Holiday Goodie Gifts For Friends And Neighbors? Ideas?
Decorating By springlakecake Updated 3 Dec 2010 , 12:50am by NanaSandy
I know there was a thread last year with ideas. I found it in a search but "no posts exist." It must have been lost in the crash. Forgive me if this is already going around this year.
I am trying to make a decision on baked goodies for the neighbors. I did LOTS of cookies last year. It was fun, but oh so time consuming. I thought maybe if I could combine fewer cookies with something else that was easier/faster might be nice. I also thought about small cakes or cupcakes? Or maybe the "in a jar" gifts (cookies, brownies etc).
What is everyone else doing? I also dont want to spend a million dollars
I was just telling my dh last night that I would like to make up gift baskets for some of our closer neighbors .. I was thinking dipped pretzels, chocolate covered oreos/brownies maybe some sugar cookies ... just a few of each, nothing huge by any means, just a little something "extra" ..
good ideas! I'd like it to be a little special, but I usually end of getting a little carried away once I start.
One of my new ideas was for the neighbors with kids. I thought I would bake some plain cookies (maybe in the shape of a house or gingerbread boy/girl) and make them each a little "kit". I thought I could place a couple of disposable piping bags filled with buttercream (they could just snip off the end of the bag and pipe...I am not trying to create future competition here...lol) and then a baggie of candies etc. for each kid to make their own.
Last year I added a bag of the chocolate covered Chex mix in with the assortment of cookies and it filled up some space and made the baskets look fuller. I just put it in a clear treat bag and tied a ribbon to it. This year I was thinking about adding in homemade cocoa mix with the cookies instead.
What about those mixes in a jar with a pretty lid and the recipe. You put all the dry ingredients in the jar.... A neighbor once did that with me and brough a jar of hot fudge. You could also make some apple butter or pumpkin butter. Fudge and other confections. Home made liqueurs like Kahlua, etc. My friend made a pasta dinner basket with pasta, her homemade sauce, etc. I put some peaches up for my Dad in brandy but they have to age. I have a book with homemade food gift ideas.
We make cheese balls every year. I make them small so they are perfect for snacking. We also do cookies. My husband makes the best chewy chocolate chip cookies ever! I make a double chocolate espresso cookie that is perfect with a good cup of coffee. Plus we make a killer pancake mix that we use all of the time and we put it in jars with a recipe card on it. I also make cakes for my family. For work I make special cupcakes and box them up real festive. I think cake balls are on the list this year too, my husband likes making them and eating them. Of course everything gets packaged individually and is just too cute!
Chocolate covered Brownie bites,Oreos, Pretzels, Cake balls & any drop cookie. Those are all really good ideas. You can get little tins at teh dollar store or gift bags. Good Luck.
ooh . . . chocolate covered brownie bites . . . dumb question but would that just be bite sized pieces of brownie dipped in chocolate or do you do something special?
Love this thread - we own a commercial stable and last year, I made cookies for all of our boarders / lesson students but as it was our first year in business, that only meant about 20 packages. This year, I'd have well over 70 to make so I'm looking for easy ideas, too, especially make-ahead ones!
Did I mention that I'm due with baby #3 right around Christmas??? so yes, the make ahead part is crucial!
I like loaf cakes (breads) for Christmas gifts...they aren't overly sweet and keep well. You could make a white ganache to pour over the top, kind of like snow and add a little decoration of holly, a poinsettia or little penguin, Santa, snowman etc. on the top.
Yo guys can do it with this too!!! I hope you grirls like it!!
Cookie Mix-in-a-Jar
What a great gift for a cookie-loving pal! All the lucky recipient needs to do is add butter, eggs and vanilla to the premade mix and then bake up wonderful cookies in less than 15 minutes. Its a fun, easy project for little hands: Why not set aside an afternoon with the kids and put together a bunch of jars for friends and family?
For the Cookie Mix
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup candy-coated chocolates
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnut pieces
Additional Materials
2-quart glass jar with lid
5- x 7-inch index card
ribbon and/or raffia
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Baking Time: 12-14 minutes
Makes 1 gift jar; 3 dozen cookies
1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Spoon mixture into the glass jar.
2. Spoon candy-coated chocolates onto flour mixture in the jar. Layer brown sugar onto candy-coated chocolates; pack lightly with a spoon.
3. Layer granulated sugar onto brown sugar; add cranberries. Top cranberries with walnuts. Seal jar tightly with the lid.
4. Write the following instructions on the index card and attach to the jar with ribbon and/or raffia:
Baking Instructions: Preheat oven to 350F; grease 2 baking sheets.
In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, combine 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) softened butter, 3 eggs and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Stir in cookie mix, a little at a time, until well blended.
Drop dough by tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies until golden brown,12-14 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks; cool for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to the racks to cool completely.
Festive Yuletide Logs:
These sparkling, colorful cookies with a hint of nutmeg are the perfect partner to eggnog.
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons rum flavoring
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
red and green colored sugars
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Baking Time: 14 minutes
Makes 3 dozen cookies
1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the rum flavoring, vanilla extract and egg to the butter mixture; beat until well combined.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, ground nutmeg and salt. Combine the flour mixture with the butter mixture; mix until a dough forms. Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 3/4 inch thick.
