How to make cookies for an art party
When you are planning a party for a creative little kiddo…an art party theme is just the ticket. Let them explore their creative side while you display yours with all the painting and art ideas you can muster, including these adorable and SUPER SIMPLE paint palette cookies. Ready to bake a masterpiece?
Planning an art party is actually a really fun and interactive theme for kids. Its particularly great for older kids who want a fun party, but don’t necessarily want the typical party games. There are tons of fun ways you can create a party where your guests do all the creating. If you have kiddos who love drawing and painting and crafting…an art party might be just the ticket!
Paint palette cookies are one of those adorable, whimsical, and totally crowd-pleasing treats that fit perfectly into any art-themed celebration. Whether you’re planning a painting party, a rainbow birthday, an art camp event, or a creative playdate, paint palette cookies instantly bring the theme to life. They’re colorful, fun, kid-approved, and surprisingly easy to customize. And truly—kids go crazy for ANY treat that looks like something they can use or create with. Paint palette cookies do exactly that: they feel interactive, playful, and perfectly on-theme.
What I love most about these cookies is how versatile they are. You can keep them simple with white icing and bright “paint blobs,” or you can go bold with rainbow splatters, watercolor effects, edible glitter, or fun pastel palettes. They work beautifully for birthdays, art class celebrations, art-themed photo shoots, or even as gifts for teachers, creative kiddos, or budding artists. They’re also a great treat to package individually as favors—because who wouldn’t want to take home a cookie that looks like a miniature piece of art?
Paint palette cookies also elevate your dessert table instantly. They add color, shape variety, and visual interest, which makes your whole layout feel thoughtful and styled. Pair them with rainbow cakes, colorful cupcakes, confetti desserts, artist-themed displays, or paint-splatter decorations, and your table becomes a full-color masterpiece. These cookies also photograph beautifully, which is always a win for party moms who love sharing their creations or capturing precious birthday memories.
Whether you’re decorating cookies for the first time or an experienced baker looking for new inspiration, paint palette cookies are simple enough for beginners but fun enough for advanced decorators to enjoy. They are creative, charming, easy to make, and guaranteed to add a delightful pop of color to your celebration.
Let’s explore how to use paint palette cookies in your party styling, how to incorporate them into your art-themed celebrations, and where to find even more fun ideas for painting-inspired desserts!
How to use Paint Palette Cookies
Paint palette cookies can be used in SO many fun and creative ways throughout your art-themed celebration. The most obvious (and cutest!) option is to display them front and center on your dessert table, where their bright colors instantly become part of your décor. You can style them on trays, stands, or small wooden palettes to enhance the theme. They’re also adorable as part of dessert boxes or as grab-and-go treats for kids.
If you’re planning a painting activity, paint palette cookies make perfect pre-activity treats to get kids excited—or post-activity snacks to celebrate their finished masterpieces. They also make wonderful party favors when wrapped individually with ribbon and a cute tag. You can place them at each child’s seat setting, tuck them inside art-themed goodie bags, or even use them as edible place cards. However you choose to feature them, paint palette cookies are versatile, whimsical, and guaranteed to add charm to your celebration.
Paint palette cookies are a great treat for an art themed party. You can include them as favors or on the dessert table. There are a lot of great ideas for displaying them as well. You can even place them on an actual wood paint palette to display.
Ideas for a Paint themed party
A paint-themed party is packed with creativity, color, and hands-on fun. You can set the tone with splashy rainbow décor, paint-splatter banners, colorful balloons, mini easels, and brushes displayed in jars. Kids LOVE the artistic energy of this theme—it feels playful, open-ended, and joyful. You can add interactive stations like watercolor painting, canvas art, bubble painting, fingerprint art, spin-art wheels, or palette cookie decorating.
Food can follow the colorful vibe with rainbow fruit trays, sprinkle-covered treats, colorful frosting cupcakes, or artist-inspired snacks. Provide aprons, art smocks, or mini berets for an extra-cute touch. Whether you’re hosting the party outdoors, in a craft room, or in your living room, art parties are incredibly easy to personalize based on your child’s favorite colors and creativity level. Every detail—from the food to the decorations—becomes part of the “art studio” feel of the celebration.
For our art party, we highlighted our favorite artist…Bob Ross. He was a favorite of mine as a kid to watch and paint with and my kids also enjoy his videos. I made these cute paint palette cookies for this simple Bob Ross party!
