Cookie Decorating for All Ages
I do an annual cookie decorating program that’s a huge hit in my community! I usually do it in the winter and have a winter theme, but you could do it anytime of year. I’ve learned a ton over the past decade and make tiny improvements each year. Here’s what I learned and how you can run it fool-proof. You’ll need a few weeks lead-time for the bakery and liquor store, and I always get teen volunteers to help setup and cleanup. I contact my local high school’s Acts of Kindness Club and they donate their time to be used toward volunteer hours for graduation requirements.
List of supplies: Total cost about $125.00 ($75 for supplies, and $50 for cookies)
- 80 cookies (ordered from local bakery-I have them match my theme: ginerbread men, mittens, snowman, etc.)
- Beer flats donated from local liquor store (Most important part! This keeps the mess inside these little boxes. No cleaning up sprinkles all over the floor!)
- 4 14 oz bags of M&Ms
- 1 24 oz bag of raisins
- 2 75’ rolls of waxed paper
- 8 cans of white frosting
- 4 cans of sprinkles
- 6 tablecloths or wrapping paper to wrap 6 tables (at least 48 feet/16 yards)
- 100 plastic knives or spoons (grocery store doesn’t always have just knives in bulk)
- 25 plastic spoons (for dividing up supplies)
- 100 napkins
- 200 mini cups (1x for frosting, 1x for goodies)
- Baby wipes x 6 for each table
- Gloves to prepare food with
Before the program:
- Line each cardboard flat with wax paper.
- Each can of frosting fills 10 cups = 80 cups
- Each bag of M&Ms/sprinkles/raisins fills 20 cups = 80 cups
Keep all empty food containers so families with food allergies can check ingredients labels.
- Each flat will have:
- 1 cookie
- 1 napkin
- 1 spoon or knife (whichever is readily available at the store)
- 1 cup of frosting
- 1 cup of M&Ms/sprinkles/raisins
- You can mix the cardboard flats to have either 1 setup or 2 setup (just make sure you have 2 of everything!)
- Stack the flats in rows in the alcove by the door where the garbage can is.
During the program:
- As a child leaves the table, clean up their flat. Throw away any extra frosting/candy DO NOT LET OTHERS EAT THEIR LEFTOVERS
- Place a new cardboard flat on the table so a new child can sit in his place.
If you have any extras, you can use gallon-size bags to made classroom packs for local preschools. My outreach locations occasionally get a little extra-special treat and they are grateful!
This is a huge hit in the community, and lots of community are involved with the program. A win-win!