Cookie Decorating Party For Kids!

Baking By theteenagecaker Updated 5 Oct 2013 , 4:12pm by DarkMagicWolf

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theteenagecaker Posted 21 Jan 2012 , 8:12pm
post #1 of 8

Hi all,
My name's Jackie and I'm new! But I've been lurking on CakeCentral for a long time.

Now, I have a few questions.
At our local middle school, (I'm in high school)
there will be a carnival, and for community service hours,
I volunteered to host a cookie decorating booth, serving approximately 20-30 (at most) people at a time.
The school is giving me a non-existent ten dollar budget, so along with a partner I'll have to spend some money myself.

At most there will be 400 kids attending the carnival, but usually some do not show up, so I am planning on decorating only 200 cookies or so.
How do you suggest I spend my money the most wisely?

I am most concerned about the cookies and frosting.
I do not have a very big kitchen, and my partner's already baked about 75 cookies, which leaves 125 to me. Would any of you suggest I buy cookie dough or mix, or even completely pre-made cookies?
Or would it be more economical (but more difficult) to make it from scratch?

For my frosting, I think I will simply make a simple shortening/butter based buttercream.
I don't want the kids to have their hands on the food coloring themselves, so my idea was to walk around with a variety of colors for the kids to choose and I'd add the coloring in myself (with my partner)

And finally, decorations.
I have intermediate experience in piping, and the such, so I would be comfortable.
But to keep in mind, the kids will have little to no experience at all, and I do not want to make things more difficult for myself and the kids.
So that leaves candy decorations. I am thinking of buying plenty of sprinkles and maybe dying some sugar multiple colors. Also, I am thinking about buying some popular candies (M&Ms etc)
If any of you helpful folks have any suggestions that would be amazing.

Finally, (I know this is a long post icon_razz.gif )
how would I bring everything to the school? I think I will ask the school for a few tablecloths or I can bring my own, and the school will be supplying the tables and chairs.
I think napkins will suffice for each student as a "plate" and simple foam/paper bowls to hold the decorations and frosting, along with plastic knives.
If you have any suggestions at all for any of these areas,
that are so very welcomed!

Thanks so much for taking your time to read and reply! You guys are too cool!

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7 replies
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bonniebakes Posted 22 Jan 2012 , 12:44am
post #2 of 8

wow - $10, huh?

Since it's a kids cookie decorating booth, I have an idea what twill save you some time, effort and money. Might I suggest that you contact local bakeries or even grocery stores (most sell sugar cookies) and ask for donations to the school carnival of un-iced sugar cookies? Then, you can use your very small budget to on the icing and decorations.

Since they are kids - and you are talking about perhaps 20-30 at a time (yikes!), I suggest a simple glaze of powdered sugar and water in a few different colors and having colored sprinkles and jimmies and other candies to decorate with also. That way, it could be something that the kids can do with just a little guidance from you and still have independence. You can put the icing in plastic bowls, give them spoons to put it on the cookies, and then they can have at them with the decorations. for the kids who you feel would like something more challenging, you can easily teach them the "tye dye" technique using multiple concentric circles in different colors and then running a toothpick through them.

Hope it goes well!

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theteenagecaker Posted 22 Jan 2012 , 3:37am
post #3 of 8

thumbs_up.gif Thanks for all your tips! I've called up a few stores, they'll have to get back to me in the morning.
Meanwhile, I like your idea of the powder sugar glaze. I think I'll make up a small batch of the icing the day before, keeping it a bit thicker and outlining all the cookies.
I have one more question: I know the glaze dries quickly, how would I store it so it wouldn't dry out,
or should I just make it on site? I would make a regular consistency batch for the themselves to spoon into the cookies with the outlines. I think this will keep the cookies looking nice and reduce the messes from icing dripping off the edges.

And the tie-dye/marbling sounds great!
Thanks again, you've been so much help!

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gingerbreadtogo Posted 23 Jan 2012 , 5:20pm
post #4 of 8

I do a lot of decorating with kids. I find it easiest to use royal icing (no greasey mess). I make it up in 4 or 5 colors and put in disposable pastry bags and a rubber band on the end. I've never used glaze, but I suppose that can also go in pastry bag. I just clip the tip with scissors, I have little coffee stirrers for spreading and few kinds of sprinkles.

For 20 or so kids at time I would have maybe 3 tables and each equipped with icing and all. I've done 500 kids in a day..I just make alot of icing bags.

Good Luck.

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theteenagecaker Posted 23 Jan 2012 , 11:52pm
post #5 of 8

Thanks! Well, I just bought a bunch of cookie mix yesterday, I don't have the time (or energy haha) to make everything from scratch.
I also about 8 mini squeeze bottles yesterday, great for filling up with icing.

Now, I noticed your location, San Jose. I'm from San Jo too! icon_lol.gif

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DarkMagicWolf Posted 29 Sep 2013 , 9:03pm
post #6 of 8

Hey!

I'm doing about the same thing, just there is ALOT more people. 2,000 apperently on a good day. I plan to just make alot of cookies from pre-made mix. Im going to do bats, pumpkins and ghost cookies. (Its a halloween theme)

My question is mainly frosting and such. How would you do this? Buy icing and just put it in piping bags? A bowl with plastic knifes to frost? 

If you see this and can reply, it would be a great help. I dont really have a budget, im paying for it all myself or splitting the cost with a friend. 

Thank you!

-DJ

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GeminiRJ Posted 2 Oct 2013 , 12:33pm
post #7 of 8

I'm cringing just thinking about the amount of frosting needed for 2,000 cookies! Making it would probably be cheaper than buying it, but the time investment would be significant. Going the route of having the icing in bowls and using knives would seem to be the best choice.  Then just buy some colored sugars and sprinkles and let the kids use those to add interest to their cookie. Wow. 2,0000. Yikes!

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DarkMagicWolf Posted 5 Oct 2013 , 4:12pm
post #8 of 8

Hey,

I only have to make enough for a 2 hour shift. my booth doesnt go all day. But thank you!!!

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