Host the Perfect Cookie Decorating Party for Any Occasion
Last Updated on December 8, 2021
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Table of Contents
Why Host a Cookie Decorating Party?
Some of my favorite memories as a child are of the amazing cookie decorating parties my mom used to host every Christmas! Picture a table full of holiday shaped sugar cookies, icing in every color, and bowls of everyone’s favorite candies – it was heaven!
My friends and I would sit and decorate cookies for hours, drinking hot chocolate, and having the best time! What I love so much about a cookie decorating party is that it’s perfect for any occasion or holiday and can be done for kids or adults! Want to host your own get-together? Here are all my tips and tricks for hosting the best cookie decorating party ever!
Gather Your Set-up & Cookie Decorating Supplies
Hosting a party can seem daunting, but a cookie decorating get-together doesn’t have to be! I like to start the party planning process with a list of all the party & cookie decorating supplies I need to have to make it a success. I’m sharing my tips and tricks for everything from set-up and cookie decorating to some of my favorite snack and drink recipes to make your party a hit!
The Set-up
While the set-up certainly isn’t the most fun of the party planning process it’s key for a cookie decorating party because – HELLO – all that decorating can be messy! Here’s my list of supplies and a few of my top tips and tricks to get you started:
- Plastic tablecloth
- Pro Tip: This is KEY for easy clean-up after the party is over. You can find really cute options to match your theme that are reasonably priced! After the party is over all you have to do is throw it out with all the mess wrapped up inside!
- Heavy Duty Paper Plates
- Pro Tip: I love using these to decorate the cookies on because they help contain loose candies and sprinkles. Plus, at the end of the party it’s so easy to wrap the plate in foil or saran wrap for guests to take their cookies home with them!
- Bowls to hold icing and candy toppings
- Piping bags and knives for icing
- Pro Tip: Use knives from home (mini spreaders work best) and instead of buying special piping bags, fill a Ziploc bag with icing and snip one of the bottom corners!
- Paper towels and wet wipes for messes
Now that you have all your set-up supplies it’s time to get into the fun stuff – cookies and toppings!

Baking the Cookies
The best thing about a cookie decorating party is that there are no rules! You can change up the formula I use when I host to incorporate the things you love. I prefer to use sugar cookies when I host a decorating party, but you can use any kind of cookie recipe you want!
The last few parties I’ve hosted I’ve used A Latte Food’s Soft Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe and it’s been great! No matter what recipe you use, I definitely recommend using cookie cutters to make shapes ready for decorating! Below are a few of my favorite cookie cutter sets for different themes:
- Fall Cookie Cutters
- Christmas Cookie Cutters
- Valentines Day Cookie Cutters
- Beach & Ocean Cookie Cutters
You can literally find cookie cutters for any theme making it even easier to host a cookie decorating party for an occasion. Now that you’ve got your cookies baked it’s time bring on the decorations!

Cookie Decorating Toppings
There are so many professional-style tools and toppings to make gorgeous cookies that look like they’ve come straight from the bakery, BUT they can be so expensive! Don’t worry, you don’t need to have any fancy tools or toppings to make adorable cookies! Here are some of my favorite options for cookie decor:
- Icing:
- There’s no wrong way to do icing when it comes to decorating cookies! You can either buy the typical icing containers from the grocery store or try your hand at making icing that dries hard (like the professionals) using Real Housemom’s easy recipe!
- Food Coloring:
- Grab a pack of food coloring in your favorite colors (don’t forget you can mix colors to create new ones!) to make a variety of colored icing perfect for decorating
- Candy Toppings:
- There are so many candy varieties out there that make perfect decorations for cookies! Think candies like M&M’s, Skittles, Nerds, crushed up candy canes, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and so many more!
- Pro Tip: To help keep costs down, have each of your guests bring their favorite candy topping to the party! Then fill in the gaps with any must haves they won’t be bringing
- There are so many candy varieties out there that make perfect decorations for cookies! Think candies like M&M’s, Skittles, Nerds, crushed up candy canes, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and so many more!
So you’ve got your set-up, cookies, and toppings – you’re ready to go! BUT if you want to add a little extra hospitality & deliciousness to your party, make a few easy appetizers and a fun drink (or cocktail!) that go with your theme!

