As we enter September, the first red and yellow leaves of autumn are appearing which can only mean one thing: it’s time for another Dealership Spotlight post. This month we’re featuring First Choice Fundraising, an exclusive dealership that has been selling Butter Braid® pastries for over 15 years. The team at First Choice Fundraising loves […]

August has arrived and with it comes a new Dealership Spotlight post. This month we’re featuring a dealership that is run by the biggest fundraising lover of all time. Cajun Fundraising, owned by Lisa Hollier, joined the Butter Braid® fundraising team just two years ago. In those two years, Lisa has gone above and beyond […]

West Bend, IA (August 08, 2020) – Country Maid, Inc has been supporting non-profit organizations for over 25 years. Now, we are furthering our mission of “helping others help themselves” by creating Country Maid Cares, our charitable giving program. With this new program, we can continue to give back, raise awareness, and encourage support for […]

Summer is here and so is July’s Dealership Spotlight post. This month is all about celebrating freedom, independence, and community, so we wanted to feature a dealership that embodies all these ideals, right down to its name. Liberty Fundraising has been “helping others helps themselves” with Butter Braid® pastry fundraisers for almost two decades. During […]

Most people know how fundraising benefits their local schools, clubs, and organizations – from paying for sports equipment, to providing more after school care options, to supporting vital community programs. But fundraisers are also useful in other ways. Fundraising provides multiple learning opportunities for the kids who participate; talking with potential customers, handling money, managing […]

June is here and so is this month’s “Dealership Spotlight.” The dealership featured this month is one of our newest dealerships, having joined the Butter Braid® family in 2017. Big Sky Fundraising is owned by Chris and Joy Skovira. The Skoviras put a lot of heart into their fundraisers because they care so much about […]

Many of you are loyal Butter Braid® pastry fans. You’ve been following the company and the founding family since the very beginning, so you know a lot about the brand: that the company was started in the small, farming community of West Bend, Iowa by Ken and Marlene Banwart, that each of our pastries are […]

The dealership we’re featuring this month is one of our largest, Rite Bite Fundraising. They’ve been with the Butter Braid® brand for two decades, but their connection to the brand started long before that. From the very beginning, Rite Bite Fundraising has gone the extra mile to make the groups they serve feel like part […]

Do you need a use for that Butter Braid® pastry box? It’s time to start repurposing them! All it takes is some duct tape and some scissors. Great for the crafty mom, daycare provider, school teacher, or anyone who needs storage for art supplies! First step is to cut off the top 4 panels. Take the […]

The Butter Braid® brand’s mission is all about “Sharing the Good.” That’s why it’s our tagline! We’ve been sharing our products with people across the nation for over 25 years. And those people are glad we do because they want to share it too! Don’t take our word for it. Our customers will tell you themselves; they can’t get enough of Butter Braid products.   “WOW!!! […]

The sun is shining, and April has finally arrived which means we’re ready for another Dealership Spotlight. This month the spotlight is on JMC Fundraising. JMC Fundraising has been with the Butter Braid® brand since 2008; it was started by one woman who was just looking for a way to support her family. Now, over […]

It’s a new month and with a new month comes a new “Dealership Spotlight” post.  1st Class Fundraisers is in the spotlight for March. It’s a relatively new dealership, having joined the Butter Braid® brand in 2012. However, the owners of 1st Class Fundraisers have been working in the fundraising industry for over 30 years, […]

Organizing a fundraiser, especially with students, is not always the easiest thing to do. Fundraising takes a lot of time and energy and it can be difficult to get children engaged. So, you need something to attract their attention. We’d like to give you some different options to reward your students for fundraising that may […]

It’s time for February’s “Dealership Spotlight,” and this month we’ll be introducing you to Integrity Fundraising. Integrity Fundraising joined the Butter Braid® family in 1997, and it has been one of the premier fundraising organization to Colorado communities ever since. From the very beginning, Integrity Fundraising distinguished itself with its superior customer service and dedication […]

Fall is, by far, the busiest season for fundraising. Groups are racing to start the school year off right; they hope that getting an early start and having one of the first fundraisers of the year will help them get more buyers. It’s also the holiday season when people are in the gift-giving mood and […]

