Pour some eggnog, crank up the carols, and get ready to make some holiday memories—and stunning holiday cookies. The best Christmas cookie decorating kits contain festive shapes, icing colors, nostalgic flavors, and vibrant sprinkles that make any cookie the centerpiece of the dessert table. However you like to decorate, gather your family and friends and enjoy decorating with one of our favorite cookie kits together.
Best Overall
Williams Sonoma 'Twas the Night Holiday Cookie Cutter Set
Charming storybook storage box
Sturdy stainless steel cookie cutters
Includes sugar cookie recipe
Icing bags are disposable, not reusable
Making and decorating cookies around the holidays is a classic tradition and Williams Sonoma brings the Christmas nostalgia with this beautiful cookie decorating set. It's all presented in a storage box that looks like a classic storybook. There are 12 stainless steel cookie cutters in a variety of wintery shapes, including a star, tree, house, candle, ornament, reindeer, snowflake, present, nutcracker, swan, sleigh, and the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus.
In addition to the thematic cutters, the cookie kit also includes 10 disposable pastry bags for frosting and filling. There are four pastry tips for various fun designs and a coupler to keep everything nice and neat. It's a well-rounded kit. Williams Sonoma even printed their favorite sugar cookie recipe on the inside of the box.
Includes: 12 cookie cutters, 10 pastry bags, 4 pastry tips, coupler, decorative box
Best Classic
Williams Sonoma DIY Holiday Cookie Kit
4 bags of royal icing
4 packs of sprinkles and sugar
Classic snowflake and Christmas tree shapes
Only 2 shapes
There are so many iconic symbols associated with Christmastime, and this tasty kit from Williams Sonoma has two of the most beautiful: snowflakes and evergreen trees. There are six of each shape, all of them in the form of buttery vanilla sugar cookies.
For the pizazz, there are four bags of colored royal icing (in white, blue, red, and green) as well as four kinds of sprinkles, including three shades of decorating sugar and an assortment of rainbow sprinkles. The cookies are shipped fresh and can be delivered either immediately or scheduled for Christmas.
Includes: 6 tree cookies, 6 snowflake cookies, 4 royal icing bags, 4 packets of decorating sugar
Best Royal Icing
Tasty by Wilton Royal Icing 101 Kit
Includes everything you need for icing
Has print and online instructions
Food coloring makes for versatile icing shades
Bags aren't reusable
If you’re looking for a great royal icing kit, Tasty and Wilton have you covered. The Royal Icing 101 collection has everything you need to get started: an instruction kit, parchment paper, decorating bags, decorating tips, three bottles of food coloring, and royal icing mix. With this kit, you can make intricate cookie designs and other royal icing creations. It’s a great set for those new to royal icing or people who want to hone their skills.
Includes: 6 decorating bags, 3 parchment paper sheets, large and small round decorating tips, (3) 0.3-ounce bottles of food coloring (red, blue, yellow), 14 ounces of royal icing mix, instruction card
Best Large
Cheryl's Cookies Holiday Cut-Out Cookie Decorating Kit
24 pre-made cookies
2 pounds of buttercream frosting
Multiple icing colors
Regular round cookie shape
If you’ve got a big family gathering, or love giving cookies out as gifts, you’ll need a hefty kit. This holiday set has 24 round Cheryl's cookies, all packed in a charming box decorated like a festive house (complete with garland, lights, and a smiling snowman).
There are two whopping pounds of buttercream frosting in total, so there’s no chance of running out. It comes in two colors, white and green, and can be further decorated with the included icing tubes and assorted holiday sprinkles. If you have a family gathering, you could make an activity of it and compete to make the prettiest ornament cookie.
Includes: 24 cut-out cookies, 2 tubs of buttercream frosting, 1 canister of seasonal sprinkles, 4 colored icing tubes, decorative box
Best for Families
Cookies By Design Christmas Decorating Kit
3 festive shapes
Colorful royal icing
Multiple cookie flavors
Only 1 decorating sugar color
So many childhood memories surround making Christmas cookies together. That’s why this bundle is so perfect for families–it has everything needed to make classic holiday cookies. There are three shapes total in two different flavors: the trees and snowmen are both sugar cookies, while the gingerbread men are cinnamon brown sugar cookies.
