25 Easy Cookie Decorating Ideas for Kids

Look, I’m not going to pretend that cookie decorating with kids is some picture-perfect Norman Rockwell moment. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and you’ll find sprinkles in weird places for the next three weeks. But here’s the thing—it’s also ridiculously fun, and those little sugar-covered masterpieces they create? Pure magic.

I’ve spent more afternoons than I can count elbow-deep in frosting with my niece and nephew, and I’ve learned a few things along the way. Like how a four-year-old will absolutely dump an entire bottle of sprinkles on one cookie and call it “art.” Or how the simplest ideas often produce the best results when tiny hands are involved.

Whether you’re looking for rainy day activities, birthday party entertainment, or just want to create some memories (and Instagram-worthy pics), these 25 cookie decorating ideas are easy enough for kids but fun enough that you won’t be bored either. No fancy tools required—just cookies, frosting, and a sense of humor about the inevitable mess.

Getting Started: The Basics You Actually Need

Before we jump into the fun stuff, let’s talk supplies. You don’t need a whole craft store’s worth of equipment—I promise. Here’s what actually matters.

Start with the right cookies. This isn’t the time for fancy recipes that spread or puff up weird. You want cookies that hold their shape and give kids a decent canvas to work with. Sugar cookies are the MVP here, but any simple drop cookie recipe works if it’s sturdy enough.

The frosting situation is where things get interesting. Royal icing looks professional but takes practice to get the consistency right. Buttercream is more forgiving and tastes better, but it doesn’t dry as hard. For kids? I usually go with a simple powdered sugar glaze you can whip up in five minutes—mix powdered sugar with milk until it’s the thickness you want, done.

For tools, keep it simple. I swear by these offset spatulas for spreading—they’re way easier for little hands than butter knives. Grab a pack of disposable piping bags if you’re feeling fancy, but honestly? Zip-top bags with the corner snipped off work just as well and you won’t cry when they get thrown away.

Now here’s something important that most people skip over: food safety actually matters when you’re decorating cookies with kids. According to the FDA, raw flour and eggs can carry bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Make sure everything that goes on those cookies is meant to be eaten—no craft supplies or play dough, even if it looks edible. And please, please keep the kids from eating raw cookie dough, no matter how much they beg.

Simple Shape-Based Ideas That Always Work

1. Rainbow Cookies

Start with round cookies and divide your frosting into rainbow colors. Kids frost each cookie with stripes of different colors—doesn’t matter if they’re messy, that’s kind of the point. The imperfection makes them look handmade and adorable.

2. Polka Dot Party

Ice cookies in a base color, then let kids go nuts with contrasting colored dots. Use the back of a spoon, a small offset spatula, or even a toothpick. My nephew once made a cookie with 47 dots. We counted.

3. Marble Magic

Drop two or three colors of icing onto a cookie and let kids swirl them together with a toothpick. It’s like finger painting but you can eat it. The technique is super forgiving—there’s literally no way to mess it up.

4. Cookie Faces

Round cookies become faces with candy eyes, icing mouths, and maybe some coconut or sprinkles for hair. Kids love making silly expressions, and you’ll end up with some genuinely hilarious creations. Get Full Recipe for the perfect sturdy base cookies.

5. Ombre Effect

This sounds fancy but it’s ridiculously easy. Start with white icing at the top of the cookie and gradually add more food coloring as you work down. Each stripe gets a tiny bit darker. Kids think they’re doing something super professional.

Speaking of easy cookie recipes that hold up well for decorating, you might want to check out these 5-ingredient cookie recipes that are perfect for busy parents. And if you’re working with younger kids who can’t handle the oven yet, these no-bake cookie recipes let you skip straight to the decorating part.

Sprinkle and Candy Decorating Techniques

Here’s where things get really fun—and really messy. Stock up on those sprinkle variety packs because kids will use approximately ten times more than any normal human would consider reasonable.

6. Sprinkle Dip Method

Frost the cookie, then immediately dip it face-down into a plate of sprinkles. The icing acts like glue and you get perfect, even coverage. Kids love the instant gratification of seeing their cookie transformed.

7. Confetti Explosion

Let kids shake sprinkles over wet icing from about 6 inches up. Will some end up on the table? Yes. On the floor? Definitely. In someone’s hair? Probably. But the cookies look festive as hell.

8. Candy Button Patterns

Give kids M&Ms, chocolate chips, or those little candy pearls and let them create patterns. Concentric circles, flower shapes, or just random chaos—it all works.

9. Candy Stripe Effect

Frost cookies in one color, then use a contrasting color to pipe thin lines across. Before the icing sets, drag a toothpick through the lines perpendicular to create that classic stripe pattern. Looks way more complicated than it actually is.

10. Crushed Candy Topping

Throw some hard candies in a zip-top bag and let kids smash them with a rolling pin. Sprinkle the candy pieces over frosted cookies for a stained-glass effect. Plus, kids get to hit things with a heavy object, which is always a win in their book.

