20 Christmas Cookie Decorating Ideas for Every Skill Level

Christmas cookie decorating is one of my favorite ways to bring friends and family together in December, whether it’s the main event at a Friendsmas get-together, an activity for the kids at a family party, or something cozy to do around the kitchen table. The cookie recipes and decorating ideas below all come from top food bloggers, and each one links to the original post for the full recipe.

I have grouped them by decorating skill, starting with sprinkles, dips and drizzles that anyone can manage, then candy-topped Christmas characters, then detailed iced cutouts for confident decorators.

There is also a quick setup list for hosting a cookie decorating party at the end. For more ways to fill a night in with friends, see these Friendsmas activities.

How to Choose Cookies for a Christmas Cookie Decorating Party

This post may contain affiliate links.Privacy Policy. Follow us on PINTEREST

The best mix depends on who is coming and how much time you have. A good rule is to offer one easy cookie that everyone can finish and one more detailed design for the keen decorators, so nobody feels left out or bored.

Match the skill level: Little kids do best with sprinkles, candy and dipping, while teens and adults often enjoy piping and detailed cutouts.
Bake ahead: Have the cookies fully baked and cooled before guests arrive, so the party is all about decorating.
Pick sturdy shapes: Circles, trees and stars are easier to decorate and pack than shapes with thin, breakable pieces.
Plan for drying time: Icing needs time to set, so leave space in the evening and somewhere flat for the trays…perhaps this is where you can bring out a charcuterie board for everyone to nibble from.

Easy Christmas Cookie Decorating Ideas With Sprinkles and Drizzles

Start here for little kids, mixed ages, or anyone who insists they cannot decorate. These cookies get their festive look from sprinkles, colored dough, simple dipping icing or a quick chocolate drizzle, so there is little or no piping involved. If you want to skip baking altogether, try these no-bake Christmas Oreo decorating ideas.

Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Photo credit: In the Kids' Kitchen

A sparkly sprinkle coating does all the decorating work on these sugar cookies, and they are written with kids in mind. Set out a few bowls of festive sprinkles and even the youngest guests can join in.

Colored Cookie Dough Sugar Cookies

Photo credit: Next Level Baker

The color goes right into the dough, so these sugar cookies look bright and cheerful before anyone picks up a sprinkle. A lovely shortcut when you want a colorful tray with very little icing.

No-Chill Cutout Sugar Cookies With Dipping Icing

Photo credit: Chenée Today

A no-chill, no-spread cutout dough means you can bake shapes the same day, and the simple vanilla icing is made for dipping. Dip, shower with sprinkles and leave to set, no piping bag needed.

Chocolate-Drizzled Christmas Shortbread Bites

Photo credit: This Silly Girl's Kitchen

Bite-size Christmas shortbread finished with a drizzle of chocolate, which is about the easiest decorating job there is. Handy for guests who would rather nibble than decorate.

Tri-Color Christmas Sugar Cookies

Photo credit: DIY and Fun

Three colors of dough give these homemade holiday cookies a festive look straight from the oven. A cheerful addition to the platter alongside the cookies your guests decorate.

Roll and Cut Christmas Butter Cookies

Photo credit: Kitchen Ready Betty

These roll-and-cut butter cookies are crisp at the edges and soft in the middle, and the recipe is easy to customize. Cut them into your favorite shapes for a plain base that guests can finish with sprinkles.

Classic Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Photo credit: One Mama's Daily Drama

Colorful sprinkles make these sugar cookies festive with almost no effort. They suit a relaxed table where everyone decorates at their own pace.

Christmas Character Cookies to Decorate With Candy and Icing

This group is a step up, but still very doable. Most of the fun comes from candy eyes, pretzels, marshmallows and M&Ms held in place with frosting or a little icing, so kids and grown-ups can decorate side by side.

Melted Snowman Cookies

Photo credit: Trop Rockin

Sugar cookies get white icing, marshmallow heads, M&Ms and little black and orange icing details for the faces. Every snowman melts a bit differently, so there is no wrong way to decorate them.

Green Grinch Sugar Cookies

Photo credit: Kim Schob

Bright green sugar cookies with a soft, fluffy texture and plenty of Grinch spirit. They were made with holiday celebrations and classrooms in mind, so they suit a kids’ table well.

