Welcome to the first installment of January’s Party Playbook! This four-part series is here to make birthday party planning easier, more creative, and a lot more fun. First up: a DIY cupcake party that’s guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth and create memories as sweet as frosting. A cupcake party is the perfect way to mix creativity with deliciousness!  I hosted a 9^th birthday cupcake party for my daughter, and her guests were so creative and engaged in the cupcake decorating process.  Follow the tried and true tips below to throw your very own cupcake party!

Setting the Scene & Table

Prepare cupcakes and frosting ahead of time and transform your space into a cupcake wonderland:

• Cupcake Prep: Bake cupcakes ahead of the party.  We used a variety of flavors, and had enough cupcakes for each party attendee to decorate five cupcakes; one to eat at the party, and four to bring home.  I suggest Betty Crocker cake mix in French Vanilla, Strawberry,  and Chocolate.  If you have a party attendees that are gluten free, this King Arthur Confetti mix is delicious!  Don’t forget festive cupcake liners!

• Frosting Prep: Prepare frosting in a variety of colors and fill the piping bags before your guests arrive.  This set of piping bags and tips were a winner on party day and have come in handy regularly since then.  They are so nice to have on hand!  For this occasion, since we needed frosting in bulk, I used this #momhack to prepare the metric ton of frosting needed for the party.  I used Betty Crocker frosting and used my Kitchen Aid stand mixer to add powdered sugar until the frosting was the correct consistency for piping, which is thicker than canned frosting.  Make a variety of frosting colors and store in the fridge until the guests arrive.

• Table Setup: A festive, yet disposable tablecloth makes for easy cleanup. Add undecorated cupcakes to a tiered cupcake stand for guests to choose from. 

• Aprons: Provide aprons for each guest to wear—they double as a party favor and make for adorable photos!

• Toppings Galore: Think sprinkles, edible glitter, mini candies, crushed cookies, and more. Utilize these painting palettes to keep the toppings contained as party attendees decorate their cupcakes.

Games and Activities

Keep the fun going with cupcake-themed games:

• Cupcake Decorating Contest: Award prizes for the most creative, most colorful, or most Instagram-worthy cupcake.
• Cupcake Relay Race: Guests must carry a cupcake on a spatula through an obstacle course without dropping it.
• Pin the Cherry on the Cupcake: A playful twist on a classic party game.

Sweet Send-Off

Let guests take home their decorated cupcakes in individual cupcake boxes. Add a small thank-you note or tag that says, “Thanks for making my birthday so sweet!”

Stay tuned for Part 2 of January’s Party Playbook next week, where we’ll highlight another exciting birthday theme: Winter Craft Party! Until then, happy planning and happy celebrating!