Cookie Decorating with Friends

Bake cut-out cookies ahead, then set up an icing and sprinkle station so a group of friends can decorate together.

Bake one of these

• 
  Junior Bakers

  Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Dough

• 
  Little Helpers

  Classic Vanilla Icing

• 
  Little Helpers

  Strawberry Icing

What you need

• Cookie cutters in a few shapes
• Baking sheets lined with parchment paper (nonstick baking paper)
• A paper plate for each guest
• Small cups of icing with spoons
• Sprinkles in small bowls
• A wipeable tablecloth
• Bags for taking cookies home
• A Baker's Certificate for each guest

Steps

1. Check allergiesBefore the party, your grown-up asks every guest's family about allergies. Check every ingredient with your grown-up, sprinkles too.
2. Bake aheadThe day before, wash your hands first and help your grown-up make the cookie dough, then chill it, which means make it cold in the fridge. Your grown-up rolls it out, you press in the cutters, and your grown-up bakes the shapes. No tasting the raw dough, and wash your hands again after you touch raw egg or dough. Keep the cooled cookies in a box with a lid.
3. Make the icingOn party day, make both icings. Spoon them into small cups, one set for every two guests.
4. Set the tableCover the table and put a plate with two or three cookies at each seat. Set the sprinkles where everyone can reach.
5. DecorateEveryone washes their hands first. Show your guests how to spread icing with the back of a spoon and add sprinkles before it dries. Every cookie is just right.
6. Wrap upLet the icing set, which means dry and firm up. Then give each guest a bag of cookies and a certificate with their name on it.

Make it yours

• Pick a party theme, like space or the ocean
• Have each guest show their favorite cookie
• Save one plain cookie per guest to decorate at home

Print the Baker's Certificate