How to Host a Holiday Cookie Decorating Party
There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a holiday cookie decorating party. The scent of sugar and spice in the air, bowls of colorful sprinkles scattered across the table, mugs of hot cocoa warming cold hands; it’s the kind of gathering that feels both joyful and grounding during an otherwise busy season.
The beauty of a cookie decorating party is that it doesn’t need to be complicated or overproduced. With a little planning, a thoughtful setup, and a cozy menu, you can create an afternoon or evening that feels festive without feeling stressful. Whether you’re hosting kids, adults, or a mix of both, this is one holiday tradition that always delights.
Here’s how to host a holiday cookie decorating party that feels warm, inviting, and completely doable.
Start With a Festive Cookie Decorating Table
The heart of your party is the cookie decorating table, so this is where you want to focus most of your setup energy.
Begin with a festive tablecloth; something disposable or washable is ideal because a little bit of frosting messiness will happen. This year, I chose an adorable gingerbread man tablecloth that fit my overall Christmas decor in my home, which is centered around gingerbread.
For serving, keep things easy and disposable. Festive paper plates and napkins are perfect here.
Look for holiday prints, metallic accents, or simple seasonal colors that coordinate with your tablecloth. I chose gingerbread themed ones (linked above) to go with the rest of the theme. Paper plates make cleanup effortless, which means you can actually enjoy the party instead of thinking about dishes.
Next, arrange your decorating supplies in a way that’s both functional and visually appealing:
- Pre-baked sugar cookies (recipe) and gingerbread cookies (recipe), cooled and ready to decorate
- Tubs of frosting in a few classic colors—white, red, green, and fun flavors like hot cocoa, marshmallow, or peppermint! You can shop all of them here.
- An assortment of sprinkles: nonpareils, sanding sugar, holiday shapes, crushed candy canes, and edible glitter. Shop them here.
- Butter knives or small offset spatulas for spreading frosting
- Icing tubes in red, white, and green to add even more decorating options
Spread the items out along your table so everyone has access to some frosting and sprinkles, and can rotate the items along the table throughout the evening. I also like to divide up the cookies, placing the sugar cookies on both sides of the table, and the gingerbread right in the middle.
Make It Easy With Pre-Baked Cookies
One of the secrets to enjoying your own party is removing unnecessary pressure, and that starts with baking cookies ahead of time.
Make the dough for your sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies the night before, and then roll out and bake the cookies the morning of. Once they’re cool, place them on your serving plates and cover them with a sheet of plastic wrap until the party starts.
Not only does this save time, but it also allows you to focus on the fun part: decorating, chatting, and soaking in the holiday atmosphere.
Offering two types of cookies adds variety and makes the table feel extra special. Sugar cookies are perfect for detailed decorating, while gingerbread cookies bring warmth and spice that feel quintessentially holiday.
Set the Ambiance: Cozy, Not Overdone
Once your table is set, shift your attention to the overall ambiance of your space. The goal is cozy and festive, not loud or overwhelming.
Add a Simple Floral Arrangement
A seasonal floral arrangement instantly elevates the room. You don’t need anything elaborate: winter greenery like holly branches and a mix of red and white roses can be stunning.
If flowers aren’t your thing, some poinsettia achieves the same festive effect and lasts longer.
Play Soft Holiday Music
Music sets the mood more than we realize. Create a playlist of soft holiday music; think classic carols, jazz holiday standards, or instrumental versions that play quietly in the background. You want it to feel warm and festive without competing with conversation.
I love playing the Jazz Holidays radio on Pandora, which contains lots of beautiful classics performed by Beegie Adair.
Keep the Lighting Warm
If possible, dim overhead lights and rely on lamps or candles for a softer glow. A few pillar candles or tea lights instantly make the space feel intimate and inviting.
Serve a Cozy, Make-Ahead Menu
Cookie decorating is fun, but it also works up an appetite, especially if kids are involved. The best menu is one that feels comforting and nostalgic while being incredibly easy to prepare.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup
You truly can’t go wrong with grilled cheese and tomato soup, along with a big caesar salad. It’s cozy, universally loved, and perfect for chilly holiday weather.