Painting Themed Cookie Tutorial: STEP by STEP
Alright…let’s walk through the steps of making these fun paint palette cookies. They are ridiculously simple!
Materials:
- Circle Cookie Cutters. You will need a large circle and a small circle so a circle set works best.
- Gel Food Coloring
- Sugar Cookie Dough (here is my recipe)
- Royal icing. You can buy that mix or here is a great royal icing recipe to use!! If you are new to cookie decorating, you also need a piping bag, icing tip 1/2, coupler, and clip. I recommend this piping tip set. It’s reasonably priced and includes everything you need.
- Parchment Paper
- Paint brush
Step 1:
You will need to start with a great and non spredding sugar cookie recipe . When I prep the dough, I always add a bunch of additional flour so the cookies do not stick to the cutting surface. This also helps them bake with less spread.
Once your dough is ready to start cutting, roll it out to about ¼ inch thick. Thicker cookies will bake easier, decorate easier and hold more flavor. If you are unsure of thickness, err on the side of thicker!
Preheat oven according to the recipe. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Cut the cookies out with the large circle cookie cutter and then cut a small notch into the edge so it resembles a palette.
Bake according to your recipe.
You will want the cookies to completely cool before decorating. I usually like to bake them the day before I decorate.
Step 2:
Next you need to prepare your royal icing.
Add small amounts of water to each container and mix until you get the royal icing to the correct consistency. You will want the icing to be fill consistency or honey-like icing. Be careful not to add water too quickly.
The runnier the icing, the easier to make it smooth, but be careful not to be too runny or you will have a hard time keeping lines clean.
Fill piping bags with royal icing.
Step 3:
Outline the edge of the cookie with royal icing. Then fill the cookie in evenly. Use a toothpick or prong of a fork to pop out any air bubbles or imperfections. Set aside to dry.
Step 4:
Once the icing is dry, you will use the food coloring to paint little paint blobs onto the palette. Start with a small amount of slightly diluted food coloring on your paint brush and swirl it onto the palette until it looks like a blob of paint.
Allow all the food coloring dots to dry.
Easy and ready to eat!
Simple DIY Paint Palette Cookies
Alright...let's walk through the steps of making these fun paint palette cookies. They are ridiculously simple!
Materials
- Circle Cookie Cutters. You will need a large circle and a small circle so a circle set works best.
- Gel Food Coloring
- Sugar Cookie Dough (here is my recipe)
- Royal icing. You can buy that mix or here is a great royal icing recipe to use!! If you are new to cookie decorating, you also need a piping bag, icing tip 1/2, coupler, and clip. I recommend this piping tip set. It’s reasonably priced and includes everything you need.
- Parchment Paper
- Paint brush
Instructions
Step 1:
You will need to start with a great and non spredding sugar cookie recipe . When I prep the dough, I always add a bunch of additional flour so the cookies do not stick to the cutting surface. This also helps them bake with less spread.
Once your dough is ready to start cutting, roll it out to about ¼ inch thick. Thicker cookies will bake easier, decorate easier and hold more flavor. If you are unsure of thickness, err on the side of thicker!
Preheat oven according to the recipe. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Cut the cookies out with the large circle cookie cutter and then cut a small notch into the edge so it resembles a palette.
Bake according to your recipe.
You will want the cookies to completely cool before decorating. I usually like to bake them the day before I decorate.
Step 2:
Next you need to prepare your royal icing.
Add small amounts of water to each container and mix until you get the royal icing to the correct consistency. You will want the icing to be fill consistency or honey-like icing. Be careful not to add water too quickly.
The runnier the icing, the easier to make it smooth, but be careful not to be too runny or you will have a hard time keeping lines clean.
Fill piping bags with royal icing.
Step 3:
Outline the edge of the cookie with royal icing. Then fill the cookie in evenly. Use a toothpick or prong of a fork to pop out any air bubbles or imperfections. Set aside to dry.
Step 4:
Once the icing is dry, you will use the food coloring to paint little paint blobs onto the palette. Start with a small amount of slightly diluted food coloring on your paint brush and swirl it onto the palette until it looks like a blob of paint.
Allow all the food coloring dots to dry.
Easy and ready to eat!
Looking for more ideas for Painting Cookies
If you are looking for more ideas for an art party like fun paint palette cupcakes…check out this art party!
If you want to branch out beyond classic paint palette cookies, there are so many adorable painting-themed cookie ideas to explore. Think paintbrush cookies dipped in “color,” mini canvas cookies decorated with tiny edible paintings, watercolor swirl cookies, abstract splatter cookies, or color-wheel cookies shaped like artist tools. You can also create cookies inspired by famous painters, art styles, or patterns.
