Christmas Cookie Decorating Party

Well, I'm no pro on parties, but I just hosted my first Christmas Cookie Decorating Party for the kids and it was a huge success!  The kids all had a blast and I've already had request to do another one next year!  Wow!

First I invited 11 kids.  I didn't want to be to overwhelm with to many kids, and this number worked perfectly!  Then I decided what were we going to do.  Well, I first was thinking, how are we going to do the frosting?  If I have the bags, it could get very messy on the hands, and I have 3 autistic boys who are very sensitive to certain textures.  So, then I decided, how about the clear condiment containers.  That would work great!!

Then I saw some cute chef hat and aprons for kids, and thought, wow, that would be so cute for the kids to use.  The kids all jump aboard, even the older kids with the hat and aprons.  Loved it!

I made my own cookies with this recipe:

1 1/4 Cup Soft Butter

2 Eggs

4 Tablespoons Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Nutmeg

2 Cups Sugar

1 Teaspoon Salt

5 Cups Flour

1/2 Cup Milk

Mix all the ingredients together, and roll out thin with a rolling pin.  Cut in any shape.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet (I prefer the air-bake) at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Then I made my own frosting with this recipe:

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound), softened (but not melted!) Ideal texture should be like ice cream.
3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, SIFTED
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions
Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn't blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time.

Use whatever food coloring you want.  I also made my own colored sugar, and all you have to do for that is place desired amount of sugar in a zip lock bag, add food coloring, zip shut and shake.  That's it!

I also bought some cute gingerbread boxes, so the kids can put their decorated cookies in it to bring home.  I almost forgot the wax paper, cut up in about 5x5 squares to put between the cookies in the box.

We all had fun, and it went by fast.  Oh, before I forget, we also had hot cocoa that I put in the crock pot about an hour before the party.  I used milk and Lake Champlain Hot Chocolate Mixes.  Served on the side with marshmallows.  It was a big hit!

Here are some pics from the party: