Christmas Cookie Decorating Ideas For Kids

Cookie Decorating ALL On Marble Tabletop

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Round up your bakers for a day of sweet fun! Our kid-friendly guide has everything you need to make delicious treats for all your family and friends.

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Start With A No-Fail Dough

Cookie Decorating No-Fail Raw Dough

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Don't have your own go-to recipe—or a top-secret family one? We have you covered. Our sugar-cookie dough—which is easy to roll out and holds its shape in the oven—bakes up perfect cutouts every single time. (If you want to get to the decorating part even quicker, use store-bought cookie dough!)

Tip: Freeze it! Cover raw dough in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight to use.

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Go With A Glaze

Cookie Decorating Pink Glaze In A Bowl

Credit: Dana Gallagher

There are loads of ways to decorate a cookie, but our favorite all-around workhorse is a simple confectioners' sugar glaze. It's less fussy than royal icing and more precise than buttercream, plus it dries hard, takes color beautifully, and tastes great! Try making it with this easy recipe!

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Glaze and Glue

Cookie Decorating Glaze And Glue

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Use wet glaze as "glue" to attach one cookie to another for a double dose of deliciousness. Or attach candies or nonpareils in a fun pattern!

Creative Christmas Cookies

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Flocking

Cookie Decorating Flocking

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pipe designs onto the cookie. While glaze is still wet, sprinkle liberally with sanding sugar. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then carefully shake off excess.

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Dipped

Cookie Decorating Dipped

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Loosen your glaze slightly with water until it drips easily off the end of a spoon. Dip a cookie partway into the glaze, then let dry completely before dipping in a second color.

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Drizzle

Cookie Decorating Drizzle

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pour glaze into a squeeze bottle, then use a quick back-and-forth motion to draw lines across the cookie. Repeat with additional colors, if desired. (Or add more water to the glaze and flick it off a spoon for a splatter effect!)

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Pipe and Flood

Cookie Decorating Pipe And Flood

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Use a squeeze bottle or piping bag to outline the cookie. Let the line dry for several minutes, then fill in the interior. For best results, pipe the edge with a slightly thicker glaze than what you use to fill.

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Watercolor

Cookie Decorating Watercolor

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pipe and flood your cookie with white glaze (see previous slide); let dry.

To create "paint," pour 1 tsp. almond extract (or any clear extract) into each of several small containers. Dip the tip of a toothpick into gel food coloring, then stir around in the extract. Use a clean brush to paint on designs.

How to Make Sandwich Cookie Snowglobes

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Stenciled

Cookie Decorating Stenciled

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pipe and flood your cookie with white glaze; let dry completely. Lay a storebought or homemade stencil over the dried icing and then use Wilton Color Mist Food Color Spray to fill in the design.

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Marble

Cookie Decorating Marble

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pipe and flood with a single color. While the glaze is still wet, pipe on lines in a contrasting shade. Drag a toothpick gently through the glaze, perpendicular to the lines.

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Covered

Cookie Decorating Covered

Credit: Dana Gallagher

Pipe and flood with glaze. While it's still wet, sprinkle nonpareils or edible glitter over the top until coated. Let dry completely, then carefully shake off excess.

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