We’re kicking off our “Dealership Spotlight” segment by featuring a uniquely named dealership. Freckled Moose Fundraising has been a part of the Butter Braid family for about 20 years, and during that time they have helped thousands of groups reach and exceed their fundraising goals. The dealership has undergone a lot of growth in the […]

The Butter Braid® brand is excited to announce a new feature that will be making its way to our blog this year. We spend a lot of time writing about our fundraising products and the wonderful groups and communities who benefit from selling them. Now, we want to spend some time introducing you to to […]

Whether it be Christmas or a birthday, everyone loves getting gifts. Are you having trouble deciding what to get your loved ones this year? Do you need help coming up with the perfect gift? Well, the people that make Butter Braid® pastries are here to tell you exactly why you should get your family one […]

Brighten up your holiday party with a festive Butter Braid® treat. Everyone loves candy canes, so we thought, ‘Why not make a candy cane out of Butter Braid pastries?’ So, we did, and the results are beautiful. Now, we’re sharing our holiday masterpiece with you. Roll up your sleeves and get your bake on this […]

The Butter Braid® brand has a new look! We’ve updated our logo, typeface, colors, packaging, marketing materials, and even created a new tagline. Our dealers’ and customers’ needs are always

Customers have begged us to bring it back; they’ve pleaded for its return. Well, this season, their pleas have been answered.
The Bavarian Crème Butter Braid® pastry is making a comeback this fall! With delectable fudge icing and

The Butter Braid® brand has some exciting news for the 2019 fall fundraising season. The Cinnamon Pastry Roll is returning to the product line up!
We’ve received many requests from

Ingredients:
1 Cream Cheese Butter Braid pastry
12-15 Jalapenos
Lemon Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder

Ingredients:
1 baked Double Chocolate Butter Braid pastry
1 small pkg strawberry jello (4 serving size)
1 cup very hot water

Ingredients
1 Double Chocolate Butter Braid® pastry
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
5 Tbsp. butter, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 envelope dream whip

Ingredients
1 cream cheese pastry
¼ cup heath toffee pieces
¼ cup chocolate chunks
Chocolate syrup
Step-by-Step Directions
Raise pastry for 8 -10 hours

Ingredients
2 double chocolate Butter Braid® pastries
2 – 12oz pkgs frozen raspberries, drain well, sprinkle 1-2 TBSP sugar on

Ingredients
1 baked and cooled strawberry & cream cheese Butter Braid pastry. Slice like loaf of bread (1/2”)
Egg Mixture:
5 large eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla

Ingredients
1 Butter Braid caramel roll
1 cup blueberries, thawed
1 cup raspberries, thawed
1 cup peach slices, thawed & cut in small pieces
Filling

Butter Braid® pastries can be used for more than breakfast!!

Break out the American flags and decorations for a fun way to celebrate the 4th of July!

Ingredients
1 Apple Butter Braid pastry
2-3 Boneless pork cutlets (or pork loin)
Rosemary
Onion powder

Butter Braid® pastries can be used for more than breakfast!!

Break out the candles and decorations for a fun way to celebrate anyone’s birthday!

Ingredient
1 Cream Cheese Butter Braid pastry
12-16 frozen shrimp
Green onions
Thousand Island dressing
Step-by-step directions

Ingredients
1 Cream Cheese Butter Braid® pastry
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
4-5 slices of cooked, crumbled bacon
1 cup canned chicken

Ingredients
1 Apple Butter Braid® pastry
Filling Ingredients
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp sugar
Caramel Glaze

Ingredients
1 Strawberry Cream Cheese Butter Braid® pastry
Step-by-step directions
Thaw 1 Strawberry Cream Cheese Butter Braid pastry for 8 hours

Ingredients
1 Four Cheese and Herb Butter Braid® pastry
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup mini pepperoni
Step-by-step directions
Set Four Cheese and Herb Butter Braid

Makes 12 bites per Butter Braid pastry
Ingredients
1 Apple Butter Braid® pastry
1/2 cup Sugar
Step-by-step directions
Set pastry out for 2 hours
Unbraid pastry and remove filling.

