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How to Host a Cookie Decorating Party + Shopping List

Here is how to host a fun cookie decorating party that your family and friends will remember.

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Looking for fun ideas for your next party? This post is all about how to host the best cookie decorating party.

If you’re looking to throw a holiday gathering that’s fun, festive, and hands on, a cookie decorating party is the perfect idea! It’s a relaxed, creative event where guests can gather, design their own custom cookies, and enjoy the holiday spirit with zero baking experience required.

While cookie decorating parties are well known as a Christmas holiday activity, you can host a cookie decorating party at almost any time and for almost any occasion. Cookie decorating parties are a fun way to celebrate everything from Galentine’s Day to a birthday occasion.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about planning an unforgettable cookie decorating party—perfect for those who love entertaining friends and family in unique and memorable ways.

You’ll find tips on everything from cookie decorating party essentials to fun party tips, and even ideas on questions like what kind and how many cookies to bake, and a basic cookie decorating shopping list.

So keep reading to explore ideas for throwing your best cookie decorating party yet!

—In This Post—

What is a Cookie Decorating Party?

A cookie decorating party is exactly what it sounds like: a gathering focused on decorating holiday cookies together! A cookie decorating party can be one of the best ways to celebrate everything from the Christmas holiday season to a birthday occasion.

The host usually provide plain, undecorated cookies (like sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies) and plenty of toppings and icing, and guests create their own festive designs. It’s part art project, part treat making, and it’s always packed with holiday cheer, with plenty of fun activities—like a photo booth or a cookie decorating competition—packed in between.

From the simple joy of decorating delicious cookies to the warm, cozy setting, these parties offer a break from the hustle of the season and a way for everyone to relax, get creative, and leave with a batch of holiday treats to share.

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Why Are Cookie Decorating Parties So Popular?

Cookie decorating parties are hugely popular around the holidays because they’re fun, easy to organize, and suitable for any age or skill level. Plus, they bring out everyone’s creativity—whether your friends want to make snowflakes, holiday trees, or funny gingerbread characters, they’ll get to create something they can be proud of.

These gatherings are also budget friendly, customizable to different holiday themes and special occasions, and full of sweet memories and Insta—worthy photo ops. For anyone looking to host a holiday event with plenty of heart and fun, cookie decorating parties are a perfect choice!

Cookie decorating parties are especially popular at Christmas, but you can host them anytime of the year. They make a great Galentine’s Day event, and a cookie decorating station can be a fun activity to set up for a birthday party.

Here are some easy ways to host your best cookie decorating party yet, including a sample timeline and a shopping list to help give you an idea of what you might need for a cookie decorating party.

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The Best Cookie Decorating Party Tips

Here are some fun, budget friendly tips for throwing an unforgettable holiday cookie decorating party, perfect for sharing with friends and family without breaking the bank.

These ideas for a fun holiday party can bring tons of charm and cheer, ensuring that everyone leaves with treats, memories, and maybe a new tradition.

1—Make DIY cookie party invitations.

Start with cute digital invites that look like sugar cookies or gingerbread men. You can often find free templates online or make your own. This adds a festive touch to the invitations without needing to mail anything, and it lets everyone RSVP easily!

2—Set up cookie decorating stations, or make mini decorating kits.

Instead of one crowded table, set up a “decorating station” with all the icing, sprinkles, and toppings organized in small dishes or muffin tins. This can feel more organized and fun, and it lets people flow in and out without getting too messy.

Mini cookie decorating kits are fun to give and make decorating easy, especially for beginners. Each guest gets their own kit to help with decorating cookies. Include a couple of piping bags with basic colors like white and red, each fitted with a different piping tip.

Add a small container of sprinkles or candy to use for decorating.

Throw in a recipe card for making sugar or gingerbread cookies along with a thank you note to make it extra personal. Place everything in a cute bag or box with their name on it, so they can keep it organized and take any extras home. This makes a sweet gift for guests to remember your party by.

3—Bake ahead—together, if possible.

To keep things simple, bake a batch of plain sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies up to few days before the event, or you can even make the cookie baking part of the event! Invite friends over early to help with the baking; it’s an extra bonding activity, and it’ll fill your space with that amazing cookie smell.

Tip: You can prepare the cookie dough ahead of time, and store it overnight in the refrigerator. Then scoop it out and make fresh cookies the day of the party. Be sure to let the cookies cool before decorating them!

4—Look for budget friendly decorating supplies.

Stock up on affordable cookie decorating essentials like sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, and colored sugars. Look for sales, especially around the holidays, or—if you’ll need a lot, then buy supplies in bulk. You can make a big impact without spending a lot by having a variety of colors and textures when it comes to supplies for decorating cookies.

5—Make sure you have enough supplies.

