Expert Review: Melissa & Doug’s Play To Go Cookies & Cake and Ice Cream Playsets

Melissa & Doug’s Play To Go Playsets are designed for kids to bring on their travels and adventures. The Cookies & Cake Playset comes with 12 pieces, including three felt icing layers, a cupcake sleeve, a double-sided wooden candle, three double-sided cookie and cake layers, a wooden strawberry, and a wooden gummy bear. Fake flavors include chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and more.

With 11 pieces total, the Ice Cream Playset includes two squishy, plush ice cream scoops, a felt ice cream cone, plastic chocolate sauce, a double-sided sprinkles container, a striped plastic straw, a wooden spoon, and two wooden cookies.

The fake dessert pieces come in a colored container with a lid that doubles as a fidget toy, adding to the piece count. Most pieces from each set feature velcro spots, so kids can stack and stick pieces together to make the perfect ice cream cone, cookie sandwich, or cake. Each set also includes an activity card with pictures depicting different creations — if kids don’t know what fake treat to make, they can follow the photos.

Both sets are sturdy, colorful, and easy to bring outside the house. While stacking the toys, removing velcro pieces, and creating new dessert combinations, kids will improve their fine motor skills while having fun. These toys can also be used as learning tools; parents can teach kids about patterns, colors, organization, counting, and sorting with a variety of food-themed pieces. 

The container and food — wooden, felt, and plastic — can take numerous drops or throws, and the lid is threaded through the handle, so it can’t be lost or forgotten. The sets are sold separately but kids can use the pieces from both to express their creativity with a massive toy dessert.

These sets are perfect for families that are often on the go, or for parents that want their kids to learn without using a screen. Each container includes enough pieces to keep your kid busy, but not enough to make a mess at the restaurant table or in the car. Since the ice cream, cookies, candles, and more are made from different materials and textures, this toy will also be a good fit for kids in need of sensory play.