Are you searching for good ideas for a Dominican-inspired birthday party? Check out our go-to dishes, drinks, and tips for a celebration your child won't forget.
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One of the things we Dominicans are good at is creating an enjoyable celebration with little. So we are about to share with you our favorite things for a birthday to remember.
The fewer birthdays you've had, the more important each is. Kids love birthday parties, and we're here to make them easier on the parents.
The cake
If you can only have one item for a birthday celebration, a cake has to be it. Birthday parties weren't a thing in my family when I was a kid, but each and every birthday my mom would buy a Dominican bizcocho, and we'd have a picture taken with our cousins. I still don't do birthday parties (save a few when my daughter was little), but we always have cakes. For a kid's party, I suggest you go with the classic Dominican cake (linked above), or even our cupcake version.
You can't go wrong with those.
The drinks
If you'll have a cake, you'll have to have drinks. And if you know me, you know I am not going to suggest colorful sugary drinks. Of course, you do you, but we have better ideas.
As shown in the photo at the top, we have the ever-popular ponche de frutas, although my version is healthier than the traditional one, but no less tasty. If you are looking for other easy-to-make kid's favorites, try the very inexpensive pera-piña.
La picadera
Things are getting more complicated, but not by much, because we have the ideas and recipes for the perfect picadera, Dominican-style.
You cannot possibly go wrong with an assortment of pastelitos and empanaditas, and our recipe has several options to please everyone, even the vegans! And, if you're feeling adventurous, and sophisticated, add kipes to your picadera offer. Croquetas and a pretty sanduchón will be perfect for kids, and the grown-ups that came with them.
There are many more choices to fit your cooking level, available time, and budget in our picadera section.
The favors
Yeah, we'll tackle that too. First of all, please refrain from gifting those cheap plasticky contraptions that were so popular years ago. We can do better. What's better? Things kids can eat and won't end in the landfill in less than a week. Here are some favorite ideas that I did use in the few birthday parties I threw for my daughter.
Do you know what gofio is? Well, we wrote a recipe for it, and even added a tutorial to create some pretty ones, and how to use them as a game in your kid's party. Check it out. Another edible favor? How about cookies? If you want to go for traditional, kids love our coconetes and mantecaditos, and we even have a tutorial for a cute wrapping for cookies.
For non-edible favors for small kids, my favorite go-to was age-appropriate books or coloring books.
For extra inspiration, I leave you below with a great picture by one of my favorite Dominican food photographers. It brings back many memories.
What do you think? What are your favorite birthday ideas?
Great ideas, thanks!
Hi Aun Clara!
Thank you for this, wish me luck with the cake!