How to Host a Holiday Cookie Decorating Party

Boston companies and organizations understand the importance of fun activities at their holiday parties. This classic holiday party favorite is sure to please the masses—and it’s simple for you to do!Decorating holiday cookies at your company holiday party will be fun for all ages, genders, job levels, religious or political beliefs, artistic skill levels and more. Below you will find a how-to guide perfect to help you host a fun, festive holiday cookie decorating activity.

Boston Holiday Party Cookie Decorating

Here’s what you will need:

• Cookies—sugar cookies, chocolate peppermint cookies, ginger or gingerbread cookies, cinnamon cookies (flat, round or shaped)
• Specialty cookies—gluten-free cookies, sugar-free cookies
• Vanilla or white frostings (include a sugar-free option)
• Food colorings—red, green, blue, yellow
• Bowls for mixing frostings and food colorings
• Flavorings—spearmint, peppermint, maple, etc. (to flavor the frostings)
• Sprinkles—red, green, holiday, etc. (plus sugar-free options)
• Colored decorative icing tubes—red, green, blue, yellow, light blue, etc. (plus sugar-free options)
• Red Hots, York Peppermint Patties, Hershey Kisses, candy canes and other candies (plus sugar-free options)
• Crushed peppermint pieces (plus sugar-free options)
• Chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips (plus sugar-free options)
• Plates, plastic knives and plastic spoons in red and green
• Holiday-themed napkins

Special safety note for planners: Not everyone can eat sugar these days. For those who need sugar-free options in life, providing sugar-free frostings, candies, cookies and more will allow those individuals to enjoy the decorating process as well. Including gluten-free cookies in the mix will allow gluten-intolerant folks to indulge as well. Lastly, do your best to avoid products with nuts in them, ensuring that those with nut allergies are not exposed directly or indirectly to nut products. Be sure to label all of your cookies, candies, frostings, etc. to make sure that each guest knows what he or she is selecting and whether it is sugar, gluten or nut-free.Here’s what to do:Set up various stations for decorating, giving your guests plenty of room to create their edible masterpieces. Have the decorative items set up buffet-style on a couple of long tables, making sure that both tables, covered in holiday-themed tablecloths. Put plenty of each type of cookie, frosting, decorative item, candy variety, etc., on each table, and plenty of plastic ware, napkins and plates.Guests decorate the cookies with their favorite combinations of colored or flavored frostings, candies and more. Once guests finish decorating, set the cookies aside and allow the decorations to set.What to do with the cookies:Each cookie creation should be entered into a contest. Give out prizes for some of these types of contest categories:

• Best holiday theme
• Most creative decoration
• Most festive
• Funniest
• Best ornament-style décor
• Most piled-high-with-sweets
• Cutest decorations
• Crowd favorite

Guests have three options when it comes to what to do with their finished cookie products. They can take them home to eat later, swap them with coworkers and other party guests as a type of edible gift or enjoy them on the spot. It will be a fun, interactive and simple corporate holiday party activity sure to bring smiles to your holiday party guests’ faces.

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