For more cookie inspiration that kids absolutely love, try these classic chocolate chip recipes—you can decorate the tops before baking for a fun twist.

Theme-Based Cookie Ideas

Sometimes you need decorating ideas that match a specific occasion. Here’s where shape matters, but the techniques stay simple enough for kids to handle.

11. Animal Crackers, Upgraded

Use animal-shaped cookie cutters and let kids turn them into zebras, ladybugs, or whatever creature they’re currently obsessed with. Stripes, spots, or solid colors—there’s no wrong answer here.

12. Seasonal Switch-Ups

Same star cookie cutter, different vibes. Add red and green for Christmas, pastels for spring, orange and black for Halloween. Get Full Recipe for those perfectly soft cookies that won’t crumble when little hands grab them.

13. Space Explorer Cookies

Round cookies become planets with swirled colors. Star-shaped cookies are, well, stars. Add some silver edible glitter (the food-safe kind, not craft glitter—seriously, don’t mix those up) for that cosmic shimmer.

14. Garden Party Cookies

Flower shapes get bright petals with different colored centers. Heart shapes become strawberries with green icing stems. Circle cookies transform into suns, ladybugs, or flowers depending on the decorator’s mood.

15. Under the Sea

Fish-shaped cookies, obviously, but also round cookies that become jellyfish with icing tentacles, or shells decorated with pearl sprinkles. One batch of cookies, multiple marine life options.

If you’re looking for cookie options that accommodate different dietary needs, these gluten-free cookies are just as fun to decorate and taste incredible.

Advanced (But Still Kid-Friendly) Techniques

Okay, “advanced” might be overselling it, but these ideas take slightly more patience—which means they’re perfect for older kids who want to feel like they’re doing something fancy.

16. Flooding Technique

This is basically paint-by-numbers with icing. Outline the cookie’s edge with thicker icing, then “flood” the center with thinner icing. It creates that smooth, professional bakery look. Kids need steady hands but the payoff is worth it.

17. Layered Look

Let the base icing dry completely (yeah, this requires patience), then add details on top. Gives you way more control and lets kids create more intricate designs without everything bleeding together.

18. Stencil Method

Cut shapes out of paper, lay them on frosted cookies, and have kids sift powdered sugar or cocoa powder over the top. Remove the stencil and boom—instant fancy design. Those small mesh strainers work perfectly for dusting.

19. Piping Practice

Give older kids those piping tips and let them pipe borders, rosettes, or zigzag patterns. Yeah, the first few attempts will be rough, but that’s how you learn. Plus, any mistakes can be covered with strategic sprinkle placement.

20. Cookie Puzzle Pieces

Bake cookies in large squares, let kids decorate them however they want, then cut them into puzzle pieces once they’re done. Now you’ve got decorated cookies and an activity.

Looking for more cookie variety? These drop cookie recipes are beginner-friendly and can be decorated just as easily as cut-out cookies.

Creative Mix-and-Match Ideas

21. Cookie Sandwiches

Let kids decorate the tops of cookies, then sandwich them together with frosting in the middle. Double the cookie, double the fun. Plus, the frosting “glue” holds everything in place so decorations don’t slide around.

22. Texture Play

Combine smooth frosting with textured toppings. Think: smooth white icing with shredded coconut for snowman bellies, or chocolate frosting with crushed cookie crumbs for dirt. The contrast makes everything more interesting.

23. Message Cookies

Older kids can use edible markers to write messages on frosted cookies. Way easier than piping letters and you don’t end up with “HAPY BRITHAY” spelled out in wonky frosting letters.

24. Cookie Pops

Stick a lollipop stick in cookies before baking, then let kids decorate them on a stick. Easier to handle, less messy fingers on the actual cookie, and they look adorable displayed in a jar or as party favors.

25. Abstract Art Approach

Sometimes the best approach is no approach. Give kids multiple colors and tools and just let them go wild. The abstract, Picasso-esque results are often the most creative—and kids love the freedom to experiment without rules.

For those following plant-based diets, check out these vegan cookie recipes that decorate beautifully and taste just as good as traditional versions. And if you’re watching sugar intake, these low-sugar cookies are perfect for decorating with naturally sweetened frostings.

Making It Work: Real Talk About Cookie Decorating With Kids

Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the sprinkles on the ceiling, the icing on the dog, and the mysterious frosting handprint on your favorite shirt.

The mess is part of the experience. I spent years trying to keep everything pristine during decorating sessions, and you know what? It sucked the fun right out of it. Now I just accept that cleanup will take 20 minutes and we all have a way better time.

Set up your workspace with cleanup in mind. I use those disposable table covers from the party store—they’re cheap and I don’t feel bad throwing them away covered in frosting and sprinkles. Put down newspaper or parchment paper under your decorating area and you’ve just saved yourself 80% of the cleanup headache.

