Frozen Bubble Cookie Cutter Activity for Kids

Frozen bubble cookie-cutter activity for kids is one of the most magical cold-weather science experiments you can try outdoors. With a simple thick bubble mixture and a cookie-cutter frame, kids can watch real ice crystals form right before their eyes. It feels like instant winter magic — and you can repeat it again and again.

This is one of those rare activities that is simple, cheap, fast, and absolutely unforgettable.

During freezing cold weather, I love setting up simple outdoor science fun and winter crafts for the kids, this fun build a snowman sensory bag, snow painting, and icy sensory bins. These quick activities turn bitter cold days into memory-making moments.

Why You’ll Love This Activity

• Extremely low prep
• Doubles as a science lesson
• Visually stunning for kids
• Perfect for very cold days
• Great for photos + slow-motion video
• Repeatable — kids can try over and over

Supplies Needed

• Cookie-cutter (snowflake shapes work great)
• Warm water
• Dish soap
• Corn syrup
• Sugar
• Shallow container or bowl
• Gloves (important for cold temps)

Equipment

• Measuring cups
• Spoon for mixing
• Shallow dish
• Cookie cutter

Frozen Bubble Solution Recipe

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup dish soap
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup corn syrup

Mix gently to avoid extra foam.

How To Make Frozen Cookie Cutter Bubbles

• Dissolve the sugar and syrup into the warm water

• Gently stir in the dish soap

• Pour the solution into a shallow container
• Dip the cookie cutter fully into the mixture
• Put gloves on
• Lift slowly so that a bubble film stretches across the opening
• Walk carefully outside so the film doesn’t pop
• Hold still and watch closely
• Ice crystals will begin forming across the film (within 1 minute in really cold temps)
• Let kids observe patterns as they spread

• Repeat as many times as you like

Expert Tips for Frozen Bubble Cookie Cutter Experiments

• Best results happen below 10°F (-12°C)
• Use thicker cookie cutters rather than flimsy ones
• The colder it is outside, the faster the bubble film will crystalize.
• During extreme cold (around 4°F without wind chill), crystals can begin forming within about one minute — you can often stand and watch it happen while holding the cookie cutter.
• When temperatures rise above 10°F, crystal formation slows down significantly.
• In slightly warmer cold weather, expect to wait 5–7 minutes before you see crystals start.
• On days above 10°F, it helps to set the cookie cutter down instead of holding it.

• Place it in a wind-sheltered spot like a porch corner or near a wall.
• Come back and check — crystals will still form, just more slowly.
• Always wear gloves — both for warmth and to help keep the bubble film steady.
• Shield the bubble from wind as much as possible — even light gusts can pop the film before freezing begins.

Variations

• Try different cookie-cutter shapes
• Add a drop of food coloring for tinted crystals
• Test different temperatures and compare results
• Use bubble wands vs cookie cutters and compare patterns

FAQs

How cold does it need to be?
Very cold — typically under 10°F for fast crystal formation.

Why add sugar and corn syrup?
They thicken the bubble film so it lasts long enough to freeze and crystallize.

Can kids do this themselves?
Yes — with gloves and adult supervision outdoors.

Does wind ruin it?
Usually, wind pops the film before crystals can form.

Time Required

Prep time: 5 minutes
Active time: 10–20 minutes
Repeat play: unlimited

What This Teaches (STEAM Tie-In)

This activity introduces:

• Crystal formation
• Freezing points
• Surface tension
• Weather science
• Observation skills

More Winter Acitivities You’ll Love

Storage

Bubble solution can be covered and reused for several days indoors.