Kids Cake Decorating Party

A kids cake decorating party is a fun hands-on cooking activity where kids frost cakes or cupcakes, practice simple decorating skills, and create a dessert they can take home.

Make cakes or cupcakes ahead of time, prepare frosting in several colors, set out sprinkles and candies, and your decorating stations will be ready for the party.

For more dessert party ideas, try Cone Cakes, Cookie Decorating, or Supreme Sundaes.

Planning a themed cooking party? Start with the Kids Cooking Party Hub, or explore the larger Fun Food Activities Hub.

This is a great option for a kids cooking birthday party, dessert cooking activity, classroom celebration, homeschool lesson, or weekend family cooking event.

On This Page

Cake Decorating Party Supplies
Planning Timeline
Cupcake vs. Cake Comparison
Recipes Needed
Easy Spreading Frosting
Kids Decorating Cupcakes
Kids Cake Decorating: 2-Layer Cakes
Visual Decorating Techniques
More Decorating Help
What Kids Learn
How to Run the Party
More Dessert Cooking Party Ideas
Cake Decorating Party FAQ
More Fun Food Resources

Items Needed for a Cake Decorating Party

Prepared cakes and/or cupcakes
Prepared frosting in 4 to 5 colors for decorating
Prepared filling if making 2-layer cakes
Pastry bags, 4 to 5 for each color
Batch of frosting for sides and tops of cakes
Metal spatulas for spreading, one per guest
Serving plate, one per guest
Sprinkles, candies, and decorations
Prepared frosting tubes or cookie icing tubes, optional
Boxes for taking home cupcakes or decorated cakes

Planning Timeline

Two Weeks Ahead

Send out invitations.
Order, sew, or buy aprons or chef hats.
Decide whether kids will decorate cupcakes, small cakes, or 2-layer cakes.

One Week Ahead

Make your shopping list for the party.
Buy nonperishable items, goody bags, and craft supplies.
Prepare chef hats ahead of time if using them.

Several Days Ahead

Put your goody bags together.
Get a final number of how many children are coming.
Check out these cake decorating ideas for party inspiration.

One to Two Days Ahead

Do your grocery shopping for the remaining items.
Make sure take-home boxes fit the cake plates you plan to use.

Day Before

Prepare cakes and allow them to cool overnight.

Morning of Party

Line kitchen tables or any large table with a plastic tablecloth or white butcher paper.
Set table with decorating items.
Prepare frosting, filling, and colored frosting for piping bags.
Fill frosting bags with star tips and round tips.

Cupcake vs. Cake Decorating Party

Cupcake Decorating

Best for: Younger kids, larger groups, shorter parties, and easier cleanup.

Faster setup
Less frosting needed
Easy to take home
Good for decorating stations

See our cupcake decorating ideas.

Small Cake Decorating

Best for: Older kids, smaller groups, and more detailed decorating practice.

More realistic cake decorating
Good for spreading and piping
Feels extra special
Works well with 3- to 6-inch cakes

See our cake decorating ideas here.

Quick Choice: Use cupcakes for a large birthday party. Use small cakes for a slower, more skill-based decorating party.

Recipes Needed for Decorating Party

Filling and Cake Combination Ideas

White cake with lemon frosting as filling
Chocolate cake with mint frosting as filling
Chocolate cake with chocolate filling
Yellow cake with cream cheese filling
Strawberry cake with strawberry filling
Chocolate cake with peanut butter filling
Yellow cake with peanut butter filling

Keep This in Mind When Preparing Frosting

One 6-inch 2-layer cake will need 3 to 4 cups frosting.
One 8-inch 2-layer cake will need 4 to 5 cups frosting.
If using a separate filling recipe, plan on 1/2 to 1 cup filling for each cake.
This does not count extra frosting needed for decorating and piping details.

Easy Spreading Frosting

Use this recipe for spreading frosting over the tops and sides of cakes. It is easy for kids to spread with a spatula. This recipe will frost two 8-inch 2-layer cakes.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup shortening
8 cups powdered sugar or 2-pound bag decorators icing
4 to 6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Cream butter and shortening together.
Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
Continue to beat several minutes until fluffy.
Divide frosting into bowls if coloring several batches.
Use for spreading or fill piping bags for decorating details.

