As your child’s birthday rolls around and you’re looking for a cool way to celebrate, try a cooking party! Children love to cook and a cooking birthday party allows them to learn a new skill, be creative, have fun, get messy, and offers a sense of accomplishment as they get to eat what they’ve created. Whatever your child’s age you can create a fun meal that they will certainly enjoy!

What you’ll need to do:
• Pick a theme – Italian, Mexican, American, Hawaiian, Asian, a favorite hobby or sport, a tea party, a circus…you get the idea. Then think about foods that pertain to your theme. For example a circus party could include, foot-long hotdogs with all the toppings, circus animal cookies, and peanuts and popcorn snack mix.
• Have your child help and design your own invitations to the party.
• Depending on the age of the children, decide what part of the meal would be appropriate for them to prepare. For example, children ages seven and older can mix the dough and create frosting and decorate the circus animal cookies. Children under seven can decorate cookies, and mix together the peanuts and popcorn snack mix. Adults can prepare the hotdogs and toppings.

Things to keep in mind:
• You need to pick a recipe that is appropriate for the children’s age group and skill level. Children 3-8 years old do well with recipes that require the light mixing together of ingredients. Good examples would be: sugar cookies or biscuits. They can use cookie cutters, frosting, and of course the more sprinkles the better!
Children 9 and older really can create anything when given clear direction.
• Limit the size of the group to 10. You can figure that you will need 1 adult for every three children depending on what type of recipe you are creating and your experience in the kitchen.
•Print copies of the recipes you’re creating for the children to follow. Print in a large font so it is easy to read and follow. Show a picture of the final dish if possible.
• Make sure children wash hands prior to cooking.
• Make cooking stations for the children to use and divide them up into pairs.
• Have all the ingredients measured out a head of time.
• Place all cooking utensils and bowls they’ll need out in advance.
• Have paper towels at their cooking stations for spills.
• When the recipe is complete have the children bring it to an adult to place in the oven or on the stovetop.
• Plan activities and games for kids to do while their food is cooking.

Party Decorations:
Can include paper chef hats, aprons, and paper plates and balloons that coordinate with your theme.

Goody Bag Ideas:
For your cooking party the children can take home a set of measuring spoons or measuring cups in goodie bags along with theme appropriate treats.

Fun Kids Recipe Idea:
Popcorn Balls
featured on Kraft Foods.com
1/4 cup (1/2 Stick) butter or margarine
1 pkg. (10-1/2 oz.) Jet-Puffed
Miniature Marshmallows
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Jell-o Brand
Gelatin, any flavor
12 cups popped popcorn
1 cup of your favorite candy

Microwave butter and marshmallows in large microwavable bowl on high 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are puffed. Stir in gelatin until well blended.
Pour marshmallow mixture over combined popcorn and candy in large bowl. Mix lightly until well coated.

Shape into balls or any other shape with greased or wet hands.

If all this sounds like a fun idea for the little chef in your house, but seems like too much work, or you just don’t have enough space in your kitchen… try The WAY-COOL Cooking School, Inc.™ located in Eden Prairie. The WAY-COOL Cooking School, Inc.™ is where cool kids and adults cook, learn and have fun! We specialize in Cooking Lessons for Kids, Cooking Birthday Party Packages, Tea Parties, Parent and Child Classes, Adult Classes, Private Cooking Club Parties, Team Building Events, and have special classes for schools and scout troops. To plan your WAY-COOL event please contact Lynn Elliott – President/Owner of the WAY-COOL Cooking School™ at 952-412-3841 or check out our website at www.WayCoolCookingSchool.com to learn more about our cooking school and offerings. Bon Appetite!

return to top