My PTA ran a cookie decorating party for our school families, and I’ll be honest, a room full of kids, frosting, and sprinkles sounded like chaos waiting to happen.
It was not chaos.
Okay… it was a little chaotic.
(Sprinkles were involved and that always means a little chaos.)
But the teachers loved getting the cookies.
And the families loved the chance to do something together that they wouldn’t have done otherwise.
I guess what I’m really saying is that a cookie decorating party checks a lot of boxes at once for a PTA or PTO.
It’s a family event, a thank-you to your school staff, and a pretty low-stress event to pull off, all rolled into one.
So here’s everything I learned about how to plan one, including the little things that keep the mess manageable.
What Is a School Cookie Decorating Party?
A cookie decorating party is a school family event where students and their families decorate plain sugar cookies together using icing and sprinkles provided by the PTA or PTO.
Attendees can decorate cookies for themselves or decorate them as a thank-you gift for teachers and school staff.
That second part is what makes it special.
Families get quality time together, and the school gets a sweet surprise.
If you’re a family events chair looking for an event that doesn’t need a big budget or a huge volunteer crew, this one is a keeper.
And if you’re collecting ideas, you can find more family fun ideas on the blog too.
Who a Cookie Decorating Party Works Best For
This is a super fun event for all ages, so families with kids of every age and stage can enjoy it.
That said, it works best for upper elementary school and older.
Why?
Because this activity has the potential to get really messy.
Younger kids can absolutely join in, but you’ll want extra helpers nearby if they do.
If your event is open to the whole school, plan for a few more volunteers and expect a bit more cleanup.
How to Plan a Cookie Decorating Party for Your School
The good news is that the planning comes down to a handful of decisions.
Get these right and the rest is just showing up with a smile and a roll of paper towels.
Hold It in the Cafeteria
The cafeteria is the best spot for a cookie decorating party.
You’ll have lots of good seating and open workspaces, and there are plenty of nearby opportunities to wash hands.
That second part matters more than you think once the icing comes out.
Hand washing before and after decorating keeps everyone happier (and keeps sticky fingers from marking up walls and door jambs) and keep the ick of germy kid hands away.
Borrow Rimmed Trays to Contain the Mess
This is probably my biggest cookie decorating party tip!
Get rimmed trays so the icing and sprinkles stay in one place.
Ask the school if you can borrow lunch trays from the cafeteria.
Just be aware that you’ll need to wash them afterward, unless the school is okay with cafeteria staff handling the cleanup.
Check on that ahead of time so there are no surprises.
It’s worth it, though.
Containing even part of the mess of sprinkles and crumbs makes the after event cleanup so much easier.
Get Sprinkles, Icing, and Cookies Donated
You don’t have to buy all of the cookie decorating supplies at full price.
Ask local grocery stores to donate sprinkles and icing for the event.
For the cookies, you can buy uniced sugar cookies from a grocery store bakery for a good price.
And remember to ask for a discount.
The worst they can say is no.
Buying the cookies plain also means your families do all the decorating, which is the whole point.
Put Spoons Out for the Sprinkles
Here’s a small trick that saves a big headache.
Have spoons on hand at every table so people can scoop their sprinkles.
That way, an entire container of sprinkles doesn’t accidentally get dumped on a cookie (or a floor).
You’ll be cleaning up a spoonful of sprinkles rather than a whole container.
Trust me, that’s a trade you want to make.
Decide Who the Cookies Are For
Let attendees choose who they’re decorating the cookies for.
Some families will want to decorate cookies to eat at home, and others will want to decorate them for teachers and school staff.
Both are great.
The staff gifting option turns your family event into a thoughtful way to appreciate the people who work in your building every day.
If you have a staff appreciation chair on your board, bring them in on the plan so the cookies get to the right people.
Surprise Your Teachers With a Giant Card
Here’s a fun extra touch your teachers and school staff with love.
Make a huge card out of poster board and ask everyone who attends the cookie decorating event to sign it.
Then, whoever organized the event can leave the cookies with a note for the staff so everyone knows who made them.
It turns a box of cookies into a thank you from the whole school community.
A Simple Timeline for Your Cookie Decorating Party
You don’t need months of lead time for this one.
A few weeks is plenty, as long as you handle the approvals first.
If possible plan the cookie decorating party for the night before the December school staff meeting.
