Packaging gifts of homemade cookies

by Nicole Weston, Posted Dec 6th 2006 @ 12:04PM

If you order a dozen or so holiday cookies from a bakery, you don't expect them to be piled up on a plate and covered in saran wrap, although this seems to be a perfectly acceptable presentation for gifts of homemade cookies. It's true that it is the thought that counts and that good cookies will over come any packaging, but it doesn't take that much more effort to take that packaging to a new level, which will keep the cookies fresher and make a homemade gift a showstopper.

This week, along with their collection of eight great holiday cookie recipes that are all going to be a bit more impressive than your average batch of chocolate chips, including Coconut Orange Macaroons, Scottish Shortbread, Ginger Drops and Candy Cane Cookies, the Denver Post has some great tips for packaging. For kids, try packing up "blank" gingerbread cookies in a small toolbox with frosting, sprinkles and other things they can use to customize the cookies. For cookies that will long outlast the holiday season, giving an unbaked roll of cookie dough (choose an attractive one, like the Chocolate-Coconut Pinwheels the article includes) and baking instructions wrapped up in an elegant tube that will put any store-bought dough to shame. And for the baker, consider wrapping the treats up in or on a pan, so they'll have something to use when they want to bake a batch themselves.

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Filed Under: Budget Cuisine, Cooking With Kids, Newspapers, Spirit of Christmas, How To, Methods
Tags: baking, christmas, christmas gifts, cookies, frugal, gift, gifts, gingerbread, holiday cookies, homemade cookies, how to, ideas, inexpensive, kids, packaging

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-06-2006 @1:03PM Allison said... I'm not a big fan of these suggestions (though the toolbox decorate-your-own idea is cute) because it takes a gift that is consumable and turns it into one that includes "stuff". Most people don't really need more "stuff" and would probably be happier just receiving the cookies. If you know someone needs another cookie sheet, sure that's a great idea. But in my experience, if someone is likely to bake cookies, they already own all the baking sheets they need.
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12-06-2006 @5:20PM Ryan said... I agree about the clutter, though some might like an extra nice pan to replace an old one. Equally nice and disposable are tins you can get cheaply at thrift stores (wash them thoroughly before using!), or not so cheaply at places like Target or Walmart, or holiday-themed gift bags, especially the one with a see-through opening so the baked good is displayed, or a basket. A basket or ceramic container is another idea. They do not have to be expensive if the recipient isn't to feel guilty about pitching it. Holiday gift bags, baskets and ceramic dishes can all be found at dollar stores, so they don't have to break the bank.
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12-13-2006 @12:42AM h2odragon said... I put my cookies on a paper plate, and then put the plate in a quart ziploc. the whole assemblage is cheap, effective at keeping the cookies fresh, and with inkjet printable sticky labels could look as good as commercial packaging.

...just to suggest something between the extremes of too cheap (saran wrap) and too fancy (individual handblown glass cookie sheaths)....
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