How To Host a Cookie Decorating Lunch

Last fall, my son Hudson started kindergarten. I weeped at the thought of him leaving me from 8am-3pm everyday, but had a girlfriend enlighten me that full day school is a blessing every mother should appreciate. She reminded me that I wasn’t doing anything particularly amazing with him during the hours he would normally be home, but usually packing him through Costco, Target and the grocery store, or turning on a movie so I could catch up on emails. I know, I know, Mom of the Year.

I thought about it, and soon realized she was right. So instead of crying as I left the kindergarten classroom on the first day of school, I did kart wheels to the parking lot and headed to brunch with three of my girlfriends who also had kids in full day school.

People started asking me how Hudson was doing in kindergarten and how I was adjusting to this new change. I’m certain I surprised the majority of them when I said, “Are you kidding?? School is AMAZING!! It’s like a secret no one tells you about! I can get my entire house cleaned, take a shower {alone}, run all my errands AND bake a batch of sugar cookies while having a full thought all before 3pm!! Full day school is the BEST!!”

From the first day of school forward, the #ladieswholunch bunch was born. Made up of four girlfriends including myself who meet regularly to chat, laugh, and share funny day to day stories. I love our lunch bunch.

To shake up our Thursdays, I decided to host a Cookie Decorating Party at my farmhouse instead of the usual Seattle restaurant we frequent. Valentine’s Day was just a few days later, and I knew all my friends were decorating cookies for either their children’s valentines, or treats for teachers, neighbors, (maybe themselves…). I sent a quick text and said change of plans.. BYOC Decorating Lunch at the Keller Farmhouse this Thursday. (BYOC=Bring your own cookies)

I planned a light lunch and took my friends up on their offers to bring something. I whipped up a few batches of my buttercream icing and picked up fun fun sprinkles and candies to coordinate.

Being the baker in the bunch, none of my girlfriends had made my sugar cookies before. Sure, they had my book but I’m positive it just sat pretty on their kitchen counter. But since the lunch was BYOC, they were forced to bake. I was SO impressed with all their cookies.

I love sending guests home with a favor. I picked up inexpensive cookie cutters and tied a simple name tag to each with twine which doubled as a place card at each friend’s place setting.

To make sure we could all sit and enjoy each other, I made sure to have all the tools necessary on the table. Each place setting had decorating tips, couplers, disposable icing bags, spatulas, and a towel to wipe their hands. There’s nothing worse than having to get up for something every five seconds.

After we ate, I quickly demonstrated how to attach a coupler and decorating tip, and fill an icing bag. I grabbed three cookies and showed them how to pipe my buttercream icing on a heart and cupcake shaped cookie, and how to create a rose cookie on a simple circle shape.

Then they went for it! They did fantastic!!

We had such a fun afternoon. I am already planning our next creative ladies lunch…

Watch my YouTube video below to see How to Host a Cookie Decorating Party PLUS piping buttercream on cookies!

Do you plan get togethers with your girlfriends? What kinds of things do you do?
Right click to save and print these step-by-step directions for your next Cookie Decorating Party!

Photos & Video by KCB Photography
How-To Host a Cookie Party printable by Harper Gray Designs

 

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