Cookie Decorating For Bunch Of 5 Yrs Old???

Baking By anku Updated 20 Feb 2009 , 8:32pm by JenWhitlock

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anku Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 7:12am
post #1 of 18

Hello everybody,
My 5 yrs old daughter wants to invite 6-7 of her girl friends to her B'day party and wants to decorate cookies! I think its a cute idea and something different but have no clue how to go about it!
Has anybody done this kind of project with kids? What are the list of thigs I should keep in mind to make it a success!

Thanks in advance.

17 replies
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kaat Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 12:32pm
post #2 of 18

Keep it simple! Have as much done ahead as possible and have lots of icing available (kids don't like to wait and they will all want the same colour!) And it WILL be messy! But oh so much fun!
I put small amounts of icing in the disposable bags and put elastics around the tops to keep them closed, then snipped a small hole at the end for the tip. Mini m&ms were a big hit for decorations.
I bought a dollar store vinyl tablecloth and when they were done scooped it up and the table was clean! If your table is over carpet you may want to consider putting plastic on the floor as well.
Over all I was surprised how long they decorated for and it was fun too!
Good Luck and Enjoy!

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drdm99 Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 12:56pm
post #3 of 18

I did this kind of party for my daughter when she turned 6. I premade all of the cookies in several shapes and iced half of them with royal icing. On the day of the party, I put out a sheet of parchment paper for each one with several cookies (half iced and half plain). I had the following things in the middle of the table: edible markers, royal icing in squeeze tubes with small tips on them (less mess), tons of sanding sugar and sprinkles in little cups. Each kid could draw on the iced ones and use the royal icing to glue on the sprinkles etc. I bought bakery boxes and put each kids cookies on a paper plate insice the box. I attached a sticker that said "thank you for coming..." and off they went with their goodie bag. We had also made pizzas and had icecream cake. Have a game ready to go while you are cleaning up...again, eveything went right into the garbage except the squeeze bottles. Have a great time!

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sallene Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 4:34pm
post #4 of 18

I did this for several 3 and 4 year olds over Christmas.

I bought a dollar store tablecloth, so I wouldn't have to clean up much mess. I also bought 12 canvas aprons from Oriental Trading, so that the parents wouldn't have to worry about what the clothes the kids were wearing. These cleaned up super easy afterwards, so I have them stashed back for the next project.

I pre-made sugar cookies in several different shapes. I bagged them up in groups of 8, so that they would be ready for the kids when they got there.

I pre-made the icing and colored it. I used wilton decorating bottles instead of ziplock bags. I did try the bags last year, but found that the bottles weren't as messy. I also provided popsicle sticks for the kids to spread the icing with.

I set out little nut cups with various sprinkles and candies, for decorating.

The kids loved it, the moms loved it, and I think it'll be a yearly tradition now.

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anku Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 4:56pm
post #5 of 18

Wow! Excellent ideas ! Ok regarding icing...should I do Royal or simple sugar glace? What is recommended with kids?

Also, where can I find bakery boxes?

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drdm99 Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 5:10pm
post #6 of 18

I ordered the boxes online, but I'm sure you could buy them from your local bakery.

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suz3 Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 5:23pm
post #7 of 18

I am getting ready to do a similar activity and plan to cover my cookies with fondant while they are warm. This is a really easy way to "ice" them. Hope this is fun for you. I'm really looking forward to it.

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Lcubed82 Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 5:25pm
post #8 of 18

I did this on the fly for the Super Bowl. I had not finished the cookies, so just let the kids do them. It was messy, but lots of fun.

I used parchment bags- DO NOT! Squeeze bottles would be lots better. Even baggies would be a little better.

Make sure the icing isn't too thin. Even if they have to squeeze a little harder, it won't run off the edges as easily.

Don't have too many color choices, but have several bottles of each color.

Have extra cookies- they will insist on decorating a certain way, then want to do it differently after!

Stay relaxed! Have fun! Don't worry about the mess- it is just sugar!

Linda L.

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luv_to_decorate Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 5:29pm
post #9 of 18

I have done decorated cookies with my grandchildren. I too found the plastic bottles sold at Michael's with the candy supplies worked very well for them to use. I had the cookies ready and all the R.I. made and put in the bottles ahead of time. I put different sprinkles, edible glitter, pearls, dragees, etc in small paper bowls for them to choose from. I even had icing eyes for some of the cookies that we did at Christmas for snowmen, angels or anything that needed eyes. They can be very creative and they love doing this. Of course they want to eat them before they even get dry. icon_biggrin.gif

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sallene Posted 18 Feb 2009 , 6:59pm
post #10 of 18

I used a combination of RI and Alice's cookie icing. It dries hard enough to stack, but it's still soft to bite into.