This way the teachers will be able to enjoy the cookies during their meeting.
Four to Six Weeks Out
Get the date on the school calendar and reserve the cafeteria.
Ask the school about borrowing lunch trays, and find out who will handle washing them afterward.
Start your donation requests with local grocery stores for sprinkles and icing.
Send home the flyer and open your RSVP.
Your RSVP count is what tells you how many cookies to order, so ask families to respond by a set date.
Two Weeks Out
Place your bakery order for plain sugar cookies, and ask about a discount while you’re at it.
Purchase a piece of poster board for the card
The Week Of
Confirm your final headcount and adjust the cookie order if more families than anticipated are planning on coming.
Pick up your donated supplies, and prepare the poster board card so it’s ready to start collecting signatures.
Check in with your volunteers so everyone knows their job.
The Day Of
Set up the tables with trays, spoons, and napkins before families arrive.
Put the poster board card somewhere easy to find so people can sign as they come in.
Ask for families and volunteers to clean up as they go to minimize after event work.
Leave time at the end to pack up the teacher cookies and clean the room.
Volunteer Jobs to Fill
This event runs best with a small crew and clear jobs.
Here are the roles I’d line up ahead of time:
- Table helpers to hand out cookies, refill supplies, and keep an eye on the sprinkles
- A cleanup captain to manage trays, trash, and wiped-down tables
- A cookie delivery volunteer to get the finished teacher cookies and the giant card to the staff
Planning a Christmas Cookie Decorating Party
Want to host a Christmas cookie decorating party?
Everything above works exactly the same way, just with a holiday twist.
Ask your grocery store donors for holiday sprinkles and icing colors, and pick a date before winter break so the cookies can go to teachers while everyone’s still in the festive mood.
The giant card makes a lovely holiday thank you for the staff too.
And if you’re searching for a cookie decorating party for kids, this setup is a great fit as long as you keep that upper elementary and older sweet spot in mind.
Cookie Decorating Party Supply Checklist
Here’s what to have ready before the doors open:
- Rimmed trays (borrowed lunch trays work great)
- Plain sugar cookies from a grocery store bakery
- Tubs of prepared icing
- Sprinkles, ideally donated
- Spoons for scooping sprinkles
- Plastic knives for spreading the icing
- Poster board and markers for the giant staff card
- Paper towels for quick cleanup
- School approved cleaner (ask your custodian to borrow their supplies)
- Access to sinks and soap for hand washing
One more thing worth doing is checking with your school about any food allergy policies, and letting families know in advance what ingredients are involved.
Cookie Decorating Party FAQ
How many cookies do I need for a cookie decorating party?
It depends on your RSVP count and the size of your school.
The bigger your expected turnout and the more teachers you have, the more cookies you’ll want to plan for.
As a general rule, plan for 2 to 4 cookies per person.
Where should I host a school cookie decorating party?
The school cafeteria is the best spot.
It has plenty of seating and lots of opportunities for hand washing, which makes the whole event easier to manage.
What age group is best for a cookie decorating party?
It’s a fun family event for all ages, but it works best for upper elementary school and older.
The activity can get really messy, so younger kids will need extra help.
How do you keep a cookie decorating party from getting too messy?
Use rimmed trays to contain the icing and sprinkles, and give each table spoons for scooping sprinkles.
That way, if a container tips, you’re only cleaning up a spoonful instead of the whole thing.
How can a PTA or PTO save money on a cookie decorating party?
Ask local grocery stores to donate sprinkles and icing.
You can also buy uniced, blank sugar cookies from a grocery store bakery at a good price, and it’s worth asking for a discount.
Can families decorate cookies for teachers at the party?
Yes.
Attendees can decorate cookies for themselves or for teachers and school staff.
You can add a giant poster board card for everyone to sign so the staff knows who made them.
Over to You
A cookie decorating party is a simple way to bring families together and thank your school staff at the same time.
You need a cafeteria, some borrowed trays, donated sprinkles and icing, bakery cookies, a handful of spoons, and a giant card.
So here’s your next step.
This week, email your principal to ask about the cafeteria and borrowing lunch trays, then reach out to one local grocery store about donations.
Once you have those two answers, you’re most of the way there.
And if you want to swap ideas with other school leaders, come hang out in our free Facebook group for PTA and PTO leaders!
