Decorate Cakes, Cupcakes, and Cookies with Kids

Book excerpt: Get the kids involved with Decorate Cakes, Cupcakes, and Cookies with Kids by Autumn Carpenter. This instructional craft book is filled with fun baking and decorating experiences that you can share with your children or grandchildren, while teaching them valuable skills they will use for a lifetime. With adult supervision, kids can learn to decorate cookies, cupcakes, and cakes for holidays, special events, or to share with friends. Within these pages, you’ll learn baking and preparing of cake, cupcakes, and cookies, starting off with the basics: utensils needed, measuring instructions, and kitchen safety tips. After the basics, the book continues with baking, filling, and icing—50 to 60 techniques in all—with eye-appealing, tasty designs for children to create that incorporate the methods taught. Instructions include piped icing as well as rolled fondant. Additional decorating techniques include edible frosting sheets, products to add sparkle, and using store bought candies to decorate. The last chapter includes instructions on hosting a cake or cupcake decorating party for children. A convenient glossary in the back will be a quick reference for children to discover new culinary terms. The book is designed with 8-12 year olds boys and girls in mind, and includes instructions clearly labeled for difficulty and time allowance, and instructional pictures that show children using the tools. Kid-inspired cake and cookie themes are perfect for birthdays, seasonal celebrations, and other special events.