Kids Decorating Cupcakes

Cupcake decorating is the simpler party option. Kids can decorate cupcakes in their own style with colored frosting, piping bags, sprinkles, and small candies.

Have 4 to 5 cupcakes per guest. One cupcake can be eaten at the party, and the rest can go home in a cupcake box.

Kids Cupcake Decorating Ideas

See our cupcake decorating ideas for more cupcake fun, or try these gourmet cupcake recipes and icing ideas.

Kids Cake Decorating: 2-Layer Cakes

For this option, each child needs two circle cakes. You can use 3- to 4-inch pans for small personal cakes or 6-inch cakes for a larger project.

Steps for a 2-Layer Cake

Fill the bottom cake layer.
Stack the second cake layer on top.
Frost the top and sides.
Decorate.

Give each guest a cake plate and place a small bit of frosting on the bottom of the plate to help hold the cake in place. Add one cake layer, spread filling, add the second layer, then frost the top and sides with a metal spatula.

After the cake is frosted, let kids step back and decide what design they want to create. Their cake becomes the canvas.

Visual Decorating Techniques for Kids

Use these simple decorating skills as mini stations. Kids can practice one skill at a time before decorating their own cake or cupcakes.

Cake Decorating Ideas

Try simple designs kids can copy or use as inspiration.

Decorating Techniques

Practice spreading frosting, piping, borders, and simple designs.

Cake Borders

Learn easy borders for the top and bottom edges of a cake.

Buttercream Ideas

Use buttercream frosting for simple piping and creative decorations.

More Decorating Help

Fun Cupcake Ideas

Use cupcakes for simple party decorating stations.

Cake in a Jar

Layer cake and frosting in jars for a fun take-home dessert.

Cake Pops

Turn cake into small decorated treats on sticks.

Cookie Cake

Decorate on a smaller scale with a cookie cake base.

What Kids Learn at a Cake Decorating Party

Creativity: Kids design cakes or cupcakes with their own colors and decorations.
Fine motor skills: Kids practice spreading, squeezing piping bags, and placing decorations.
Planning: Kids think through a design before decorating.
Kitchen confidence: Kids learn that decorating is a real cooking skill.
Food safety: Kids practice clean hands, clean tools, and safe work spaces.

For more skill-building cooking ideas, visit Kids Cooking Lessons and Kitchen Safety Rules for Kids.

How to Run the Cake Decorating Party

Step 1: Start with Handwashing

Have kids wash their hands and review kitchen safety rules for kids.

Step 2: Choose Decorating Stations

Set up frosting, sprinkles, candies, piping bags, spatulas, and take-home boxes.

Step 3: Frost the Base

Kids frost cupcakes or cakes with easy spreading frosting.

Step 4: Add Designs

Kids use piping bags, borders, candies, sprinkles, and frosting details to decorate.

Step 5: Pack to Take Home

Place finished cupcakes or cakes into boxes so guests can take home their decorated treats.

More Dessert Cooking Party Ideas

Cone Cakes Party

Bake cupcakes inside ice cream cones and decorate them.

Cookie Decorating Party

Roll, cut, bake, and decorate sugar cookies or cookie pops.

Supreme Sundae Party

Make cookie cups, scoop ice cream, and build a toppings bar.

Cookie Pizza Party

Make giant cookie pizzas and decorate with frosting, fruit, and candies.

Mini Fruit Pies Party

Make individual fruit pies with dough, filling, and top crusts.

Kids Cake Decorating Party FAQ

Is cake decorating a good kids cooking party idea?

Yes. Cake decorating is a fun kids cooking party because children can practice spreading, piping, designing, and decorating their own cakes or cupcakes.

Should kids decorate cupcakes or cakes?

Cupcakes are easier for younger kids and large groups. Small cakes or two-layer cakes work better for older kids or smaller groups.

Can cakes be baked ahead of time?

Yes. Cakes and cupcakes should be baked ahead of time and cooled completely before the decorating party.

What decorating supplies work well for kids?

Good supplies include frosting, sprinkles, candies, frosting tubes, pastry bags, spatulas, cake boards, cupcake boxes, and simple decorating tips.