Rudolph Reindeer Cookies

Photo credit: The Frugal Girls

Frosted chocolate cookies become Rudolph with pretzel ears, candy eyes, a mini Nilla wafer snout and a cinnamon candy nose. It is mostly assembly, so kids can do much of it themselves.

Classic Gingerbread Men

Photo credit: I Heart Eating

A classic gingerbread men recipe that gives every guest a blank canvas. Add faces and outfits with whatever icing and candies are on the table.

Easy Snow Globe Cookies With Marshmallow Snowmen

Photo credit: Kitchen Serf

Marshmallow snowmen and sparkly sugar turn these cookies into little snow globes that look far trickier than they are. They make a sweet centerpiece for a Christmas party or cookie swap table.

Elf on the Shelf Cookies

Photo credit: Peanut Butter and Julie

Decorated sugar cookies made to look like everyone’s favorite December visitor, with a video to follow along. A fun pick for families whose elf is already part of the season.

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Photo credit: Homeschool and Happiness

Premade or store-bought gingerbread men turned upside down become reindeer with pretzels and candy eyes. Use store-bought cookies and you can skip the baking entirely, which helps on a busy party day.

Iced Christmas Cutout Cookies for Confident Decorators

Save these for teens, adults and keen bakers. They take more time, from cutting out shapes to layering icing and adding small details, and they make a gorgeous display by the end of the party.

Red Truck Christmas Cookies

Photo credit: Peace Love Christmas

Decorated truck-shaped sugar cookies carry a little Christmas tree in the back for that vintage farmhouse look. Hand these to the guest who loves a detailed project.

Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies

Photo credit: I Heart Naptime

A go-to Christmas sugar cookie recipe for festive cutout shapes. Bake a batch ahead so your keen decorators have plenty of shapes to ice.

Christmas Lights Cookies

Photo credit: Rose Bakes

Icing and M&Ms turn these cookies into strings of Christmas lights, with step-by-step photos and a video to follow. A cheerful design for anyone ready to try a little piping.

Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo credit: Saving Talents

Christmas sugar cookies made with sour cream and topped with cream cheese frosting. Spread on the frosting, then let guests add their own festive finishing touches.

Stained Glass Christmas Tree Cookies

Photo credit: The Soccer Mom Blog

Hard candy centers give these tree cookies colorful windows that look just like stained glass. They take a little more care with cutting, and the result is a real showstopper.

Iced Gingerbread Cookies

Photo credit: The Toasty Kitchen

Soft, no-chill gingerbread dough is rolled, cut out and baked, then topped with vanilla icing. A nice change from sugar cookies on the decorating tray.

Christmas Cookie Decorating Party Setup List

You do not need much to host a Christmas cookie decorating party. Here is a short list to get the table ready before everyone arrives:

Cookies: A few baked, cooled cookies per guest, plus spares for breakages and taste-testing.
Icing: A small palette of colors in squeeze bottles, piping bags or bowls with spreaders.
Toppings: Sprinkles, sanding sugar, candy eyes, mini marshmallows, M&Ms and pretzels in small bowls, each with its own spoon.
Work stations: A parchment-lined tray or plate for each guest, plus napkins and a damp cloth.
Table cover: A wipeable cloth or kraft paper to catch the sprinkles.
Drying space: A clear counter or baking sheets where finished cookies can set.
Take-home boxes: Boxes, bags or tins with parchment so cookies travel home without smudging. If you’re adding a few ready-to-eat cookies to the boxes, these Christmas cookie recipes include shortbread, thumbprints and other classics.
Drinks and savory snacks: Hot chocolate and something salty, set up away from the decorating zone.

For Christmas cookie decorating with kids, squeeze bottles are much easier than piping bags, and small portions of toppings keep the mess under control. Put a finished sample cookie on the table so everyone has an idea to copy or change.

More Christmas Party Ideas

Planning the rest of the evening? Play a few of these Friendsmas games while the cookies dry, or start with this Friendsmas inspiration guide for the whole host plan. For a cozy night with older kids, these Christmas sleepover ideas for teens pair perfectly with a decorating table.

Happy decorating, and don’t worry if a few snowmen melt a little more than planned. The wonky ones always seem to get eaten first!

Luci McQuitty Hindmarsh

Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.

Like this post? Share or Pin it!

Facebook Messenger Pinterest WhatsApp