I always assumed they were difficult to make until I googled and they actually assembly wasn’t that difficult, it just needs patience and time.

Step One: I downloaded a template of the pieces we needed – there are templates here. The one I used was actually quiet big. If I do it again with kids I will make them smaller.

Step Two: I used the Golden Cloud cookie mix simply because Kiara didn’t give me much time to prepare and because I trust this recipe mix.

Step Three: You cut out the walls and roof from your template, bake and wait until they have cooled down properly. (If you are doing this with kids I would do this the day before and make extra).

Step Four: Make the royal icing – I used 4 egg whites beaten until nearly stiff and just over 1/2kg of icing sugar. This was enough for 3 houses and for the kids to use to stick their sweets on.

Step Five: Ice an L shape onto your cake board and place the first 2 walls against the icing. If you have someone helping then get them to hold these to walls in place until the icing takes and they stick or prop something against them. Ice another L for the remaining two pieces. Place the third and fourth wall in. Ice along the sides to full in any gaps. (I used a big icing nozzle which wasn’t such a great idea because it wasted a lot of icing. You can even use a plastic bag with the tip cut off.

Step Six: Let that all set for a few minutes before adding the roof. Then ice along the tops of the walls and place the roof pieces on. Ice along the top where the two pieces meet. Leave it for a few minutes to set. (If you are doing this with small kids I suggest assembling the entire house before involving them. It takes time and is boring for them.

Step Seven: Decorate the house with sweets and other decorations. Try choose light decorations for the roof. Kiara used a lot of smarties and the one side of her roof caved in.

Step Eight: ENJOY it

The girls had fun doing this but it was a lot of work – not really hard work but it was pretty labour intensive. Next time I will prepared the pieces the day before and assemble before they get home, then they can just decorate it.

The Recipe

1 cup flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup coconut

1 tablespoon cocoa

185g margarine (melted)

1/2tsp vanilla essence

Method

1. Sift all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Add the melted butter and vanilla and mix together.

3. Press into a greased tin 28cm x 18cm.

4. Bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes

5. Ice when cool.

You can use any icing – I mixed cocoa, icing sugar and a little hot water and then poured it over.

I used them for one of the teachers gifts so have added a quick how to for that

I didn’t want to put them into the box just like that because the icing was a little sticky and it just looked prettier dressed up The amount you put in depends in the size of your box.

I decorated the box and the label using washi tape. This box is 10cm high and wide. It was the perfect size for what I needed. If it had been bigger it would have needed too many brownies

What I didn’t realise was that Cameron has 7 teachers plus his sports teacher – so 8 plus Kiara’s teacher – so all together 9 teachers!!!

The baking was the easy part – the icing took me all morning to do.

For the biscuits I cheated a bit and used the Golden Cloud ready mix cookie mix. This mix works the best when you want to cut cookies out. The dough always works out just right and the biscuits are divine. The packet says it makes 80 but I got over 100.

I up-cycled bottles and containers I had at home to package them in. I used washi tape and different ribbons to decorate the containers.

I was super chuffed with the end result and actually had some biscuits left over!!

It was great fun. The girls chattered the whole time about boyfriends and weddings and school. I love listening to their conversations

Food: Cupcakes, caramel tartlets, heart biscuits, marshmallows, chicken nuggets, chips, sausage rolls and cheese heart sandwiches.

Here are some of my favourite cakes and decor designs for a Princess Party.

I love the crowns on these cupcakes.

I really love the bunting in this picture – every party needs to have some bunting!!

Aren’t these biscuits with the pearl in just the most beautiful thing!!

Every princess needs some fairy dust

If your little girl would like a Princess Party then contact us and we can help you plan the perfect party for her. Email me laurakim@journey2joy.co.za

For the month of September the specials are:

The  basic package will be R100 per child instead of R140

The Princess Package will be R150 per child instead of R200

The Deluxe Princess Package will be R200 instead of R250

Remember we do travel – so we can do the party wherever you would like to have it.

For bookings contact Laura on 0718856189 or laurakim@journey2joy.co.za

With the warmer weather we were able to set up outside and the girls had so much fun sitting in the sun while they had their nails done.

This party was not held at our venue but at the home of the birthday girl.

We provided cupcakes, marshmallows, meringues, chips, sausage rolls and cocktail sausages.

We had a great afternoon with them.

Food: Marshmallows, cupcakes, koeksusters, chips, sausage rolls and cheese sandwiches

This group of girls were so much fun. They put on music from their phones and sang and danced and laughed the entire time. It was great

When I put the masks on I usually tell the girls to not say a word or they will get wrinkles – it NEVER works but is fun watching them. When I told this group that the one little girls said “NO ma’am I can’t! I can’t live without laughing”

Menu – pink meringues, pink and white marshmallows, cupcakes, sausage rolls, mini sausages and chips

Food: Veggie platter, Marshmallow biscuits, coconut ice, cup cakes, mini sausages, sausage rolls and sandwiches