Let's face it: virtual birthday parties are becoming the new normal these days.

And like any kind of party planning, coordinating a virtual party takes some creativity! Finding ways to have fun in your own home keeps spirits high, which is why I'm excited to be sharing some easy tips and tricks that you can use to host your very own virtual butterfly themed birthday party for the social butterfles in your life; your kids and their friends. I'll be sharing ideas for getting the word out about your birthday party, a delicious whoopie pie recipe, and a DIY butterfly craft that will keep the kids engaged and entertained all day long.

Why butterflies, you ask? My kids' virtual learning experience recently came to an end (and there's always a birthday coming up), so in order to celebrate such big accomplishment, the three of us decided on a butterfly theme! Many people believe that butterflies represent endurance, change, hope, and life—and I believe all of us across the world are experiencing some of those feelings at this very moment. I truly hope that my party guide will inspire you to continue celebrating special dates and accomplishments, even if you can't invite guests over at this time. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can host a virtual birthday party whenever you like. Your kids' friends will be thrilled to receive a homemade whoopie pie and butterfly craft kit on their doorstep, or even just the opportunity to spend some virtual time with their best buddies. Check out the bottom of this post for an easy-to-follow to do list to make sure your virtual birthday party is a success!

Butterfly themed party treats

No birthday party feels complete without a sweet treat! And my kids were all about these funfetti whoopie pies. I brought out the stand mixer to make the cookies and the frosting filling, and they had a blast pouring the ingredients into the bowl and watching the magic happen when I turned the mixer on. Most of all, they got extra excited knowing that they would be sharing these adorable little treats with their friends. Ready to make your own whoopie pies?

Vanilla whoopie pies recipe

These vanilla whoopie pies are as delicious as they are cute! I kept things simple with a flavor that most kids love: vanilla. To jazz them up, the kids helped roll the finished whoopie pies in colorful sprinkles, and they were ready to join the party!

For the whoopie pie cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) Nellie's Free Range Unsalted Butter, softened
• 1 large Nellie's Free Range Egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• Sprinkles for decorating

For the whoopie pie filling:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) Nellie's Free Range Unsalted Butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 to 4 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring
• Piping bag with round tip (or a zip-top bag)

To make the whoopie pie cookies:

• Preheat oven to 375F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat sugar and butter until light, creamy, and fully combined. Add vanilla extract and egg. Beat again until well combined.
• Add the flour mixture and whole milk in 4-5 additions, alternating between the two and beating after each addition.
• Using a standard (1 tablespoon capacity) cookie scoop, drop batter onto lined baking sheets (you should end up with 24 cookies total). Bake for 10-12 minutes, then let cookies cool completely on the baking sheets while you make the filling.

To make the whoopie pie filling:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the butter until light and creamy. On medium low speed, mix in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Add vanilla and beat until combined.
• Starting with 2 tablespoons, add milk until desired consistency is achieved. Frosting should be easy to pipe but still able to hold its shape.
• Add the food coloring of your choice and beat until frosting is your desired color. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a round tip or a zip-top bag with one of the corners cut.
• Once cookies have cooled, pipe frosting onto the flat side of one cookie, then place another cookie on top to complete the whoopie pie. Carefilly roll the edges of frosting in sprinkles, then repeat with the remaining cookies and filling.
• Place whoopie pies in an airtight container until it's time to serve!

Butterfly themed party activities

To keep the kids engaged, it's a great idea to include a hands-on activity as part of your birthday party. My kids and I created whimsical butterflies by upcycling our Nellie's Free Range Egg cartons. The kids had so much fun customizing their butterflies with paint and pipe cleaners!

DIY upcycled egg carton butterflies

Since they have a handy dandy double lid to protect the eggs from jostling around, each 12-count Nellie's Free Range Egg carton can be made into a total of 6 butterflies. Don't forget to grab enough cartons to make butterfly craft kits for all the kids' friends!

Supplies:

• Nellie's Free Range Egg cartons
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Small reusable cups
• Pipe cleaners
• Scissors

Directions:

• Cut egg carton cups into thirds, creating 6 butterflies each made from 4 egg cups.
• Carefully trim and round off the edges of the egg cups using your scissors.
• Paint all four egg cups using acrylic paint in the colors of your choice. Let dry completely.
• Fold a pipe cleaner in half and wrap around the butterfly. Twist at the top to create the antennas, and your butterfly is ready!
• To make craft kits for friends, add pre-cut egg cups, paint, and pipe cleaners to small gift bags to leave on their doorsteps.

Virtual party tips

Here are some easy ways to turn your butterfly themed birthday party (or any party, really!) into a virtual one:

Choose a date and time: Like any party, the first step to hosting a virtual one is getting your guests on board! Be sure to discuss the details of your virtual party with the parents of your attendees to find a date and time that works for everyone.

Virtual invitations: No need for fancy invitations: just start a group chat, send an email, create an evite, or make some calls to confirm a date and time that works for everyone. Let them know that you'll be dropping off supplies for an activity along with a sweet treat! They'll need to bring the bag inside and have it ready for the virtual party.

Pack goodie bags beforehand: Have a goody bag packing party with your kids! Start by placing a whoopie pie in a paper cup or clear treat bag. Add a sweet note to let the attendees know you that miss them. Next, have your children put all of the supplies for the butterfly craft kit in the bag.

Provide craft instructions: It's probably a good idea to include some written instructions that parents can follow, just in case there are connectivity issues during your virtual party (they happen all too frequently!). Find our printer-friendly version here.

I hope you feel inspired to throw a fun virtual celebration and recreate this sweet butterfly themed party! Stay safe, friends!

Did you throw a butterfly themed virtual party? Tag your photos with #nelliesfreerange so we can see! Or click here to see our other themed parties in the series. And don't forget to check out Twinkle Twinkle Little Party for more inspiration.