Give each kid their own workspace and supplies. Nothing tanks the mood faster than fights over the blue icing or who gets the last dinosaur cookie. Set up individual stations with their own colors and decorations—everybody stays happy, nobody has to share the purple sprinkles.

According to research on food safety practices, it’s crucial to keep decorating supplies separate from raw dough and ensure kids wash their hands thoroughly before and after the activity. Make it a fun routine rather than a lecture—kids are way more likely to follow rules that feel like part of the game.

Time your decorating session realistically. An hour is about the max attention span for most kids before things devolve into icing fights. Plan accordingly. Do the actual baking earlier in the day or even the night before so you’re not trying to manage hot ovens and impatient kids simultaneously.

Have realistic expectations about the results. Kids under six are basically going to create abstract art regardless of what you planned. And that’s okay! Some of my favorite cookie memories involve absolutely chaotic designs that no adult would ever create. The point isn’t perfection—it’s spending time together and making something fun.

Take photos of the cookies before letting kids eat them. They’re usually so proud of their creations, and five minutes later the cookies are gone. Snap a few pics for posterity—future you will appreciate it.

If you’re hosting a decorating party, consider doing cookie bars instead of individual cookies. They’re easier to bake in bulk and kids can each decorate their own section—less fussy than dealing with 50 individual cookies.

Troubleshooting Common Decorating Disasters

IMO, half the battle of cookie decorating with kids is managing the inevitable catastrophes. Here’s how to handle the most common problems.

Icing Too Runny: Add more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have extra sugar, stick it in the fridge for 10 minutes. Won’t fix it completely but it helps.

Icing Too Thick: Add liquid—milk, water, or even lemon juice if you want a bit of flavor. Start with just a teaspoon because it doesn’t take much to swing from cement-thick to soup-thin.

Colors Bleeding Together: This happens when the base icing is still wet. You either need to wait longer between colors (I know, patience isn’t a kid’s strong suit) or use thicker icing that won’t run.

Broken Cookies: It happens. Crumble them up and let kids sprinkle the pieces over frosted cookies as “dirt” or “sand” depending on your theme. Problem solved, crisis averted.

Sprinkles Won’t Stick: The icing has dried. Either add new icing where you want sprinkles, or use a tiny bit of corn syrup as glue. That stuff is basically edible super glue.

Kids Eating More Than Decorating: This one doesn’t really have a solution, to be honest. Just bake extra cookies and accept that decorating time is also snacking time. You can’t fight human nature.

Storage and Sharing Your Decorated Masterpieces

So you’ve survived the decorating session and now you’ve got two dozen cookies covered in varying amounts of frosting and sprinkles. Now what?

Let everything dry completely before stacking. FYI, this takes longer than you think—usually at least a couple hours, sometimes overnight for thick icing. I learned this the hard way when I tried to pack cookies 30 minutes after decorating and ended up with one giant cookie-icing-sprinkle blob.

Store decorated cookies in a single layer if possible, separated by parchment or wax paper. Those plastic cookie containers with lids are worth every penny—they stack nicely and actually keep cookies fresh.

If you’re gifting cookies, invest in some cellophane treat bags and ribbon. Individually wrapped cookies look way more professional and kids love giving their creations as presents. Plus, it solves the “who made which cookie” debate.

Decorated cookies typically stay fresh for about a week at room temperature, longer if you refrigerate them (though the texture might change slightly). The icing actually acts as a preservative, keeping the cookies from going stale as fast.

For cookies you want to freeze, let them dry completely first. Then freeze them in single layers before transferring to freezer bags. They’ll keep for a couple months and thaw in about 30 minutes at room temperature.

Wrapping This Up

Here’s what I’ve learned after dozens of cookie decorating sessions with kids of all ages: the best decorating projects are the ones where everyone has fun, even if the final results look nothing like Pinterest.

Those 25 ideas we covered? They’re starting points, not rules. Kids will take your simple polka dot cookie concept and turn it into something completely different—and that’s the best part. The wonky faces, the cookies with seventeen layers of frosting, the ones covered in so many sprinkles you can barely see the cookie underneath—those are the ones they’ll remember.

Stock up on supplies, lower your expectations about perfection, and embrace the mess. The goal isn’t to create bakery-quality decorated cookies—it’s to spend quality time together, give kids a creative outlet, and maybe end up with a few treats that are actually edible when you’re done.

Will there be frosting on surfaces you didn’t even know existed? Probably. Will some cookies look like abstract art gone wrong? Almost definitely. Will kids have an absolute blast and ask to do it again next weekend? One hundred percent yes.

And honestly, that’s what makes it worth doing. These memories stick around way longer than the sugar high from eating three decorated cookies in a row. So grab some cookies, pick up a few decorating supplies, and just go for it. The kids in your life will love you for it, even if you do find sprinkles in your carpet for the next month.