I get my boxes from Nashville Wraps.

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anku Posted 19 Feb 2009 , 12:07am
post #11 of 18

Thanks for the wonderful tips! I already bought the squeeze bottles from Michaels. Again regarding icing...if I do Royal will it dry in those bottles...or it'll be fine if I make them ahead of time?

What are the other icing options for kids other than royal?

Thanks so much!

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sallene Posted 19 Feb 2009 , 1:28pm
post #12 of 18

Did you get the clear bottles with the red caps? As long as they're closed, they won't dry.

Another option would be a powdered sugar icing with no merengue powder. It wouldn't dry the same, but you wouldn't have to worry about it hardening. For that, I use a combination of powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, and water. I don't have measurements though, I never measure when I make that kind.

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ruthi Posted 19 Feb 2009 , 6:15pm
post #13 of 18

Great thread - I also have a birthday party coming up and plan to do cookies - but for 12-year-old girls, and about thirty of them! Yes, I do need therapy!!!! I did this once before for a cousin's daughter and her class and we did cupcakes....these girls have an attention span of about 5 minutes max and then they are off and running to do their own thing without full instruction! Then, of course, they are all calling you to come to their side for help, cause they didn't pay attention in the first place!

Any pointers for the cookie attempt? I am planning to give them two or three cookies, some already covered in RI. Plus, I am curious, has anyone done this and what do you think is a good price to charge for this kind of "arts and crafts" session at birthday parties. Should it be an all inclusive price or a charge plus supplies??? The first one was done for family at no charge....but I would like to do this as a side thing and make it worthwhile.

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anku Posted 19 Feb 2009 , 7:06pm
post #14 of 18

Yes I bought the clear plastic bottles with red caps and sugar icing is waht I was talking about! Does anybody has good tried and tested recipe for that!!??

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sallene Posted 19 Feb 2009 , 9:18pm
post #15 of 18

Here's a recipe from christmas cookies.com that is very similar to what I use for my cookies (minus the merengue powder). It's also very similar to my other icing, although I don't use corn syrup in that.

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
food color, if desired

Combine powdered sugar, water, 1 tablespoon butter, corn syrup and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in small mixer bowl; mix until powdered sugar is moistened. Beat at medium speed until smooth, adding additional water if necessary, to reach desired glazing consistency. Tint with food color, if desired.

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anku Posted 20 Feb 2009 , 12:54am
post #16 of 18

Thank you, thank you so much for the recipe!

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sallene Posted 20 Feb 2009 , 2:35pm
post #17 of 18

No problem! I hope it all goes well!

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JenWhitlock Posted 20 Feb 2009 , 8:32pm
post #18 of 18

I just did this for my DD girl scout troop (5 and 6 year olds).
I don't have the squeeze bottles but I would recomend them.
I used rubber bands on the plastic pastry bags and the icing came out of the top (I think next time I will close them with my Euro Sealer)
we did valentine's cookies so I had red, pink, white and black. and two of each color.
I also brought sprinkles and different color sugars. I brought little bowls to put small amounts in (otherwise they will dump the whole can in at once).
The other fun thing that was a big hit was that I made RI transfers. i.e. I made valentines themes (hearts, flowers, XOXO, etc) on parchement and let it dry so that they could use them like stickers.

the girls were supposed to be learning about making the cookies, so I brought dough (leftover, old) that they could practice rolling out. then we cut out some shapes. then I brought out the pre-cooked cookies. I only made hearts and each girl got to do about 3.

I also made finished cookies ahead of time to show different techniques (see my Valentine's heart cookies) and I made some mini (1.5") heart cookies to 'live' demo icing techniques (like droping different colors wet and pulling a toothpick through them, and putting sugars on, etc)
the mini cookies made for good sampling snacks too icon_biggrin.gif

I sent them home with the cookies on a paper plate (still to wet too put in a bag) and a recipe handout. I also let each girl take home one of the premade ones that I had brought.

I like the idea of having a table cloth, that would have helped.
it is a mess, but it is very fun!!!

and like the previous posters said, try to prep as much as possible, because the girls will keep you busy icon_lol.gif

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