When it comes to supplies, make sure you’ve got the essentials for cookie decorating. Bake your sugar cookies and / or gingerbread cookies in advance (a few tips on those below!). Prepare several shades of icing in piping bags or squeeze bottles in classic holiday colors like red, green, white, and blue.

Offer a variety of sprinkles, from holiday shapes and sanding sugars to mini chocolate chips and edible pearls.

Essential tools include piping bags with different tips (round, star, leaf), spatulas, and pastry brushes. Give each guest a small silicone mat or cookie sheet to work on, so they can work on their cookies while keeping things organized.

6—Choose the best cookie recipe.

To make the best sugar and gingerbread cookies, choose recipes that keep their shape well. It’s generally best to work with a tried and true cookie recipe that you love—and that is sturdy enough to hold up well when it’s decorated.

For sugar cookies, go with a no spread sugar cookie recipe to help keep your shapes perfect, and chill the dough before cutting and baking it. For gingerbread cookies, pick a recipe with balanced spices for a warm, not too strong flavor.

Gingerbread cookies are sturdier than sugar cookies, so they’re ideal for decorating, but chilling helps them keep their shape, too.

You can bake both types up to three days in advance and store them in an airtight container, or freeze them for up to a month. Thaw the cookies out a few hours before the party.

7—Create edible paint palettes.

Put a twist on the classic icing tubes by making edible paint palettes. Fill small bowls with a bit of icing in different colors, then add small pastry brushes. This makes cookie decorating feel like an art project, and guests can paint designs onto their cookies with more control than squeezing icing bags.

8—Provide easy instructions.

For a friendly start to the party—especially for those who are new to decorating cookies, provide a quick cookie decorating demo. Show everyone the basics: how to outline a cookie with icing to make a border, how to do a basic flooding (to cover large areas of the cookie with icing, inside the border), and how to add simple details like sprinkles or small designs.

For extra inspiration, print out “cookie inspo” cards that show simple designs to create, like snowflakes, candy canes, or Christmas trees for the holidays, or fun shapes and designs for other times of year.

9—Share cookie decorating inspiration.

Give your guests a boost of creativity with some decorating inspiration. Set out a few example cookies with easy designs like snowman faces, reindeer, or holiday sweaters. Offer a “challenge cookie” for anyone who’s up for it, like a large snowflake or gingerbread house shape.

If anyone needs ideas, suggest holiday themes like “Winter Wonderland” (think snowflakes, mittens, snowmen), “Classic Christmas” (Christmas trees, candy canes, ornaments), or “Festive Sweaters” (ugly sweaters are always a hit and super fun to decorate)—for Christmas.

Other ideas: fall leaves and turkey shapes work well for autumn, while flowers, bunnies, butterflies, and egg shapes work well for spring.

10—Set up a hot cocoa & coffee bar.

A cozy drink station with a few different hot cocoa flavors, whipped cream, marshmallows, and candy cane stirrers is perfect for the winter vibe. You can also add a fresh pot of coffee for those who like a caffeine fix. A hot cocoa bar is a festive add on that’s super budget friendly and helps make the event feel even more like a holiday treat. Consider making hot cocoa in a slow cooker for a crowd.

In addition, a snack table with festive treats like mini sandwiches, mini donuts, fruit platters, and maybe some savory options like sliced veggies, cheese and crackers would be perfect for grazing.

11—Have a cookie decorating contest.

Spice things up with a friendly cookie decorating competition. Create categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Holiday Theme,” or “Most Colorful.” Winners can get small, silly prizes, and everyone gets to admire each other’s creativity!

12—Have fun cookie boxes or treat bags for take home.

Grab inexpensive holiday or seasonal themed cookie boxes, cookie tins, or treat bags to make it easier for guests to take home their creations. These can also be good to have on hand if you include a cookie exchange as part of the cookie party celebration.

You can also fill containers with cookies to give away. It’s a nice touch and a great way to share the cookie love with friends or family members who couldn’t make it to the party.

13—Create a holiday playlist or set up a karaoke.

Play a holiday playlist or set up a karaoke to sing your favorite songs or upbeat holiday hits. This can be a budget friendly way to keep the party vibe fun and relaxed!

14—Set up a photography booth with fun props.

Make a DIY photo booth corner with holiday, seasonal, or cookie themed backdrops and props. Ideas include things like Santa hats, reindeer ears, and oversized “cookie” props for Christmas, or funny glasses and signs for other times of the year. It’s an affordable way to capture memories, and everyone will love taking photos with their decorated cookies.

15—Make personalized aprons as party favors.

Find plain aprons, and set out fabric markers for guests to decorate their own. It’s a fun activity and a useful keepsake! Bonus points if you add each guest’s name ahead of time in glitter glue or puff paint to make a unique gift for a cookie decorating party.

16—Include a mystery ingredient challenge.