Add Appetizers & Drinks
You 100% DO NOT have to serve food and drinks, trust me there will be plenty of cookie eating going on! If you’re feeling a like a hostess with the mostest and want to add an appetizer and drink it doesn’t have to be a lot of extra work. Here are a few easy recipe suggestions for different themes:
- Christmas:
- Vegetable Pita Flatbread Christmas Trees by House of Kerrs
- Slow Cooker Mint Hot Chocolate by Savvy Mama Lifestyle
- Fall:
- Any of the yummy loaf cake recipes from my DIY Fall Gift Basket post
- Cinnamon Apple Cider Cocktails by Abundance of Flavor
- Valentines Day:
- V-Day Charcuterie Board by Wow it’s Veggie
- Pomegranate Champagne Margaritas by The Adventure Bite

Let’s Get This Party Started!
Now you’ve got all my tips and tricks for hosting the best cookie decorating party ever – so what are you waiting for?! Whether you’re looking for a fun idea for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Fall, a kid’s or adult’s get together, a cookie party is the perfect solution!
Scale it up or down, pick any theme, personalize your toppings, appetizers, and drinks – a cookie decorating party is truly the most flexible event making it great for any occasion!
What theme would you choose for your cookie decorating party?
I love decorating cookies, but I’m so bad at it lol. I should do this with my kids!
I am too, but it’s still so much fun to try! It’s a great activity to do with kids that involves the whole family!
I’ve always wished I could be a cookie artist. I love decorating them!
I love decorating them too! This is one of my favorite types of parties to host because I’m able to get in on the fun too!
So fun! Love these ideas and perfect for getting the kids involved in the holiday cheer 💛
Yes! My favorite thing about hosting a cookie decorating party is that it’s great for adults and kids!
This sounds like a lot of fun! We haven’t been to a cookie decorating virtual party but what a fun idea!
You can totally do this as a virtual party too which is great with COVID!
Needful content! Keep creating content like this.Tons of love for you.
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it!
I love how detailed this post is. I love cookies, and this is a great idea!
Thank you! I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Such a cute idea, I think we might do this weekend with the kiddos!
I love it! If you take any pictures of your creations definitely tag me on Instagram – I’d love to see them!
Love this! Can’t wait to host something like this when my friends and I can gather again!
I love hosting a cookie party for my gals! It’s such a fun girls night in!
We love baking cookies, especially during the holidays!!
I do too! It’s so great that you can use this for any holiday! I love to host cookie parties for Galentines Day!
Well who doesn’t love a cookie party!? it would be fun to do this over the summer too. Thanks for the tips
Yes! A summer theme would be so cute!
Such a cute idea! Love this for friends or family!
Thank you! It’s the perfect party idea for all ages!
What brilliant tips to keep things running smoothly. I tried making cookies with my little ones yesterday – the mess, haha. Maybe we need to wait another year!
It can definitely be tough with little ones, but I think the key is making everything disposable for easy cleanup. Paper plates, clorox wipes, and a plastic tablecloth can be game changers when it comes to cleaning up!
I look decorating cookies this year I’ve finally found the time to do it properly x
That’s great! Hopefully some of these tips will be helpful next time you decorate!
I love the table cloth tip! That is a great one. I use those for crafts too. SOOOO helpful!
Thank you! Oh yes, they are so great for crafts – especially glitter! So glad you found this post helpful!
This is a fun activity to do with the whole family! Not much into sweets but I love cookies! I’d love to try this recipe. My nieces and nephews would make a whole lot of mess in the kitchen and get away with it by praising my cookies lol.
http://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com
Haha I love it! It’s one of my favorite activities to do with family and friends!