Sugar Cookie Classes in Chicago, IL

Have you ever watched those cookie decorating videos on Instagram and thought, “You know what, I think I could do that!” Well, I’m here to help you make that dream a reality with my monthly in-person cookie decorating classes! 

Cookie set setup

Me and my assistant (Chicago Bestie) help take you from cookie dreamer to cookie creator with our one-and-a-half-hour cookie decorating classes.

🔧 We cover tools you’ll need, tips and tricks that’ll help you be successful and you get my personal cookie dough recipe and royal icing recipe emailed to you so you can recreate it all again at home!

So let’s cover the who, what, when, where, and why of my cookie decorating classes so you can decide if a class is right for you!

✏️ What should you know before takin’ a cookie class?

Oftentimes I get asked how much bakin’ experience someone should have before they sign up for class and you’ll be happy to know you don’t need to know a single thing about baking to take or be successful at a cookie decorating class.

Folks think they need to have some bakin’ knowledge and know-how before they sign up to take a cookie decorating class but I’m here to tell ya you don’t need to even have an apron to start! The great thing about cookie class is that I bake and make everything and then take you step by step through each design, stopping and helping you when you need it and answering all the questions along the way.

Things to bring to cookie class:

• 📝 An apron (optional - but good for messes)

• 📝 Glasses (for seeing)

• 📝 Water (optional - for personal hydration)

• 📝 A tote (just in case you purchase some add-on kits)

• 📝 Your phone (for pictures!)

• 📝 A good attitude! 

The only thing we recommend bringing with you is a positive attitude (cookies can sense fear) and an apron if you plan on gettin’ a little messy. I'll bring the rest!

When are the cookie decorating classes?

Cookie classes are typically held monthly on Saturdays & Sundays. The times vary on both days, typically one AM & one PM class both days throughout the year. Each class features a new theme created by yours truly and features 6 cookies, 4 icing colors, and tons of hands-on fun! From Santa and his sleigh to Taylor Swift and her favorite things- these classes are packed full of sweet designs and even sweeter cookies.

You may see that there are no classes listed for the summer months and that’s because we find folks tend to travel a lot during those months so we typically hold off until summer vacay is over and folks are back into the swing of things.

Our biggest classes that sell out the fastest are the holiday ones like 🎟️ Christmas and 🎟️ Halloween (my favorites) and have a waitlist form so if you’re considering something fun for your holidays, snag that ticket fast!

✏️ Where are the cookie baking classes?

These classes are held in various locations throughout the city. Previous classes were held in Lakeview, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square and Edgewater.

The space often has enough seats for 12 class attendees with space to spread out and get elbow-deep in icing and that sweet cookie knowledge.

We ask that each person who shows up to class has a class ticket since space is slightly limited - 🪑 but you can always purchase a take-home cookie decorating kit if you want to practice more or give your friends and family a cookie class of your own with your recently acquired cookie class

✏️ Who can take a cookie class?

Another question I get asked a lot is who can sign up for class. We welcome class attendees from 8️⃣ 8 years and up to join us in cookie class! We’ve had folks who just turned 8 all the way to a lady celebrating her 90th birthday in a super sweet way- men and women of all ages are welcome to join.

We only ask that kids that are between the ages of 7-15 be accompanied by a parent who also purchases a class ticket to attend with them in order to participate. Since space is limited, we require everyone who comes to class to have an active class ticket to be there.

Some of my best students have been children! Probably because they are good listeners and love to follow directions. We could definitely take some notes from the kiddos!

Whether you are lookin’ for something fun to do with friends on a Saturday or are finally ready to give this whole cookie decorating an honest go, these classes are for you. You don’t have to be a pro or have any bakin’ experience in order to have fun and learn something new at these cookie decorating classes.

We have folks who just love trying out new things come to class and they have a great time just trying cookies out and hangin’ with some new friends they make during class. We also have folks who really want to master royal icing and learn tips from someone who has been doing it for longer! There is something in it for everyone and we welcome everyone who wants to learn.

We also have a lot of repeat students who come throughout the year who love to ask additional questions they might not have thought of in their first class- we love seeing your faces again! 

