DIY Cookie Kits for Holidays

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DIY Cookie Kits for Holidays are great interactive activities for your kids, especially when they have some time off from school! And they’re so easy to put together, whether you’re a business owner and want to include them in your menu, or a parent that wants to make them for your kids.

Kids will have so much fun getting creative and messy with the icing and sprinkles, and the best part is they’ll get to enjoy these holiday treats after they’re decorated…or before! 😉

DIY COOKIE DECORATING KIT THEMES

I’ve made DIY cookie kits for holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. I’ve also made themed kits for birthdays (with birthday cakes, candles, balloons, and birthday gifts), an “under the sea” kit (with mermaid tails, seashells, dolphins, and starfish), and an “on the go” travel-themed kit with planes, trains, cars, and boats! These DIY cookie decorating kits are not only for holidays. You can buy a themed cookie cutter set that your kid(s) would be interested in, and make a DIY cookie kit in that theme!

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN A COOKIE KIT?

Normally, in a DIY decorating cookie kit, I include 8-10 cookies (5 designs, 2 of each), 3 bags of royal icing, and 3 types of sprinkles. To assemble this cookie kit, fill the bottom of a box with something like shredded paper or mini marshmallows. You can find some pretty colours of shredded paper from craft stores like Michael’s. You can also find them at some dollar stores, like Dollarama or Dollar Tree.

Once the box is filled up about halfway or the bottom is fully covered, display the cookie-decorating items on top of the shredded paper or marshmallows.

It’s essential to include instructions for the kit too! This is great for new cookie decorators who may not know what to do. You can download these instructions here –> FREE DOWNLOAD.

This DIY Cookie Kit Instructions download is completely customizable. You can edit the instructions and add business information, like your website or Instagram handle. Please note you need to download Canva to use this template, but you can use the free version!

HOW TO MAKE THE ROYAL ICING FOR A COOKIE KIT

Royal icing is an easy recipe made from meringue powder, icing sugar, water, and vanilla. Depending on how long you mix/whip the icing, the consistency changes. For example, the longer you beat the icing, the stiffer the icing becomes.

For a DIY cookie kit, you want the consistency to be somewhat runny. You don’t want it to be too stiff where it’s difficult for kids to push the icing of out the piping bag. Also, you don’t want the icing too runny where it drips off of the cookies like soup.

If you’re not sure if the consistency is suitable, you can always test it out on a cookie and see how the icing sets.

PACKAGING THE ROYAL ICING

To keep costs low, use disposable piping bags for your royal icing. I fill the piping bags with about 45-50g of icing each, twist the opening, and keep it airtight with an elastic band. This will prevent the icing from drying out before your kids or customers use it.

PACKAGING THE SUGAR COOKIES AND SPRINKLES

There are some great treat bags you can also buy from craft stores and dollar stores – this is where I package the sugar cookies. I usually separate the designs into separate treat bags, fold over the opening, and tape it closed.

For the sprinkles, you can use little baggies or little plastic portion cups are even better, in my opinion. Add a few teaspoons of sprinkles to each cup and make sure the cups are closed properly so sprinkles don’t spill out! I try to purchase themed sprinkles for holidays, but if there aren’t any available, you can buy a few different colours, and mix and match for the colour scheme you want.

THE CUTEST HOLIDAY DESSERTS

After these cookies are decorated, the kiddies can enjoy their beautiful creations! You’ll be able to create a fun experience for kids and see their creativity at play. The kids will be so proud of what they created! I’ve actually been making these Christmas DIY Cookie Decorating kits for my little cousins for the past few years. We’ve told them that I’m Santa’s official baker! To change it up a bit, I bought new cookie cutters this year (as per Santa’s request). It really brings out the Christmas spirit and I love contributing to the magic of Christmas for them 🙂

Decorated sugar cookies can be enjoyed right away, or after the icing is set. They’re great Christmas snacks to make, Easter treats to enjoy, or even a yummy Valentine’s day dessert. You can even gift these cookie kits to friends and family, it would make such a cute holiday gift! It’s a perfect way to get the kids involved and if you’re a bakery owner – a fun kit to offer to your clients. These DIY cookie kits are definitely a hit within my business!

Happy cookie decorating!

xo

Mich

SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE

Yield: Approximately 25 2-3” Cookies

INGREDIENTS

SUGAR COOKIES

• 3 cups All Purpose Flour (480g)
• ¾ tsp Baking Powder (4g)
• ¼ tsp Salt (2g)
• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature (227g)
• 1 Large Egg, beaten (50g)
• 1 tbsp Milk (15g

DIRECTIONS

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugar.
3. Add egg and milk. Beat to combine.
4. Adjust the mixer to low speed and slowly add the dry ingredients.
5. Continue to beat on low speed, until the mixture pulls away from the bowl.
6. Divide dough in half. Wrap in parchment and refrigerate for 2 hours.
7. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Roll out the cookie dough to about ¼” thick. Cut desired shapes with a cookie cutter.
9. Bake cookies on a pan lined with parchment paper until cookies start browning around the edges (about 15 min).

ROYAL ICING RECIPE

Yield: Approximately 270g of Icing (6 piping bags)

INGREDIENTS

ROYAL ICING

• 1 3/4 Cups Icing Sugar (220g)
• 1 tbsp Meringue Powder (15g)
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (5g)
• 1/2 Cup Warm Water (120ml)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix water and meringue powder on medium speed until foamy.
2. Slowly add icing sugar, then vanilla.
3. Mix on medium speed until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
4. Continue to mix until flooding consistency is reached (test the icing consistency by running a butter knife across the icing – it should take about 10 seconds to come back smoothly)
5. Add food colouring, if desired.

RECIPE NOTES

• These are not original recipes. If these recipes are yours, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly so I can provide credit!
• I converted the royal icing recipe to cups/tsp/tbsp as best as I could. The original recipe was in grams.