To bring these cookie creations to life, the kit includes four bags of royal icing in red, white, green, and black. The icing is already in piping bags, so all you need to do is snip the tip and get to decorating. Baked and shipped freshly made, the cookies come in a set of 10 or 20.
Includes: 10 or 20 character cookies, 4 bags of colored royal icing, 1 packet of decorating sugar
Best Shapes
The Goddess and Grocer Christmas Cookie Decorating Kit
Several iconic holiday shapes
A fun variety of sprinkles
Kit ships frozen
Pricey
This set is all about variety and celebrating the many icons of Christmas. There are cookies shaped like holly leaves, snowmen, gingerbread people, snowflakes, ornaments, sweaters, evergreen trees, and ol’ Kris Kringle himself.
There are also a variety of sprinkles included. While they’re assorted, they can take the forms of red sanding sugar, white snowflakes, silver sprinkles, and multi-colored nonpareils. To stick them to your cookies, the kit also has four bags of icing in holiday shades. It also ships frozen so you won’t have to worry about the icing being melty.
Includes: 12 assorted cookies, 4 bags of colored icing, 4 bags of holiday sprinkles
Best Set
Crate & Barrel 30-Piece Holiday Cookie Decorating Set
6 holiday cookie cutters
6 different decorating tips
Affordable
Hand wash only
No cookie recipe included
For those who prefer a more hands-on DIY approach, Crate & Barrel has a comprehensive holiday cookie decorating set. There are six stainless steel cookie cutters in total, shaped like a reindeer, candy cane, snowflake, mitten, evergreen tree, and a snowman. For icing, the kit has a number of piping tips for varying shapes as well as piping bags and couplers for easy application.
Sadly, the Crate & Barrel set doesn’t include any cookie recipe, but we’ve got you covered. Sugar cookies and gingerbread are common (and delicious) options for decorative treats, and we’ve got recipes for both.
Includes: 6 stainless steel cookie cutters, 6 piping tips, 6 piping couplers, 12 piping bags
Best for Parties
Signature Select Ugly Sweater Cookie Kit
Great holiday party activity
Pre-baked vanilla cookies
Has icing and candies for decorating
Only has 6 cookies
Who doesn’t love a good ugly sweater? Now they come in cookie form, and you’re the designer. If you’ve got a holiday party coming up, order a few of these kits and make a contest out of it: the ugliest cookie wins.
To decorate the pre-baked vanilla cookies, the kit includes colored icing and a mix of holiday-themed sprinkles with candy canes, snowflakes, holly berries, trees, and more. A single kit only has six cookies, so you may need a few for a party. Luckily they are pretty affordable.
Includes: 6 sweater-shaped cookies, white icing pouch, 3 colored icing tubes, holiday sprinkle mix
Best Gingerbread Men
Williams Sonoma Build-a-Gingerbread Cookie Kit
Cute accessories
Several expression stamps
Includes a storage box
Doesn’t include a gingerbread recipe
Run, run as fast as you can, to decorate these gingerbread men! Take your favorite gingerbread recipe and get ready to make a unique creation with the Williams Sonoma Build-a-Gingerbread Cookie Kit. It has eight cookie cutters, one for the outline itself, and several as adorable accessories like scarves and hats.
As a bonus special touch, there are three face stamps to give each cookie a fun expression. Four decorating tips can pipe out varying lines of icing, though you’ll need to make that yourself as well. Want to make a house for your new gingerbread family? We tested (and tasted) several gingerbread house kits.
