 26 August. To enter, login to your Dashboard and submit a photo of your cupcake masterpiece. All entries will be showcased in our Cupcake Gallery. Entries close on Friday 6 September at 5pm, with the winner announced the following week. The winning entry will be judged by a special guest judge, details to be confirmed.

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