"Cars" Themed Birthday Party

On March 9, 2013 we hosted a birthday party for our grandson, Ben and the theme was "CARS" which he loves. I made vanilla and chocolate cookies with "2"s and "B"s for 2 year old Ben and Lightning McQueen, Mater and racing black and white check. I added some Mario Invincibility Stars just because they were SOOOO easy to do!
There was a cupcake tower - confetti cupcakes with "Cars" cupcake liners and a 9x13 cake with a "2" roadway with toy CARS characters. Very simple but it turned out pretty cute. After blowing out the candle, Ben wanted to drive Lightning McQueen on the "road", needless to say, they both needed cleaning up.

 Marble cake with chocolate buttercream filling, vanilla cream cheese frosting and vanilla buttercream. The "2 road" was chocolate as well. 

Candy Bar with 5 containers of candy and Lychee flavored poprocks.

We had about 15 guests and served baked taco dip with tortilla chips, popcorn, white cheddar popcorn, 4 kinds of chicken wings, Jamaican cocktail beef patties, baked char siu bao and of course, the cookies, cake and cupcakes.

It was a great day and the birthday boy had lots of fun and was thoroughly spoiled.

I hope my post has provided some inspiration for your own party.

More Valentine's Day cookies

Royal Icing Transfers - I didn't do them quite the right size but it was my first time.

"Wedding" style heart cookies

Brush embroidery and dots

"lace" and brush embroidery

John Deere-like cookies and cupcakes

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and fondant tractor toppers

I used Wilton fondant. The green, yellow and white are as they came in the package, I added Americolor Super Black gel food coloring to fondant to make it black. I did the original image on the computer, printed it out, cut it out and then used it as a template for the tractor - all in green. The I cut out yellow and black circles for the tires, additional green pieces for the fenders and white windows. This was my first time making fondant toppers - I'm so happy that they were a success.

Vanilla sugar cookies with royal icing

I had no idea that John Deere was so popular with little boys! I have had two 3 year old boys to do cookies for in the last 4 months. Apparently they really love JD.

Valentine's Day Cookies

Christmas Cookies

2012 Christmas Cookies

 Assortment boxes of 24 minis

Christmas 2012 was a great cookie Christmas! Many people wanted seasonal minis and large decorated cookies to decorate their plates of goodies for the holidays. I lost track, but dozens and dozens and dozens of cookies were rolled, cut, baked and decorated with love for holiday parties and family gatherings. Cookies included, gingerbread, vanilla and chocolate all with vanilla royal icing.

1D party cookies

Vanilla Birthday Party Cookies

This was my first time making 1D cookies. When I was asked if I could make them, I have to admit that I didn't even know what 1D was! Thank you Google! Turns out, 1D, stands for One Direction, an insanely successful boy band - I guess I'm embarrassingly behind the times!

These cookies are made with Callye Alvarado's (SweetSugarBelle) sugar cookie recipe.

Callye is crazy talented! She is my cookie guru if there is such a thing!

I made Callye's recipe but I used Nielson-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract and because I love the little specks of vanilla seeds, I added a small dose of Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Paste The icing is vanilla royal icing. 

John Deere Fan

Chocolate sugar cookies (LilaLoa's recipe) - John-Deere-like symbol and tractor tires.

I made these cookies in September for a little almost 3 year old boy who is obsessed with all things  John Deere.

LilaLoa's "The End-All Chocolate Cookies" Recipe copied from her site:

1 cup butter

1/4 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups granulated suga

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla 

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. baking powder

2/3 cup cocoa

3 or 3 1/2 cups flour

Cream butter, shortening and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add baking powder and salt and mix again. Stir in the cocoa until well blended. Add flour 1 cup at a time. IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE COOKIES RIGHT AWAY, ADD 3 1/2 cups flour. If you are going to "chill" the dough, or just wait for another day to make your cookies, STOP AT 3 cups. It will be totally soft and look all wrong, and you will want to ignore me completely and add more flour, but I'm telling you -- DON'T DO IT. Practice self-restraint. You will be glad you did and I will be proud of you. Roll out on lightly floured surface. Bake at 375°F for 6 1/2 minutes.

I have got to tell you - this is the easiest dough I have ever worked with - so smooth and rich - I just love it! LilaLoa knows what she is talking about. Go to her blog and indulge in all of the knowledge she so willingly shares - she is a very talented lady!!