Includes: 8 cookie cutters, 3 face stamps, 1 stamp handle, 4 decorating tips, 1 coupler, 10 icing bags, storage box
Best Cupcake or Cookie
Sweetology Holly Jolly Decorating Kit
Cookies or cupcakes available
Small-batch buttercream icing
Bright sugar décor and sprinkles
Cupcakes have multiple flavors, but cookies don’t
We know this is a cookie decorating kit list, but variety is the spice of life. Sweetology lets you pick between sugar cookies or a myriad of flavored cupcakes to decorate. Cupcake flavors include vanilla, chocolate, funfetti, or a mix of the three. Both the cupcakes and cookies are available in sets of six or 12.
Regardless of which sweet treat you pick, the sets also come with a tub of buttercream icing, a reusable piping bag with five different decorating tips, and a mix of sprinkles and decorative sugar to add pops of color.
Includes: 12 sugar cookies, 1.5 pounds of buttercream icing, 5 decorating tips, reusable piping bag, extra piping bags, sugar décor, sprinkles
Best for Painting
Sugar and Scribe Paint Your Own Happy Holiday Sugar Cookies
Cute designs
Edible paint
From an award-winning bakery
Expensive
If you don’t want to mess around with icing, why not paint your cookie? These absolutely adorable cookies are decorated with big-eyed nutcrackers and Christmas trees topped with stars. Below them are four colored presents, aka your edible paint palette. With a damp paintbrush (which the kit includes), dab the color of your choice and get to filling in your lovely nutcracker. Each of the cookies arrives individually wrapped and is made at an award-winning bakery in San Diego called Sugar and Scribe.
Includes: 6 individually boxed cookies, paintbrush
Best Sprinkles
ManVsCakes Elfin Around Medley Christmas Sprinkles
Bright colors
Holiday trees, stars, and ornaments
Works for cookies, cakes, and more
Candy pearls are a bit hard
Sprinkles make everything better, whether you’re decorating cookies, cupcakes, ice cream treats, cakes, or any other treat. ManVsCakes has a number of different Christmas sprinkle mixes available, including this bestseller: the Elfin Around Medley. It’s filled with all kinds of sprinkles, from classic jimmies to star and tree shapes, to chocolate pearls.
Take a look through the other Christmas sprinkles too, especially if you have multiple baking projects in mind. There are shiny gold stars, a gingerbread man mix, metallic white pearls, and a bright blue and silver medley that’s reminiscent of a snowstorm.
Includes: 8 ounces of assorted holiday sprinkles
Best Rolling Pin
Mood for Wood Christmas Reindeer Engraved Rolling Pin
Charming reindeer design
Includes shortbread recipe
Multiple Christmas designs available
Ships from Poland (high shipping cost)
Decorating Christmas cookies doesn't have to take up a lot of your time. In fact, it can be as simple as rolling an embossed pin over some dough. This particular beech wood pin has inlaid designs of leaping reindeer and patterns of trees, snowflakes, stars, and hearts.
The rolling pin is designed to imprint striking details into the dough, without sticking or ripping. There are also multiple Christmassy designs available, from gingerbread houses to Christmas trees to ornaments and plenty more. For an extra feel-good bonus, the wood is sustainably sourced.
Includes: 1 embossed beech wood rolling pin
Best Cookie Stamp
Nordic Ware 3D Holiday Cast Cookie Stamps
Detailed 3D designs
Multiple holiday shapes available
Sturdy and strong
Sturdy and strong
If you want your cookies to pop, give them a 3D design. These stamps from Nordic Ware make that easy as pumpkin pie. The cast aluminum molds imprint the cookies with stunningly detailed designs. This set of three features a pair of candy canes, a Christmas ornament, and a bundle of holly.
Each stamp has a wooden handle for a comfortable and sturdy grip. Nordic Ware has plenty of designs to choose from, including intricate snowflakes, gorgeous stars, and other holiday symbols. Wash them in warm soapy water and dry them off right away to keep them in the best possible shape.
Includes: 3 cast aluminum holiday cookie stamps
Best Custom
Festive Gal Custom Holiday Cookie Stamp
Multiple designs available
Includes a free cookie cutter
Perfect for gift giving
Returns not accepted
A custom stamp is the perfect way to add a personalized touch to holiday cookies. This acrylic stamp can include messages or names and comes in a variety of cute designs. Be sure to browse them all! In addition to the three-inch stamp, there is also a plastic cookie cutter for a scalloped edge.
