Could this be new business!!! Your input please--

What a cute idea! I think you already have some neat things picked out. I love the name tag thing...you could make them out of scrapbook paper and it would be sooo cute! I think the treats are a good idea too. And the box with a little ribbon would be perfect to end it all.
You should definitely have someone take a picture of you with the girls that day so that they can remember it.

I wish I knew how much money you should charge. I've never even thought about it before. The best thing that I can think of..is figure out how it costs to make your cookies and then multiply that by how many girls there are. Either go and buy the boxes and the ribbon and add that in the price or just go and price them. Plus the treats...etc. But then you also need to figure in your own time. I'm guessing that you are probably going to want to charge a minimum of $20/girl. But that's just a guess.

Goodluck. Let us know how it goes!

i don't know about pricing lilybird, but depending on their timeline and what day they want to do it, they could eat lunch while the cookies cool from the fondant. might give it enough time to set right. and maybe a cookie favor of girly thing, like the princess crown or wand as your special treat. goodluck!!

You could have some cookies already baked and topped when they get there. They could make a few of their own so they get the experience, then decorate the ones you made while theirs cool. They can take theirs home to decorate on their own, or if there's time, decorate them at your house. If you're talking 12 cookies each, that's a lot of cookies! I don't think 6 each would be unreasonable. Most decorating classes here in town run $20-$25 for a two hour class. (And you don't come away with 12 cookies!) Hope that helps a little bit!

It sounds like a fun idea. But don't sell yourself short. Even if you don't want to make a substantial profit, you still have to cover your costs. It might make sense to call around to other businesses in your area that "do" kids' birthday parties, and see what they charge so you have some idea of what's out there. It seems like you want to offer an awful lot to make the party a success. Your expenses--cookie ingredients, fondant ingredients, light lunch, treats to munch on, beverage, paper goods, name tags, little gift, packaging for cookies--are considerable. Then you have to consider your time--shopping; planning; making the dough, fondant, lunch, name tags and treats; actual party time; then clean-up.

What about giving them a cookie recipe printed in a very nice paper and a cookie cutter with a ribbon? That way they can make their own cookies in the future. Maybe you could use the cookie cutter as a kind of "bow" for the cookie box. I know I'd love to receive a cookie cutter .

I forgot to suggest that once you decide what you will do and your pricing, let the lady know what exactly are you charging her for, to justify your price. Maybe you are thinking in a bunch of treats and she is just imagining the girls baking cookies. Just an idea.

$25 per girl would be very fair I think...sounds fun!

I just gave my first private cake decorating lessons to a little girl for her birthday....charged more than that but it was for 3 hours. Its definitely something I want to add to my website as something to offer regularly.

I love love love all these ideas and I know you said you don't want to make a killing money wise, but all these cute idea will take time and money. You could charge for cost of goods, both baking and paper, but then you are still investing all your time to make the boxes and such.

Please don't get me wrong. I think the idea is amazing and it would probably be something I would like to do with my nephews. And if your willing to donate the time then who cares.

Total up the cost of goods for both paper and baking stuff, tack on what you think your time is worth then divide by 6, and you have your cost.

True...you could even make up a few "packages"....one that includes lunch, or one that includes extra decorations....with different prices.

How fun!!

Okay, here's how I would map it out using yours and the others suggestions:
-The girls come in roll out the dough, cut and bake 6 cookies each.

-While those bake, they roll out and cutout the fondant topper. (I've never made these, is that the process?)

-let them help you clean up the table/counters if you need more time for baking.

-cookies come out of the oven, they put the fondant on. Set aside to cool. (How long does this take usually?)

-have a light lunch/snack (Maybe you can demonstrate how you decorate using the pens while they eat)

-maybe have a game for them to play if you need more cooling time--if you turn this into a birthday party idea-you could do presents at this time also. Or, they could decorate their own boxes as a time filler.

-they decorate the baked cookies

-you box their finished cookies to take home, top with a cookie cutter, nametag and /or bow

-at $20 each girl you would make $120. Does this cover your costs and give you a decent profit for the time/effort you've put in? adjust accordingly.

Please fill us in on how it works for you!!

I love the idea of the box decorating as a time-filler!!! You could give them really nice tips to do that. For example: ideas for Valentine's Day, Christmas, birthdays, etc. Also card-making sound like a good idea. Or tips about how to pack them individually and in boxes. Wow, sounds like fun!!

I'm just starting a business in Scotland and will be offering baking parties for children. I have run a couple of practice parties using my friends children. Here is some of the things I have learnt so far

Tell the children not to eat the raw cookie dough, you need to remind them regularly (I let my kids eat it but a couple of other mums have been really against their children eating things with raw eggs in)

The pens are great for children that can draw well, I have had them cause frustration when mistakes have been made cause you can't rub them out. I wouldn't use them with children under 10 for this reason. I had a child in tears cause she ruined her cookie and it was too late to bake another one.

I get the children to roll each cookie individually and roll it out between baking paper which I cut up into small squares before the party. The top piece of baking paper gets used again and again and when the cookie is rolled out on the bottom sheet it is just lifted straight onto the baking sheet, this means that clumsy little fingers don't mis-shape the cookie. It also means that you can write the childs name on the baking paper and everyone can be sure they get their own cookies back.

I use mini cutters to decorate with smaller children so for example we might make round cookies and then I will roll out some fondant for them, let it dry slightly so that it easier for them to handle and give them cute little shaped cutters so they can put an airplane or train on the cookie, if you brush the fodnant with syrup you can then stick sprinkles or coloured sugar or edible glitter on.

I made boiled sweet cookies (use crushed boiled sweets to make coloured glass effect) for Chrismas and have and have had 4 year olds and 8 year olds make them with brilliant results - they are really easy to do and children always seem impressed by them.

I always stop for a break which gives time for cooling and clearing away the cookie dough, my parties last 2 and a half hours, I tried to fit it into 2 hours but things just got too rushed.

I offer parties bags as part of the party, I include a laminated recipe card with my company details printed on the bottom of it, a cookie cutter and then can add extras like small rolling pins, mixing spoons, a cookie decorated by me, balloons etc.

I run the parties in peoples homes, I take everyhing that would be needed, and clear up afterwards.

Hope that helps.

Sara

I've done a few classes lke this. I think you are right about the learning curve on the pens on new fondant. I think going home with a dozen cookies is enough -- maybe an inexpensive cookie cutter but that's plenty I think. The girls will want to eat one or two of their cookies I don't think they need snacks just a drink, mulled cider, hot chocolate or milk.

What about making red, green, yellow and blue fondant in advance plus have white? I can see them rolling out green fondant for a tree then making little ornaments to go on the tree.

When I do sugar cookies, I thin a bit of cookie dough with water to piping consistency and tint it say green for the christmas tree and then pipe or paint the colored cookie dough on the unbaked cookie. Then when you bake it off you have most of your decoration on there already solid and fine--a few sugar sprinkles and ornament balls made out of fondant and you're golden.

I would do stars, angels, trees--can I come?? Ooh oh they could do a candy cane with some red (not thinned) cookie dough and some white--make two sausages and twist them together and form the candy cane.

But I think the painting and piping with thinned colored cookie dough is a definite maybe that you might wanna test out and see how you like. It spreads a little but you can add detail after it's baked.

I would also recommend the Wilton icing pen things.
http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=93496D96-423B-522D-F20F973C511B50BE&fid=97FF129B-423B-522D-F45242D358DBDA51

That sounds great Sara. You've learned a lot! Maybe you could have some extra cookies just in case.
K8memphis, the idea of the thinned dough is fantastic. I'll definitely try it.