How to Make a Great Pinata

Many of us have fond memories of our childhood birthday parties, when that great pinata was finally struck, resulting in a virtual avalanche of candy and other delicious treats. Many parents naturally want to recreate those wonderful birthday memories for their own children, and one of the best ways to accomplish that goal is with a homemade pinata.

While there are of course plenty of ready made pinatas on the market, sold at a variety of party supply stores, candy shops and even department stores, nothing can match the fun and excitement of creating your very own custom made pinata for the little ones in your life. The sight of those happy faces as they whack it, and the joy in their eyes as they enjoy the sweet treats you have provided for them, makes the little bit of work involved in creating this special treat more than worth the effort.

The first step to creating that wonderful pinata is to determine what shape the finished product will take. There are many different ideas that can be used, from the traditional donkey to the less traditional dinosaur or clown. No matter what the shape, however, the kids will likely be interested only in what is inside.

Before beginning to create one, it is important to gather up everything you will need, and to carefully cover the entire work area, including the floor, with some sort of covering. Making a papier-mâché pinata does not have to be difficult, but it can be quite a messy affair.

The next step is to pour equal amounts of flour and water into a plastic bucket or similar container, and blend the ingredients together using a mixing spoon. The amount needed will depend on the desired size of the finished pinata. Small ones will require about two cups each of flour and water, while larger projects may require twice as much. The good news is that the mixture is easy to make, so you can always make more if you run short.

After the initial mixture has been prepared, more flour can be added to thicken the mixture if needed, or more water to thin it out as needed. You are looking for a paste that will be easy to spread with no lumps. The paste should adhere smoothly and easily to the strips of newspaper without falling off.

After the desired consistency has been achieved, salt can be added to the prepared past in order to keep it from getting moldy. If needed, a small amount of white glue can be added to the mixture for extra adhesiveness.

After the paste has been prepared all that remains is to use it to adhere the strips of newspaper to the shape of the pinata. The papier-mâché should be left to dry before going forward. Don’t forget to leave a sufficient opening to pour in the candy. After the pinata has dried it can be carefully filled with chocolate candy, hard candy, toys and other treats. After the candy has been added, additional strips of newspaper, wrapped in your carefully prepared mixture of flour and water, can be added to seal up the opening.

After the pinata is ready for use, it should be carefully hung in a convenient location before the party guests arrive. After all, part of the fun of having it at a birthday party is seeing all that hidden candy hanging there, waiting for just the right swing of the stick. This can be a great deal of fun for both party guests and the guest of honor, further increasing the fun of this traditional party treat.