Includes: Customized acrylic cookie stamp, plastic cookie cutter
Best Vegan
Erin McKenna's Bakery Vegan + Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Kit
12 pre-made gingerbread men
Includes icing and sprinkles
Can also purchase cookbooks for gifting
Need to prepare the included icing
Those with dietary restrictions or preferences shouldn’t miss out on the cookie decorating fun. Luckily Erin McKenna bakery has a vegan and gluten-free kit for gingerbread cookies. The set is fairly simple, with a dozen pre-made cookies, some white icing, and a mix of holiday sprinkles, but you can always add your own fun touches.
You can also get several cookbooks with the set to give as a gift this holiday season, including "Babycakes Cookbook", "Bread and Butter Cookbook", and "Babycakes Covers The Classics Cookbook".
Includes: 12 gingerbread men, icing bag, sprinkle mix
The 'Twas the Night Holiday Cookie Cutter Set from Williams Sonoma has everything you need for a festive time decorating holiday desserts—holiday-themed cookie cutters, piping bags and tips, a holiday storage box, and even a recipe for sugar cookies. If you are looking for a larger assortment to entertain and feed a crowd, Cheryl's Holiday Cut-Out Cookie Decorating Kit is an excellent option.
What to Look for in a Cookie Decorating Kit
Tools
Whether your decorating kit includes premade cookies or not, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Common decorating tools include cookie cutters, icing bags, decorating tips, offset spatulas or bench scrapers, and scriber needles. Stainless steel and silicone are popular materials for their durability and reusability.
Included Ingredients
Some cookie kits include premade cookies, some just provide the decorating tools, while others provide ingredients for you (usually only the dry ingredients since it’s a bit hard to ship eggs and milk). Be sure to comb through the ingredients list to see what else you’ll need to provide to make cookies. You’ll also want to double-check the ingredients and manufacturer’s notes if you have any dietary restrictions, like peanut allergies or gluten intolerance.
Freshness
If you’re ordering a premade cookie decorating kit, it’s important to get it as fresh as possible. Thoroughly check the listing to see when the cookies were made and how quickly they will ship to you. Refrigerated sugar cookies have a shelf life of about two weeks, but if you can get them to your house sooner than that, it would be better.
FAQs
What type of cookies are easiest to decorate?
Sugar cookies are certainly the most common type of cookie to decorate. Their smooth and flat surface is ideal for icing with ease. That said, there are plenty of other types you can choose from, like shortbread, classic gingerbread, butter cookies, or flavored cut-out cookies, like chocolate, peanut butter, or red velvet. All of these tend to be flat, hold their shape well, and don’t have add-ins, like nuts, to make a bumpy texture.
What frosting or icing is best for decorating cookies?
Frosting is versatile in flavor and texture. From simple sugar cookie frosting to rich chocolate buttercream, there are a lot of choices. Soft frostings are great for decorating cookies if you want to add sprinkles, nuts, or other toppings. Frosting acts like an edible glue of sorts while staying soft and creamy.
If you want to create beautiful or intricate designs that have a bit more snap, we suggest royal icing. It’s a thinner frosting that hardens once dry and can be used to decorate in all sorts of ways. Royal icing is great for detailed designs, writing, and more.
What should I use to decorate a cookie?
The beauty of decorating your own cookies is that you can use just about anything. Common decorating ingredients include frosting, royal icing, sprinkles, crushed nuts, crumbled candy bars, edible paints, colored sugar, small candies, fresh fruit, jams, chocolate, edible flowers, and plenty more.
Why Trust the Spruce Eats?
So many of Allison Wignall’s favorite Christmas memories revolve around baking holiday treats with family and friends. She has a sweet tooth for gingerbread cookies and absolutely anything with peppermint. Her work has been featured in publications including Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.