Ingredients
1 Apple Butter Braid® pastry
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
Decorating sugar crystals
Caramel sauce
Step-by-step directions

Ingredients
1 Cream Cheese Butter Braid® pastry
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
¼ cup onions, finely diced
½ cup Frank’s hot sauce
¾ packet ranch dressing mix
8 oz. cooked chicken, finely diced

Ingredients
1 Apple Butter Braid® pastry
1/2 cup honey mustard
6 slices of Monterey Jack cheese
12 slices bacon, fried
1 Gala apple, cored and cut into 12 slices

Ingredients
1 Double Chocolate Butter Braid® pastry
1 – 8oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter

Ingredients
1 Cream Cheese Butter Braid® pastry
1 cup pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 pkg Canadian bacon
1/2 cup pineapple tidbits
1 tsp Italian seasoning

Ingredients
2 Cinnamon Butter Braid pastries
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 tsp cinnamon
Step-by-step directions

Ingredients
1 Double Chocolate Butter Braid pastry
1 pkg crushed graham crackers
Jumbo marshmallows
Fudge
Step-by-step directions

Ingredients
1 Strawberry Cream Cheese Butter Braid pastry
Whipped Cream
1 cup Chocolate chips
1 cup fresh Strawberries

Navigating through the new Smart Snacks in School rule can be confusing. Check out our resources below to help you understand how it will impact your next food fundraiser. Interim Final Rule Link

West Bend, IA (July 22, 2019) – Since 1991, Country Maid, Inc. and Butter Braid® pastries have helped raise over $245 million for thousands of great causes. Country Maid, along

Make a list of potential customers and people to help you sell
Start selling right away to meet your goal!
Make sure to introduce yourself to your customers

Sending a thank you letter to your parents and supporters at completion of the fundraiser is a great way of acknowledging their contributions and increases your chances for fundraising success in the future.

Getting everyone in your group to participate in a fundraising sale can make a big difference in your success!
Check out the infographic to see how much of a difference!

Make any sales fundraiser a success by following these 10 pointers.
Make contact with other groups
Be aware of what other fundraisers are going on within the school. Try staggering the fundraisers

Be on the lookout! There are many elements within a fundraiser that can “cost” you extra.
Time – time is money
Quality – the product matters
Unknowns – read the fine print

A parent meeting with sellers is key! It’s crucial they understand the importance of the fundraiser-i.e. what the money is going towards, why it’s necessary, and what impact will it have on their child.

This is a very handy tool when you are searching for a fundraising company. Simply go through the checklist to be sure that you are selecting the fundraising company that is best for you and your group.

When it comes to fundraising, a wise man once said, “You can’t deposit percents into your bank account.”
What you can deposit, is a high, per-item profit on each item sold!

An important factor for increasing your fundraising sales and ultimately the success of your fundraiser is how well the fundraiser is promoted. Top 10 Tips to Increase Fundraiser Sales and Success! Send a letter to parents Hold a kick-off event Place an article

They weren’t asked!

67% are waiting to support your next sale!

Get the word out!

How much money do you need to raise?
How soon do you need the money?
How many volunteers do you have?
Product Sales
Grant or Corporate Sponsorships
Event Fundraisers

You’ve met your goal and you think “success”. But is it true? How do you know you couldn’t have raised more? Doing a fundraiser evaluation is so important. Yes, you raised the money, but what about volunteer morale,

Do you need to raise funds, but you aren’t sure how to get started? The first thing to do is to find a fundraising partner that will be there for you through the entire fundraising process. Below are 5 qualities you

1. Plan Your Week and Day Having a clear fundraising plan in mind can greatly reduce stress and planning priorities for the day and week gives us a peace of mind. It’s simple: Clearly define your fundraising goals

Use your website Communicate your goals Thank your sponsors Showcase offerings Recognize success Honor goals being met Use Social Media Create awareness Communicate the cause Show your progress Thank your

Fundraising is a great way to raise money for kids, charity, schools and other events. While there are many options of fundraising available, none seem to compare to Butter Braid® pastries. Since 1991, Butter

School is back in for certain areas, and the rest return very soon. With school comes the ever present Fundraiser, a vital way for the school to make money for their needs.

