How to Host a Paint Your Own Cookie Party (Kids, Adults, or Both)

Paint Your Own (PYO) cookies have quietly become one of our most-ordered products — because they solve a problem every party host has. You want a dessert. You also want an activity. Why not both, on a single plate?

Here's everything you need to host a Paint Your Own cookie party that actually works.

What's in a PYO Kit

Each kit comes with: pre-baked, pre-iced sugar cookies with a smooth white royal icing canvas; a palette of edible food-safe paints in your chosen colors; a clean food-safe brush; and a small cup for water. The cookies are ready to paint — your guests just dip and go.

Choosing Your Cookie Shapes

Match the shapes to your theme:

• Birthday parties: numbers (the age), the guest of honor's initial, or fun shapes (unicorns, dinosaurs, mermaids)
• Holidays: hearts for Valentine's, pumpkins for fall, ornaments for Christmas, eggs for Easter
• Baby and bridal showers: onesies, bottles, rattles, dresses, rings
• Adult sip-and-paint nights: abstract shapes (circles, squares, hexagons) — let guests create whatever they want

How to Set Up the Table

1. Cover the surface with butcher paper or a wipeable tablecloth.
2. At each seat: one kit, one small cup of clean water, a paper towel.
3. Centerpiece: extra napkins, a few inspiration photos, and an aprons-or-bibs station if kids are involved.
4. If it's a long event, plan to refresh water cups halfway through — the colors get muddy.

Timing

Plan for 30–45 minutes of painting per group. Kids tend to be faster than adults — adults overthink it. We recommend kicking off the painting after any food, so guests aren't dividing their attention.

Age Guide

• Ages 4–6: need adult assistance; keep designs simple and the brush small
• Ages 7–12: sweet spot — they'll happily paint for an hour
• Teens and adults: works beautifully for showers, girls' nights, team-building events, and bachelorette parties

Display Ideas

The painted cookies need a few minutes to dry. Have a drying tray (a baking sheet lined with parchment) where guests can leave their finished pieces. Take a group photo of the finished cookies — they make a great keepsake even before they're eaten.

Pricing and Order Timing

Kits are priced per guest. Order 2 weeks ahead for standard kits, 3 weeks for custom shapes or branded kits. Minimum orders apply for shipping.

Hosting a party? Shop our PYO kits or request custom kits for your event.