Anyone who's ever battled wrinkly, crack-prone fondant will tell you it can be a pain to work with, even for hardcore bakers. So, naturally, when we heard one company was selling cake decorating kits that'd let kids make their own fondant gown-bedecked princesses, much like those '90s bakery cakes with a Barbie plopped through the center, we were skeptical. It sounded like a perfect case of expectations vs. reality, which meant there was one thing to do — hand the kit over to a couple preschoolers (with adult supervision) and see what happened.
The kit came with a basic mold to make a shareable mini cake for two, as well as a rolling pin, just-add-water cake mix, fondant (in green and pink), pearl sprinkles, and a handful of tools for decorating. The fondant was surprisingly pliable, and the kids loved how it reminded them of Play-Doh. The simple mold made baking the cake itself pretty foolproof: mix the batter, pour it in the three trays up to the fill line, and bake. We handled the baking part, letting the kids tackle the best part: decorating.
BUY IT NOW: Real Cooking Princess Cakes Kit, $23; Amazon
There are thorough instructions to decorate the cakes just like the ones pictured, though we let the kids get creative. What's the fun if you can't get a little fun with it?!
If you're expecting perfection, like the ones on the box, the kids might need to be a bit older — or just Cake Boss fanatics with a bright future at Carlo's Bakery ahead. The folds of the dress cracked a bit as the kids decorated their cakes, but overall, the results were pretty impressive. It takes a lot to make a bunch of 5, 6, and 7-year-olds want to stare at a cake and not immediately eat it.
It's the perfect gift for kids who love to craft — or snack. And for parents who wouldn't mind their tots taking the lead on making their own birthday cake. Real Cooking Princess Cakes is sold on Amazon, and at Walmart, Target, and Toys 'R' Us.
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