Make summer sweeter with this easy Beach Cookie Decorating activity for kids! Use simple store-bought ingredients for a fun, low-prep treat everyone will love.

We kicked off summer with a beach cookie decorating afternoon, and it was such a hit with my kids!

My son got very serious about his designs — carefully placing each teddy bear and gummy ring like he was creating a masterpiece.

Meanwhile, my daughter took the “more is more” approach and basically dumped a bowl of Nerds onto her cookies.

Two very different decorating styles, but they both had an absolute blast. It was the perfect mix of creativity, sugar, and summertime fun — and best of all, it took barely any prep on my part!

Super Easy Beach Cookie Decorating for Kids

If you're looking for a low-effort, high-fun activity to kick off summer, these beach-themed cookies are it! They’re perfect for a summer party, a playdate activity, or just a fun afternoon at home. No baking skills required — just a few store-bought shortcuts and lots of imagination.

Step 1: Start with Ready-Made Cookies

Today, we’re keeping it simple! Use place-and-bake cookie dough, and go for the Big Cookies pack (12 to a pack) so kids have plenty of space to decorate.

Bake according to the package directions, let them cool completely, and you’re ready to go.

you can of course substitute for any cookie recipe. Go for something flat without too many mix-ins for easiest decorating.

Step 2: Make or Buy Blue Icing

You can buy pre-made blue icing from the store, or tint your own! I used a can of vanilla frosting and added:

• 3 drops blue food coloring
• 1 drop green food coloring

Stir it together to create a beachy blue shade that looks like ocean water.

Step 3: Set Up a Decorating Station

Place all your toppings in small bowls so kids can easily reach everything.

I love giving them wide popsicle sticks to spread the icing — way easier (and safer!) than using a butter knife.

Step 4: Choose Your Beachy Toppings

Here are some of our favorite toppings for beach-themed fun:

• Teddy Grahams (little beach bears!)
• Gummy Lifesavers (they look like mini rafts or life preservers)
• Goldfish cookies (not the crackers — the sweet kind!)
• Nerds candies (perfect for colorful aquarium gravel)
• Swedish Fish, mini umbrellas, or any other beachy candy you love

Step 5: Decorate Your Cookies

Now comes the fun part! Let your kids get creative with their cookie scenes. Some of our favorite designs:

• A Teddy Graham floating in a gummy Lifesaver on the “ocean”
• Goldfish cookies swimming over Nerds “gravel”
• A combo of all the toppings for a full under-the-sea adventure

Step 6: Enjoy the Fun (and the Treats!)

My kids had a blast doing this on the first day of summer, and it would be so fun as a party activity too. It’s simple, sweet, and just messy enough to feel like a real summertime memory.

Don’t forget to snap a few photos before they get devoured — these cookies are as cute as they are delicious!