For a funny, game show style twist, add a few “mystery toppings” like crushed potato chips, mini marshmallows, potato sticks, or pretzels, and dare guests to use at least one of these ingredients when decorating their cookies. It keeps things playful, and everyone will get a good laugh out of the unique combos.

These ideas can help to keep things fun, festive, and creative, and they’ll make your holiday cookie decorating party even more unforgettable for family and friends!

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How Many Cookies Should I Bake?

For a cookie decorating party with 8 guests, baking about 3 to 4 dozen cookies (36 to 48 cookies) is generally ideal. This gives each guest at least 4 cookies to decorate, if you average them out, which is a good amount for guests to get creative without feeling overwhelmed.

In general, 3 dozen cookies (36 cookies) can be good for a smaller party where guests decorate about 4 to 5 cookies each.

Four dozen cookies (48 cookies) may be better if you want to give each guest more options or if you anticipate that some people might want extras to take home.

Having a few extra cookies is always a good idea—mistakes can happen, and some people might want to make an extra cookie or two to exchange or for gifting!

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Cookie Decorating Party Timeline

Hosting a cookie decorating party is such a fun, festive way to get friends and family together during the holidays, and planning it can be simple if you start early.

About two weeks before the party, choose which cookie recipes you want to bake (sugar cookies, gingerbread, or both), send out invites, and make sure that you have all the baking tools you’ll need, like cookie cutters and piping bags.

A week before the party is a good time to start shopping for non perishable ingredients, like flour, sugar, and candy sprinkles, and to pick up decorations and supplies like napkins, plates, and holiday-themed take home boxes. This way, you can avoid last minute shopping stress and can focus on making everything cozy and festive.

A couple of days before the party, bake the cookies and store them in an airtight container—around 3 to 4 dozen cookies is perfect for 8 people, so each guest can decorate 4 or more cookies.

You can also make the cookie icing ahead of time, coloring it in a few festive shades (think red, green, white, and blue) and storing it in the fridge.

The day before the party, defrost the cookies, set up your cookie decorating station with all the shelf stable toppings (make sure to keep them in airtight containers), and decorate the space so that it’s ready for guests.

When the party day arrives, set up a hot cocoa bar with mugs, marshmallows, whipped cream, and some candy cane stir sticks for a holiday vibe.

When your guests arrive, walk them through the setup, encourage them to get creative with their designs, and let the cookie decorating fun begin!

From cookies and cocoa to laughs and holiday memories, a cookie decorating party can be a festive, fun, and budget friendly way to make the holiday season and other occasions feel even more special.

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Cookie Decorating Party Shopping List

Here is an example of a shopping list for ingredients and supplies that you might need for a cookie decorating party.

For Baking the Cookies

Here are some ingredients that are commonly used to bake cookies. The amounts of each ingredient that you need will vary, depending on how many cookies you want to make (refer to your cookie recipe to help you decide how much to buy).

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Molasses, if making gingerbread cookies
  • Gingerbread spices—ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, if making gingerbread cookies

For Decorating the Cookies

Here are some ingredients that can be used to make icing and other decorations for cookies. The amounts of each ingredient that you need will vary, depending on how many cookies you want to make.

  • Powdered sugar, to make icing
  • Meringue powder, to make royal icing, if using
  • Gel food coloring, red, green, blue, white, and any other holiday colors
  • Sprinkles, assorted holiday colors and shapes
  • Sanding sugar, red, green, white, and blue colors
  • Mini marshmallows, for making snowman faces or cocoa toppings
  • Chocolate chips or M&M’s, use for buttons, eyes, or other details
  • Small bowls and dishes, for organizing sprinkles and toppings

Cookie Decorating Party Supplies

Here is a list of basic supplies for hosting a cookie decorating party.

  • Parchment paper or wax paper, to use for lining baking sheets—and also to line cookie decorating trays if using—for easier clean up
  • Tablecloths or butcher paper, for covering tables
  • Paper plates, for cookies
  • Cups or mugs, for hot and cold drinks
  • Plates, for appetizers and snacks
  • Napkins, holiday or special occasion themed
  • Take home boxes or treat bags, for guests to take cookies home
  • Small pastry brushes or toothpicks, for detailed icing work
  • Piping bags or squeeze bottles, for icing (you can also use ziplock bags with small tips cut off for icing)

Hot Cocoa Bar Supplies (Optional)

  • Hot cocoa mix or ingredients for homemade cocoa, homemade hot cocoa in the slow cooker is delicious!
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Candy canes
  • Cups and mugs, for holding the cocoa
  • Spoons, for stirring the cocoa
  • Whipped cream, in a can for easy serving
  • Ground cinnamon and nutmeg, for dusting on top

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Looking for more holiday and special occasion hosting ideas?

This post was all about how to host the best cookie decorating party.

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