Food & Party Planning Ideas

7 Years Old Decorate-a-Cake Party

The party guests become pastry chefs and they make and decorate the birthday cake, The activity is perfect for children of this age, who love to dive in and get their hands dirty - this time with frosting!

Invitations

• Send a connect-the-dots or paint-by-numbers picture of a birthday cake and all the information inviting your guests to try out their creativity before they get the opportunity to decorate the real thing!
• Send individually-decorated cupcakes with the guest's name written on top. The cupcake should be accompanied by a card with party details.

Party Setting and Decorations

• Present each child with an apron and a paper chef's hat when they arrive.
• If you have a large kitchen, hold the party there. Hang banners and signs along the top of the room and tie balloons to the backs of each kitchen chair. Alternatively, decorate another room (like a basement play area) to resemble a "kitchen." A stand mixer, pots, bowls and kitchen tools, plus bags of flour and sugar will lend the right atmosphere.

Activities and Games

• Making the cake is the activity of this party. If you are giving this party for older children or if you have time, you may want to let them actually bake the cake - mixing the batter and filling the pans. Mom or Dad can put them in and take them out of the oven. The party is just as fun when you make or buy the cake ahead of time since the focus is on decorating the cake.
• Give each child wax paper squares, plastic tubes of colored icing, some plastic bowls, a spatula, a pastry bag and decorating tools. Have them practice with the pastry bag, piping out stars, lines, shells and other decorations on the wax paper.
• After practicing, give each child a small unfrosted cake. Have a big cake already decorated (see photo) for everyone to eat together - each child gets to take their own special cake home. Let them frost and decorate the cake as they like, using the techniques that they have just learned.

Menu Suggestions

• Serve easy-to-eat finger food that kids love, like celery with a piped cheese spread and open-faced "sandwiches" of cream cheese stars, ham and turkey. Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches.