Step 1: Make the dough in advance.
Make a couple different varieties of dough.
Step 2: Buy a few excellent cookie cutters. Choose wisely.
Step 3: Stock up on sprinkles.
Candy eyeballs are pretty important.
Step 4: Bake the cookies a day ahead of the party.
Step 5: Make a big batch of royal icing.
Step 6: Obtain as many colors of food coloring as possible.
Step 7: Figure out your icing dispensing situation. Piping bags are the best option.
You can buy them at most kitchen supply stores and online.
In a best case scenario, you'll also have tips.
There's also this plastic part called a coupler.
This beginner's cookie decorating kit by Wilton is great.
But you could also very easily just make a piping bag out of parchment paper.
Or even out of a plastic plastic baggie.
Piping bags get a little messy if you have kids coming.
Set out glasses to help the piping bag situation stay classy.
Or put your icing in squeeze bottles.
Step 8: Learn the amazing and essential "Pipe and flood" technique. It's the best way to decorate cookies.
Step 9: Gather any other decorating tools you might want. You might want toothpicks...
So you can do cool stuff like this.
Step 9: Assemble an army of baking sheets.
Step 10: (Day of the party!) Set the scene.
You may want to set up stations.
But no matter what -- most importantly -- make sure your sprinkles are on display.
Step 11: On to refreshments. Your guests may want some eggnog punch.
Or something a little stronger.
Maybe hot chocolate is necessary.
(With marshmallows shaped like whatever cookie cutters you have around. Duh.)
For a kid-friendly affair: Wrap juice boxes up like presents.
For a more mature gathering, serve some cozy cardamom-chai tea.
Step 12: Cookie parties need salty snack food.
A big winter salad isn't the worst idea.
Crudités and cheese and crackers are always welcome.
Should you have a sprinkle surplus:
Last step: Give your guests a cute way to take their treats home.
You could pick up some treat boxes from a local bakery.
Baker's twine makes everything look cute.
Plastic bags are another option.
This is a pretty good excuse to buy ribbon.
Ok now you're ready to host the best cookie decorating party ever.
And if all of this sounds a little too ambitious, you can always invite your friends over for these incredible treats.
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