Betty Crocker

Big One Birthday Bash

Big One Cake

What's more exciting than a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-year-old's birthday party? A 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or higher party, of course! Celebrate the "Big One" with fantastic appetizers and desserts! "Zero" birthday bashes are known for teasing humor and "over-the-hill" gifts. Our party takes a twist on that by asking guests to return to their childhood and have some great fun!


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Big One Birthday Bash

Tips from the Experts

Jennifer

"If your party has a 'guest of honor,' create a tabletop display photographs of the person throughout their life. Ask the person's family or friends for snapshots; print in a variety of sizes."

Jennifer Kalinowski, Food Editor - Betty Crocker Kitchens

"Big One" Fun

  • Drop the "0" from the age you're celebrating, and the rest falls in place for this party. If you're celebrating a 40th birthday, then choose games appropriate for a 4-year-old, and so on. "Pin the tail on the donkey" is a classic, so why not play it?
  • Promote the party dress code: childlike clothes and hairstyles. Go ahead and have some fun!
  • Pin letter-size (8 1/2x11 inch) child-age photos of guests (received and enlarged earlier) to their backs as they arrive.
  • Gifts, of course! Make them age appropriate for children! Indicate on the invitation that gifts will be donated to a children's home or charity. Stories during gift opening will probably take a turn down memory lane.
  • Set up a home theater room complete with nostalgic TV show, radio shows or home movies. Guests can drift in and out for a piece of nostalgia.
  • Roast the birthday boy or girl!

"Big One" Decor

  • Balloons are a must for any birthday party. They're inexpensive decor and set the birthday scene quickly.
  • Arrange children's toys for easy decorations.
  • This is Your Life! Display photos representing the life of the birthday celebrant.

"Big One" Food Fun

Although the rest of the party is all childhood, the food is definitely adult fare, scrumptious and sure to please! But if you feel you need to add favorite childhood foods, go ahead--everyone will enjoy it! Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on white bread, cut into bite-size pieces, will disappear before you know it!
Buffet food service is the easiest. Free yourself for enjoying the fun! For more party planning tips, click here.

  • Toys such as little red wagons and wheelbarrows make great food containers for veggies and dip. Stroll through a toy store to get ideas. Toy musical instruments make great table decor additions. Check the attic and the trunk!
  • Set out dishes or toy containers of the celebrant's favorite childhood candies.
  • Load one of the desserts with candles in "Big One" style. Skimping is forbidden!

Up to 1 Month Before

  • Bake cake layers for Double Chocolate Cappuccino Cake; wrap cooled layers and freeze.
  • Make Lemon Curd Cheesecake; tightly wrap and freeze without garnish.
  • Bake Low-Fat Cherry-Almond Angel Cake; tightly wrap and freeze unglazed.

The Day Before

  • Toast bread for the Garlic Beef Bruschetta; store loosely covered at room temperature.
  • Glaze Low-Fat Cherry-Almond Angel Cake.
  • Remove cheesecake from freezer if frozen; refrigerate until serving.

The Morning Of

  • Make Strawberry and Peach Cream Trifle.
  • Fill and frost Double Chocolate Cappuccino Cake.

About 5 Hours Before Guests Arrive

  • Marinate Hot and Peppery Cocktail Shrimp.

About 3 Hours Before Guests Arrive

  • Prepare Maple Chicken Drummies up to the point of baking. Cover and refrigerate.
  • Prepare Roasted Asparagus and Gouda Canapes up to the point of baking in step 3. Cover and refrigerate.

About 1 Hour Before Guests Arrive

  • Garlic Beef Bruschetta.
  • Maple Chicken Drummies.

About 15 Minutes Before Guests Arrive

  • Make Sparkling Citrus Punch.
  • Make Roasted Asparagus and Gouda Canapes.
  • Bake Hot and Peppery Cocktail Shrimp.
  • Set foods out, starting with ones that need no refrigeration.
  • Place last-minute garnishes on foods.
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