Surprising to many, the history of cookie decorating dates back to sometime around the 14th century, when German Monks made a gingerbread-style cookie and topped it with coarse sugar. A few hundred years later, the Grimm brothers wrote their version of the popular fairy-tale Hansel and Gretel, which inspired bakers to make edible gingerbread Christmas cards. Around that same time, Dutch settlers introduced cookie cutters to North Americans, and homes across the continent were filled with cookie cut-out Christmas ornaments hanging from their seasonal trees. Cookbook publishers eventually caught wind of the trend and began featuring recipes which included English sugar cookies cut into shapes such as bells and Santa Claus.
One of the signature parties at Mixing Bowl Kids is a Cookie Craft party. So much fun for boys and girls alike, guests of the party will make, bake and ice cookies, while learning piping and decorating techniques and creating fabulous looking sweets. This party is ideal for seasonal celebrations (Spring, Easter, Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's) but is also a great way to celebrate a birthday (cookies can be selected to match the theme of the party) for a little baker-in-the-making.
The possibilities for the Cookie Craft party really are endless and I might even suggest that this party would also be a great classroom or community centre activity, as well as an interesting way to teach history and art. As for those handmade gingerbread Christmas cards, I'll let you know if I decide to give them a whirl.
Wishing you all a very happy weekend...and I hope you find the time to get into the kitchen with your kids.
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