For parties, it’s fun to create a full cookie “collection” with different shapes and designs. Mix paint palette cookies with brush cookies, rainbow cookies, and mini square “canvas” cookies. These variety packs look incredible on dessert tables and make wonderful favors. If you love decorating, you can also set up a cookie-painting station where kids paint their own edible masterpieces using edible markers or food-safe paint. Painting cookies are endlessly creative and SUCH a fun addition to any art party.
Coordinating Paint Party Supplies
One of the easiest ways to elevate the look of your art-themed celebration—especially when showcasing colorful treats like paint palette cookies—is by using themed party ware. This styling trick works wonders because it instantly makes your food table feel polished and cohesive, even if your snacks are simple or store-bought. When you place bright, creative treats on matching plates, trays, and napkins, your whole display looks intentional and beautifully coordinated.
Themed party ware also helps your design flow effortlessly from one part of the celebration to another. When your dessert table matches your activity stations, your kid table, and your snack setup, everything feels seamless and styled without adding extra work. This is especially perfect for art or paint-themed parties because the entire theme thrives on COLOR. Rainbow plates, bright napkins, cute brush- or palette-themed cups—these details make your setup shine.
Kids absolutely notice these little touches. Bright, fun tableware makes them feel excited before they even take their first bite. And of course, it’s incredibly budget-friendly. Instead of investing in a ton of decorations or expensive centerpieces, your themed tableware becomes both functional AND decorative. For a paint-themed celebration, it’s an absolute must-buy that keeps your design flowing while making your party look professionally styled.
Are you looking to score these adorable Bob Ross party decorations? It’s so much fun for a birthday party or baby shower and there are so many options from matching aprons to Bob Ross Bingo!
Click the links below to view and purchase the products from Prime Party!
Bob Ross and Friends Party Package
Bob Ross Classic Party Package
Happy Day Partyware from Oriental Trading
Rainbow Party Supplies from Pretty Party Box
Rainbow Party Supplies from Inspired by Alma
Rainbow Party Supplies from Luck and Luck
Pastel Rainbow Supplies from Little Big Party Co.
Rainbow Tableware from Meri Meri
Hip Hip Hooray Plates from My Mind’s Eye
Conclusion for Paint Palette Sugar Cookies:
If you are looking for a fun and simple treat idea for an art party, these paint palette cookies might be just want you need. They are really simple to make and super fun. Check out the easy tutorial for all the details.
Paint palette cookies are one of the most charming, playful, and joyful additions you can make to an art-themed celebration. They bring instant color, instant whimsy, and instant smiles. Whether you’re planning a rainbow party, a Bob Ross–inspired gathering, a preschool art day, or a full paint-and-sip–style kids’ birthday, these cookies fit perfectly into the theme and help create a bright, creative atmosphere.
What makes these cookies so special is their versatility. They can be décor, dessert, activity, or favors. They work beautifully as part of a curated dessert table, mixed into a rainbow treat board, or individually wrapped for that Pinterest-perfect take-home moment. And because paint palette cookies look adorable from every angle, they make your party feel extra fun and thoughtfully designed—even if the actual decorating process is simple and beginner-friendly.
Art-themed parties are naturally engaging because they give kids something hands-on and interactive to enjoy. Painting, crafting, and creating are activities that bring even shy kids out of their shells. Adding themed treats like paint palette cookies enhances the experience, reinforces the theme, and ties your whole celebration together in the cutest way possible.
The best part is that these cookies complement ANY color palette. You can go bold and rainbow-bright, pastel and soft, neon and modern, or primary-color classic. Every option works, and every combination feels like part of a cheerful little art studio. Add in themed party ware, colorful tablecloths, and cute signage, and your entire event feels cohesive and polished.
As you plan your painting party, remember that the heart of this theme is creativity and joy. Don’t stress about perfection. Kids LOVE the process of making something, whether it’s messy or neat. They love seeing color, holding a paintbrush, and showing off their creations. These cookies are just one more way to encourage their excitement and make the day feel special.
Whether you’re baking the cookies yourself, using store-bought bases, or ordering from a talented cookie artist, paint palette cookies bring BIG impact to your celebration. They’re bright. They’re fun. They’re beautiful. And they help create magical moments your child will remember long after the last cookie has been eaten.
If you love these cookies, please pin this image to your birthday Pinterest board:
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