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Who says you can’t have ice cream during the winter? I’m so excited you’re here because I have a fun Winter Wonderland Party that will warm the heart with a classic cookie ice cream sundae bar and delicious comfort dinner foods. I’ll be sharing my full menu, some great {and free} printables for your own party and tips on creating a perfect wintery tablescape.
Ready to come in from the cold? Let’s get started.
Even though we didn’t eat dessert first at our party, I have to begin with sharing the main feature: our Cookie Ice Cream Sundae Bar. You all know I love any kind of make-it-yourself food option. And even though it was cold outside, we enjoyed delicious cookies atop a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream with other fun toppings.
On the dessert buffet were broken up OREO, Chips Ahoy! and Nutter Butter cookies, hot fudge, caramel sauce, sprinkles and cherries. I housed the ice cream in my galvanized steel ice bucket. Who knew it would be so perfect? I forgot to put out the whipping cream, but remembered just in time to walk it around to my guests and give everyone a squirt in their bowls. (Incidentally, I used to be disappointed when I forgot something at a party, but after a while, you learn to go with it.)
Decorating the Table for a Winter Wonderland:
Of course, a winter wonderland required a white table. I used “snow cover” blankets and “snow puff” to cover the risers and create a lush snowy feel around the objects. Bird cages, pine cones and little pine branches added to the indoor wonderland.
Have you ever used snow spray? I love it! One can of pure snow magic helped create my winter wonderland.
To create visual anticipation for the assortment of cookie toppings, I used the cute, single sleeve boxes from the cookies. Stacked, taped together, and frosted with snow spray, the cookie boxes added color and interest, and enhanced the theme of the table. (By the way, these boxes would be great for stocking stuffers or inexpensive additions to any gift. I picked them up at WalMart for only $1.50 each and sent every guest home with a box – see below.)
Beverages of the Evening: I served hot chocolate with whipping cream and cinnamon in my lovely winter glasses. (True confession: I bought the glasses from a fast food restaurant when I was a teenager. Does anyone else remember that? It sounds so funny to think of now.)
I love adding berries, fruits and vegetables to water in a tall beverage dispenser. It adds color and usually, a little flavor. For this party, I froze cranberries into ice cubes. It didn’t add any flavor (even once melted), but the cranberries looked so lovely and festive!
Dinner Menu: To contrast my cold ice cream dessert bar, I choose to serve deluxe grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It was perfect for a brisk evening and warmed my soul. I served three different grilled cheese sandwiches: cheddar, muenster, and american. I also made turkey and swiss, ham and provolone and even added salami to a few of the meat sandwiches. Food tags marked the various sandwiches and I’ve included blanks for you in the printable pack below. Coleslaw, ruffled potato chips and a vegetable platter completed the dinner menu. It was a relaxed and comforting meal.
An Extra Dessert: How could I not serve cookies and milk at this party? Earlier in the day I stacked the Chips Ahoy!, Nutter Butter and Double Stuf OREO cookies and tied them up with a little white ribbon. Don’t you think they look cute?
Party Favors: As I mentioned earlier, each guest went home with a box of cookies. I sprayed mini pine cones with snow, hot-glued them to the note and attached them to the top of the cookie box.
Tips for Creating the Perfect Wintery Tablescape:
- Consider the size of your table and match the space needed. My table was 4′ long. Had I gone with a 6′ table, there would have been too much space.
- Vary the height of items on your table for visual interest. Using boxes, I created different levels. This makes a table much more appealing. (However, if you are using a strong symmetrical display, this is not as necessary.)
- Mix up the textures. I had fluffy snow, white ceramic dishes and galvanized steel. Keep in mind, you will find more balance on the table if you have at least two of each of materials, like my two galvanized steel items. Had I only used one, you might have felt like something was missing.
- Work in visual triangles unless you are creating a symmetrical display.
- My secret for making chalk art easier? Play with fonts on the computer and create the look you want on your screen. It is easier to copy the look than create it from scratch in your mind…unless you are a natural artist (which I am not).
- Add white lighting. I used rope lighting under the snow. As dusk fell, it created a beautiful warm glow on the snowy table.
Included in the Printable Pack:
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Sign
“Enjoy our COOKIE Ice Cream Sundae Bar” Sign
Favor Tags
Food Tags (rectangles and circles)
Click Here To Download Your Free Winter Wonderland Party Printables
You can find the boxes of yummy cookies near check-out at WalMart.
How will you create a Winter Wonderland Party? For more ideas on using these cookie boxes in parties, crafts and as gifts, click here.
My name is Kristen. I'm a former Wedding & Event Planner blogging about fun ways to celebrate each and every day and the special occasions of life. Here you'll find inspiration for family fun, children's activities, party planning and a faith-filled life. 
