A Simple Piñata Cookie

I was planning a lunch with a Mexican theme for our family reunion.  For dessert, several ideas on pinterest suggested a piñata cookie.  The little striped donkeys and other cut-out shapes were adorable.

After reading the instructions, I realized making even one was way beyond my patience level.  I needed twenty-four piñata cookies in a hurry!  

At a recent bake sale, I had noticed rice krispie cookies scooped on to cones.  They looked darling, and were fun to eat.  Voila, the ice cream cone-shaped piñata cookie was born.

 

Ingredient list:
sugar cones
small unwrapped candies that will fit in the cones
1 recipe of royal icing
1 recipe of rice krispie cookies, using fruit loops and fruity pebbles instead of rice cereal
cellophane and ribbon to wrap the piñata cookies

 

This is how my granddaughters helped me make a large batch in time for our fiesta!

The scoops of rice krispie cookies were made the day before.  Here is the link to the original krispie treat recipe:

In place of the rice krispie cereal, use:
3 cups fruit loop cereal
3 cups fruity pebble cereal

The royal icing was from Alton Brown, using pasturized egg whites,
available near the eggs in grocery stores.
recipe link here:

Ice cream dishes made assembly easy!  I got these years ago at a dollar store.  They look festive,
yet portion control the ice cream.  Here is a new use for them.

Fill the cones with an assortment of candy.

Spread or dip the flat side of the scooped rice krispie into the decorator icing, then place firmly on the cone.  It might be easier to pipe frosting around the edge of the cone, instead.  Royal icing makes a great edible glue.

Let the creations dry without disturbing, about 30 minutes.

Wrap in cellophane and add ribbons.  These beauties were produced in the time it would have taken to make one striped donkey!

The piñata cookie is a fingers friendly treat.  The rice krispie scoop can be eaten without getting fingers sticky,  then the candy can be eaten along with the cone.

Mexican Fiesta Lunch for Kids

Lunches during our family reunions have often been put together with little thought, other than getting those little tummies filled so that we could go on with activities.  This year, inspired by Pinterest ideas, we "visited" several countries during lunch.  Pictured here is our Mexican FIESTA lunch.  The menu included:

Cheese nachos, salsa, sour cream, grapes, fresh carrot chips, lemon lime soda, and piñata cookies. 

It would be easy to change the entree to burritos, tacos, or taquitos, with the same basic sides.

We used bright multi-colored paper products, straw hats and balloons (just out of photo range) to build the mood.  A nice touch would be  mariachi music playing in the background. 

Nachos for a crowd of children involves spreading corn chips on cookie sheets, sprinkling them with cheese, and baking a few minutes just until the cheese melts.  A pancake turner is useful in lifting the melty goodness on to each plate.

 We have found that fresh carrot chips and ranch dip is always popular with the grandkids.

A day in advance of the reunion, peel the carrots, run them through a food processor with the slicing tool, and seal them in a half quart jar with a vacuum sealer.  Prepare the dressing or dip then, too.  They are both fresh and ready to serve when needed.

We did the same thing with the grapes, washed and prepared the day before the reunion, they were fresh in the refrigerator waiting for last minute use.

Our piñata cookies were very popular, ending our Mexican fiesta.  This lunch would work very well on Cinco de Mayo.  Muy Bueno!