Cowgirl Cookie Party

My friend Wendy came to me a few months ago to ask if I would help create a cookie party for her daughter Madeline's 6th birthday. I jumped on board with the plan since I thought it is high time cookies take the spotlight at birthday parties. Who needs the dry old cake with super sweet icing. It's time for a cookie party revolution! And I thought it would be fun, which it definitely was.

Wendy and I met a for lunch a few times to plan the party. First up we need to find space to accommodate our group of 17, six year olds and their parents. In case you weren't aware, it's tough to plan kid parties in New York unless you have oodles of money to rent party space and/or lots of space in your apartment. Creative and resourceful Wendy found a great party place, Cowgirl, a West Village restaurant staple for as long as I can remember. The decor is totally hoe down kitsch with western-themed tchotchkes on the walls. Their party room was perfect for hosting our crowd of 30 and the staff couldn't have been any nicer.



The Plan

Now with a western theme under way, Wendy readied the e-invitations and I got to work on the supplies. First, I hit one of my favorite cooking/baking supply stores in the city, Broadway Panhandler, which oddly is not located on Broadway (it used to be). I picked up three cookie cutters-a boot, a horse, and a cacti. Two days before the party I made about 35 cutouts and used my letters to create cookies to spell out Happy Birthday!

On the day of the party we set up cookie decorating work stations at a long table. Each station contained a placemat, paper plate, and cookies. The center of the table was lined with squeeze bottles filled with brightly colored royal icing so the kids could easily grab the colors they liked. I made sure the icing was on the runny side so that it oozed out of the bottles (just a tad thicker than the consistency of white glue). We also included cupcake wrappers filled with various colored sprinkles and toppings placed along the center of the table within easy reach for short arms.














































The kids had a ball decorating cookies! Some kids carefully dotted the cookies with icing while others just poured it on like they were putting maple syrup on pancakes. Whatever the technique, the creations were unique, colorful, and delicious. We wrote each child's name on the bottom of their paper plate and moved the plates to quiet corner of the room to dry while lunch was served. The icing hardened fairly quickly in time for us to place the cookies in cellophane bags as a take away. Wendy also provided gift bags with toys and nifty items. One of the dads entertained the posse with balloon twisty sculptures. A pinata took a beating before it ruptured, spilling its sweet guts all over the floor.

The whole party was two hours. Just long enough to get in all of the action on a cold winter day in the city.
















Create Your Own Cookie Party

Here's a list of what you'll need:

cookie cutters (medium size)
sugar cookie dough (2 or 3 batches depending on how many cookie decorators you have)
cupcake wrappers (foil wrappers work best)
plastic squeeze tubes - enough for each child to have one to start (available from Michael's Crafts or by Wilton baking products)
paper plates
table covering for easy cleanup
cellophane bags with ties or ribbon to close
stick on tags to label bags

Two or three days in advance, make cookie dough and refrigerate. One day before roll the dough, bake cookies and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Sugar Cookie Cut Outs

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar together in a mixer until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla, mix well.

Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until ingredients come together.
Do not over mix.

Roll out dough until between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick, cut into shapes and transfer to parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Let cookies cool on try for about a minute and remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

Royal Icing
2 large egg whites
1 pound confectioners' sugar
food coloring or gel paste, which is more concentrated.
warm water as needed (add by the teaspoon) to achieve desired consistency

Beat egg whites, sugar, and 2 teaspoons water on low speed for 10 minutes. For thicker icing continue to beat 2 or 3 minutes more. Transfer to smaller bowls and add food coloring as desired. If icing is too thick, add a drop or two of water to thin. Immediately spoon into plastic bottles and securely fasten with lids. Do not expose icing to the air as it will harden. Royal icing will keep in the fridge for a few days so you can make this ahead.


On party day, set up each child's workstation with a few cookies on a plate, and decorating items like sprinkles. If children are older, you may want to provide offset spatulas or butter knifes to assist in decorating.

My advice is to keep it simple and just have fun!

And Happy 6th Birthday Madeline!