To keep things simple:
- Make the tomato soup ahead of time and then reheat it gently before guests arrive. I’ve shared my adapted tomato soup recipe that I love making from the Pioneer Woman below:
- To make the tomato soup, simply sauté 1 large onion (diced) in about 3 tbsp of salted butter over medium heat. Then add in 2 (14 oz) cans of diced tomatoes. Sauté together for a few minutes before transferring to a food processor to blend until everything is puréed (it won’t be completely smooth). Transfer back into the pot and add 1 (64 oz) bottle of low-sodium v8 tomato juice, 2 tbsp chicken bouillon paste, a small pinch of sugar, and a generous pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Bring to a boil, then turn off until its closer to serving time. Once you’re almost ready to serve the soup, bring it back to a simmer, then add 1/4 cup of cooking sherry and about 1 cup (or more) or heavy cream. You can add as much or as little cream as you like to your desired creaminess. Taste test for salt and add as needed. Add freshly chopped basil right before serving. Makes about 6 bowls.
- Prepare grilled cheese sandwiches in batches using a toaster oven instead of standing at the stove flipping individual sandwiches. Arrange them on a baking sheet and “grill” in the oven, then keep warm on the warm setting in the oven until ready to serve.
- To make the grilled cheese, simply grab your favorite sliced toast bread, spread a little bit of mayo on one side of each slice of toast. Then grab the non-mayo covered side of toast, add 2 to 3 slices of your favorite melting cheese, then place the other non-mayo covered side of toast onto the cheese. Repeat this for however many sandwiches you need, then bake in batches in the toaster oven on a wire rack at 425°F for 7 minutes. I use my Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, and can easily fit 6 sandwiches at a time. Once I’m done, I pile them all up on the toaster oven’s baking sheet and keep in the oven on the warm setting until ready to serve.
- Toss a caesar salad in a big bowl using store-bought ingredients like chopped romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan, croutons, and caesar salad dressing. It’s easy, delicious, and adds a “green” touch to an otherwise warm, carb-filled dinner!
Other easy foods I have out on the counter before serving dinner is store-bought spinach artichoke dip which I warm up in the toaster oven for a few minutes, chips, and usually some kind of puff pastry appetizer. I put out festive paper plates and napkins next to these foods too, along with drinking cups for water, soda and wine.
This menu feels thoughtful and comforting and is all make-ahead, aka it doesn’t require you to juggle complicated timing during the party.
Don’t Forget the Hot Cocoa BaR
No holiday cookie decorating party is complete without homemade hot cocoa.
Prepare a big pot of hot cocoa on the stove or in a slow cooker so it stays warm throughout the party. Set up a small cocoa station with:
Peppermint whipped cream is an especially festive touch and makes the cocoa feel extra special with minimal effort.
This is the one point in which I like to use actual mugs rather than disposable ones, but that’s only because I have a growing collection of holiday mugs that I get every year from Anthropologie. It only feels right that I put them to use with a party like this.
If you don’t have many holiday mugs or you’re serving kids, then darling paper cups like these are great.
A Simple, Festive Party Favor
To send guests home with a little something sweet, consider M&M’s stocking stuffer candy canes as an easy party favor. They’re festive, mess-free, and require no prep. Simply place one at each setting or gather a few in a basket near the door for guests to grab as they leave. It’s a small touch that feels thoughtful and seasonal, and it doubles as a sweet treat they can enjoy later or tuck into their own holiday stockings at home.
A Holiday Gathering You’ll Want to Repeat
A holiday cookie decorating party is one of those gatherings that feels meaningful without being demanding. It brings people together around something simple and joyful, creating memories that linger long after the sprinkles are swept away.
With a festive table, cozy ambiance, an easy menu, and plenty of cookies to decorate, you’ll have everything you need to host a holiday gathering that feels warm, welcoming, and wonderfully festive, exactly what the season is meant to be.
