Monday, October 22, 2012

How to Throw a Kids' Cookie Decorating Party

Kids love baking, decorating and eating cookies and they love to be with friends, so why not combine the two and throw a cookie decorating party? A cookie decorating party can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it, and the kids will love it no matter what, so only do what you want to do and don’t stress yourself out. A great time to throw a cookie decorating party is near the holidays when it’s too cold for the kids to spend all day outside and the thought of eating delicious cookies with a mug of hot chocolate leaves everyone’s mouth watering.

Party Set Up

Decorate the outside of your home with a large gingerbread man cutout, and have him hold a cute sign that says, “Baking in progress”. Make or buy child sized aprons, which can double as both a party favor and a way to keep the kids clean during the decorating process. Use a permanent marker or fabric paint to write each child’s name on the front of their apron.

Cover the table with white butcher paper and tape it to the underside of the table so the kids don’t accidentally pull it off the table. Take two colors of duct tape and create a border around the table to add a festive touch. Lay out the trays, frosting and utensils the kids will use to decorate. In front of each place, set up four cupcake liners which will serve as a place to hold the candies with which to decorate the cookies. Mix up some basic frosting and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until the morning of the party.

Bake up the cookies the day before the party. Cookies are easier to decorate if they have set overnight because the butter in the cookies won’t soak into the frosting as easily. Gingerbread boys and girls or snowmen are simple for kids to decorate. If the party is at a different time of year go with a shape that is appropriate. If you don’t bake, buy unfrosted cookies from a bakery.

Set out the jars of sprinkles and bags of candy so you can easily portion them out on the day of the party. Choose items like jimmies, various shaped sprinkles, red-hot candies, candy-coated chocolate pieces, mini chocolate chips, peppermint sticks, and colored sugars.

Day of the Party

In the center of the table pile the cookies on the platter. Bring the frosting to room temperature and then pile some plain white frosting into a bowl. Color the remaining frosting a different color that goes with the party theme. This frosting is for covering the cookie before the decorating begins. Supply each child with a craft stick or plastic knife to spread the frosting on the cookies.

On the stove mix up a big batch of hot chocolate according to the directions on the unsweetened cocoa powder can. Pour the hot chocolate into a preheated slow cooker and cover to keep the hot chocolate warm so it’s ready whenever the kids are done. Have a big bowl of mini marshmallows on hand to add to the hot chocolate.

Keep a box of wipes handy for quick clean-up of hands because they will get messy.

When the kids arrive

Have everyone wash their hands and give them their apron. Play some energetic music that the kids will like. As the kids arrive, let them pick out 4 kinds of sprinkles or candies to use on their cookies and place them in the cupcake liners. Once everyone arrives you can let the kids start decorating. You may want to show the kids a sample cookie that you have decorated ahead of time, or stand and show them one that you do on the fly. Sometimes kids find it easier to copy someone else’s design and then they won’t feel intimidated.

Refreshments

Once the kids are done decorating their cookies allow them to dry and let the kids go into another area and drink hot chocolate and have their cookies or ones that you’ve made ahead of time.

Favors

Provide decorated paper gift bags to put each guest’s apron in. Bag up their finished cookies in cellophane bags and tie them with a ribbon and include them in the bag with the apron.

Hosting a cookie decorating party removes the stress of trying to figure out how to entertain a bunch of kids. Don’t plan a party that’s extremely long, 1 ½ to 2 hours should be sufficient. Have fun decorating with the kids and celebrate their creativity.

Taken From Become a Nanny

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