It’s back to school time, which also means back to fundraisers. It can be tiring to have the same fundraiser year after year or to support a fundraiser with one of those lame catalogs stuffed full of expensive

I made this awesome pastry the other day and asked my hubby what he thought of it. He replied “haven’t you had one of those before?” The pastry was a Butter Braid®, a hand-braided pastry filled with fruit and cream

West Bend, IA (July 29, 2016) – Country Maid, Inc. once again stayed true to their mission of “Helping others help themselves” at their annual Dealer Conference held in

Fundraising is just a part of life if you are a parent (and sometimes even when you’re not!). We all know that some fundraisers are better than others. Take Girl Scout cookies for example… you usually really want

by: Open Hands Breakfast is the most important meal of the day….but we’re often in such a rush that we simply don’t find the time. I used to be great about preparing a hot meal every morning for my kids, but as our family

Country Maid, makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries, have been featured on Manufacturing Marvels on The Fox Business Network. The Manufacturing Marvels production crew filmed in

West Bend, IA (Aug. 31, 2015) – Country Maid, makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries have announced they will be seen on Manufacturing Marvels on The Fox

by: Everything Mommyhood A few weeks ago I was contacted by Butter Braid® pastries, and I had heard of them before as they are a sweet and simple fundraiser that I know a lot of people love. Who can turn down

by IHeart-Motherhood Anyone and everyone who knows me is very aware of my sweet tooth, I love sweets, they are my weakness! I first heard about Butter Braid® pastries a

West Bend, IA (July 27, 2015) – “Helping others help themselves” is the cornerstone of Country Maid’s corporate mission and was reflected in the philanthropic event held at their annual Dealer Conference this

by Housewife on a Mission We have a sweet and delicious giveaway for our readers, that we KNOW you are all going to love!! Have you ever heard of Butter Braid®? I truthfully had not up until recently, and boy am I glad I was

by Volunteer Spot Downright Delectable Fundraising Tips & Solutions The recipe for Spring fundraising success doesn’t have to be complicated! With the right fundraiser for your school families, time-saving coordination tools, simple social media outreach and fun

by Volunteer Spot 5 Simple Spring Fundraising Solutions for School Parent Leaders Does the thought of Spring fundraising season keep you up at night? Are you losing sleep worrying about getting enough parent support to make this Spring’s

February 12, 2015 by Carissa Raise your hand if you LOVE Fundraisers! Go ahead, don’t be shy. Anyone? Any…One? Yeah I’m pretty sure no one wakes up and thinks… “YIPPEE! THIS is the day I get to start begging friends,

West Bend, IA (Dec. 10, 2014) – Country Maid, makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries was featured on Discovery Channel’s How It’s Made

West Bend, IA (Nov. 11, 2014) – Country Maid, makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries has announced the upcoming airdate for the Discovery

West Bend, IA (Oct. 15, 2014) – Country Maid, Inc., makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries announces they have been awarded the Safe Quality Food (SQF) – Level 2 Certification under the Global Food

West Bend, IA (Aug. 21, 2014) – Country Maid, makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries hosted Governor Branstad at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West

The Butter Braid Brand Family partnered with Shriners Hospital For Children® for the 2014 humanitarian event. 150 goody bags were packed with toys, crafts and games for the children. Also hand-made get well

Live the Lifestyle You Desire Six-figure income potential by year four Low up-front cost under $15,000 to get started Proven business model with extensive training and support Exclusive territory and products to accelerate business growth

West Bend, IA (May 19, 2014) – Country Maid, makers of the famous Butter Braid® pastries, announces the selection of the company to be featured on Discovery Channel’s acclaimed How It’s Made TV program.

Country Maid employees and dealerships from across the country came together for the Annual Dealer Conference in Chicago, IL. While there, to carry out their mission of “Helping Others Help Themselves,”

Judy Quiter, from Navasota, Texas, was the lucky winner of the Country Maid sponsored, Butter Braid® brand Golden Ticket Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes, which began in 2011 and ended in 2012, was in celebration

In order for Country Maid, Inc. (manufactures of Butter Braid brand pastries) to witness our belief and commitment to our Mission Statement: “Helping Others, Help