3. Place the red and green sugars on separate sheets of waxed paper. Roll each dough log in either sugar, covering log completely.
4. Cut the dough logs crosswise into 3-inch pieces. Transfer the dough logs onto ungreased baking sheets, set about 1 inch apart.
5. Bake until lightly golden, about 14 minutes. Place baking sheets on wire racks; cool about 10 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire racks; cool completely.
________________________________________
Even Baking
To ensure that the cookies bake evenly, make sure that each piece of dough is the same size. To take out the guess work, use a ruler.
The ideas above ARE NOT MINE, I do not remember on what web-site I got them from and I have the pictures for these ideas they are really cute, and I have a cuple more ideas, if you guys want them please PM and I will send them to you 
I couldn't post the pictures because they are in word doc, and I couldn't do it.
Blessings for everyone
I have sooo many families to give to. I have 3 natural grandchildren and they always want to take stuff for their teachers and friends. This year they are coming over to help package everything up.
I have 8 adopted grandchildren of school age and they also will be over to help. With packaging of their goodies.
I also need about 5 large baskets for different church and other social groups.
Lastly our family dinner. (At my sisters house this year, yeah!!)
And last, I will be hosting a dessert get together with all the women I know or have taught in the last 10 years or so. (We get together to share ideas and everyone brings something they've done with the recipe to share.
What will I make???? This year I want to try my hand at biscotti, everyone loved my snowman last year (combination of cake balls and chocolate covered marshmellows, free standing) Fruit tarts, the chocolate mice, penguins, marshmellow trees, triple berry cheesecake, peanut butter cups, truffles, bon bons, cake balls, Kifies, reindeer & santa coco filled pastry bags and anything else I can do in advance.
I've already started, rofl
Sorry to make this so long
We make cheese balls every year. I make them small so they are perfect for snacking. We also do cookies. My husband makes the best chewy chocolate chip cookies ever! I make a double chocolate espresso cookie that is perfect with a good cup of coffee. Plus we make a killer pancake mix that we use all of the time and we put it in jars with a recipe card on it. I also make cakes for my family. For work I make special cupcakes and box them up real festive. I think cake balls are on the list this year too, my husband likes making them and eating them. Of course everything gets packaged individually and is just too cute!
Will you share your recipes?...especially the pancake mix 
bags of caramel popcorn, white chocolate biscotti, a jar of my homemade Raspberry Chambord jam; jar of homemade raspberry pepper jelly w/ a block of cream cheese and sleeve of crackers. I'd like to try some chocolate covered oreos this yr. (just bought a few of the molds). English toffee, white choc. peppermint bark (it's a holiday tradition that's super easy for the kids to help do); espresso fudge. I buy baskets and tins at the dollar store or Old Time Pottery(they have a better selection of tins and many times less than a dollar); add a cute kitchen towel. Just a nice sampling of different stuff.
Mel Mc.
P.S. I found a recipe for fleur de sel caramel truffles and turtles that I thought would be an interesting addition this yr, too. The turtles look like they'd be less time consuming than the truffles.
For many years I have made very inexpensive 'cookie' plates:
Cake balls; dipped pretzels; dipped crackers (Ritz; Tolehouse; grahams); and/or mini 1/2 ball cakes decorated to look like ornaments.
Any combination of the above items. Hopefull my pix attached o.k. to this post so you can see them.
They are so inexpensive to make up you can do them for dozens of people. Maybe in combination w/some of the other items already suggested.
Those are all very cute! I will bet your recipients felt very special!
Make cocoa cones and chocolate dipped spoons attached with a ribbon and instructions. Add a mug to make it more special. Then you can just add one decorated cookie or whatever and still feel like you've given something you've made yourself.
I had thought of doing the cocoa cones this year but never thought to add a spoon & cookies... Love the idea If you want to give it to adults you can add one of those mini bottles of liquor as well maybe kaluha or baileys, etc... now my mind is rolling ;o)
Ditto on the request for the pancake recipe please!!!
We make cheese balls every year. I make them small so they are perfect for snacking. We also do cookies. My husband makes the best chewy chocolate chip cookies ever! I make a double chocolate espresso cookie that is perfect with a good cup of coffee. Plus we make a killer pancake mix that we use all of the time and we put it in jars with a recipe card on it. I also make cakes for my family. For work I make special cupcakes and box them up real festive. I think cake balls are on the list this year too, my husband likes making them and eating them. Of course everything gets packaged individually and is just too cute!
Will you share your recipes?...especially the pancake mix
I bought a set of little star cutters going from like 1" to 4"or 5" large or so and there are 5 of them in there and I thought it would be so cute to make mini cookie Christmas trees for individual people.......I still can't decide if I want to do the cookie trees or use the mini Christmas tree pan from wilton, I have two and I'm wondering If I can kinda overfill the cavities in one and put the other pan on top and have the cake rise,filling both halves making a little mini 3-D Christmas tree cake that I can decorate
this website has some cute little sugar and royal ornaments and presents that I think would just be adorable on a little tree!
http://www.cakedeco.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_sresults.html
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