✏️ What happens in sugar cookie decorating classes?

Classes start promptly at the time on your ticket because we have a lot to cover and need all the time we can to make sure we cover the tools, tips, and cookies in the ⏱️ 1.5 hours that class takes.

Each student gets 6 pre-baked themed sugar cookies, 4 bagged royal icing colors, and any sprinkles needed to make the designs come to life.

The first part of the class is all about the cookie tools you’ll need if you want to continue decorating cookies at home. Next, we cover how to hold a piping bag and test it out on a piping practice sheet so we can move confidently into our cookies. The majority of the class is spent decorating the cookies and following the step-by-step PowerPoint presentation so we can all see the next steps and get those cute designs just right.

If we have any time left over, we cover sugar cookie dough and royal icing mixing tips but every person will get my sugar cookie dough and royal icing recipe emailed to them after class so you can try it all again at home!

After we finish decorating our cookies, each student is given a box to take their cookie creations home in! 

No matter what your goals are, we are here to help you decorate sugar cookies and do it in a fun and hands-on way that will help create your passion for cookies and what your cookie-decorating journey could be.

👀 You can see our cookie decorating class list at www.winterwhiskbakery.com and you can always follow our bakery journey on Facebook & Instagram.

Freezing Decorated Sugar Cookies

ITo throw them out or not to throw them out- that is the question! Whether your event was postponed or you have a few cookies left over from your big day, you may find yourself wondering what to do with the cookies to make them have the longest shelf life. I’m here to tell you how you can freeze your decorated sugar cookies which can make them last for months and months after you’ve received them. So no- don’t throw them out or feel like you have to eat them all in a day! Freezing cookies is a great way to make your cookies last longer and give you that sweet tooth fix you know you’ll have in the future.

How long do cookies stay fresh in their heat-sealed bags?

The good part to know is that royal icing sugar cookies can stay fresh in their heat-sealed bags for upwards of 2 weeks so if your event is postponed for a few days, you may not even have to worry about freezing them at all! If your event is a week or so out, I’d suggest freezing the cookies to lock in the freshness and make them taste like the day they were baked. Here are a few tips to follow if you are looking at freezing your cookies.

Things you’ll need to freeze your sugar cookies.

First and foremost, the cookies need to be in their heat-sealed bags for this to work. Already cut the cookies out of the bags they came in? You can purchase self-seal cellophane bags from Amazon or Michaels and they will work just as well as the heat-sealed ones. Just search “self-sealing cellophane bags” on Amazon and a ton of options will pop up and they all work for this. Once the cookies are bagged in their bags, you’ll want to get an airtight container to place the cookies in. Make sure the container is big enough to store the cookies without crushing the bottom layer but small enough to fit upright in your freezer. To play it even safer, get a container big enough to store the cookies so they can stand up on their sides versus laying flat. This will make sure the details aren’t squished and they are just as pretty as the day you got them!

How to freeze your cookies.

Once the cookies and their bags have been placed into the container, double-check that the lid is on securely and place the entire container into the freezer. If the lid is loose, you run the risk of condensation or ice forming inside the container which can lead to it forming inside the bags which can eat away at the icing. Decorated cookies can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months before you’ll want to consider tossing them.

How to thaw your sugar cookies.

If you are finally ready for a little snack or your event has arrived, follow these next few steps to the “T” to ensure your cookies look as good as the day you froze them.

The first step you’ll want to do is take the container out of the freezer the night before you need the cookies and, without removing the lid, let them set on the counter at room temperature overnight so that the container and the cookies come to room temperature together. The most important part is leaving the lid on the container so that the condensation forms on the outside of the container vs inside of the cookie bags. Once the container has come to room temperature completely, you are safe to open up the container and remove the cookies! Feel free to cut the cookies out of their bags or leave them in the bag to guarantee they stay fresh for days.

It’s as easy as that! You’ll not even notice a difference in taste from freshly baked and frozen sugar cookies because all the freezer does is lock in the freshness so the cookies don’t dry out. It’s suggested to only freeze and thaw cookies once to be on the safe side or you run the risk of changes in temperature, moisture content and quality.