Creative Christmas Or Gift Packaging For Cookies And Treats?
Decorating By czyadgrl Updated 29 Nov 2006 , 11:08pm by mom2csc

I was just at Target and on the encap where the gift wrap and office supplies are, there was a BUNCH of red and white gift boxes, in varying sized from a 5 x 5 x7" high that fold into itself to create the top and everything and they came w/ tissue paper and satin ribbons!! The small sizes were.78 and the huge size that could have held 2 footballs ( for the school trays or enormouse orders) were only $1.28 ( also w/ tissue paper & ribbon )
I bought every one they had to put potential Christmas orders in and also, they are perfect for giving the kids teachers cookies and such.....
I may go to the other Target cross-town today to see if they have any more
Sadly, I am no good at coming up with really creative gift container ideas but the flower pot sounds interested and the paint cans are SO cute!
You guys are brilliant! I am so not creative...


i'm happy i ran into this thread. i just went to michaels tonight to check out the prices for baskets and boxes and jars. i started thinking about homemade christmas gifts lastnight after reading another thread and then went searching for recipes. so far i plan to do baskets with different kinds of candy (candy apples, truffles, peanut brittle, fudge, brownies and jar with "chocolate chip cookie mix in a jar, thumbprint cookies and some christmas cutout sugar cookies & maybe some chocolate lollipops). I know its alot but i'm gonna have so much fun making these and its going to be way cheaper than buy gifts like we usually do. Last year i think we spent over $700 just on christmas presents!!! oh i bought some christmas candles for $1 at michaels today that i'll be putting in the baskets, i was thinking of putting in some hot cocoa mix with 2 mugs but thats just too much i think. Shipping is going to be alot!!!. i have to start testing these recipes i found on the internet soon to make sure i'm giving out yummy gifts. Keep the ideas coming!!

I made baskets and other assortments of Holiday gifts last Christmas... everyone loved them and they turned out beautifully. Some of the photos are in my album. Reading this thread has given me more ideas as far as this year is concerned.. (I don't want to do quite the same thing as last year) So, Thank you .. to everyone and I hope that maybe my pictures and the assortment of gifts that I made can give you all ideas as well....

Last year, I got some cello bags from candylandcrafts.com and tied my cookies in those with a tag labeling each different kind. Then I put all the little bundles in a brown kraft bag with another tag on the outside that said Merry Christmas and tied with different pieces of leftover ribbon (from previous Christmases! Finally, a use for them all!)
This year, I think I'm going to do kraft boxes and tie it up with a simple red ribbon. Check out Nashvillewraps.com and papermart.com. They have tons of boxes, ribbons, cello and glassine bags for packaging that are not too $$$. I thought about stacking the cookies in cupcake papers, a la Martha, but I worry about them getting stale. Maybe do that but then put the stack in a cello bag?

missnnaction your baskets are very pretty, personalizing them is such a nice touch. What size basket did you use?
michales has:
medium baskets for about $7-$10
1 qt jars for $1.50
cellophane basket bags $.99
would you guys consider these good prices?
i'm definately using 40% coupons to buy the baskets to cut down cost.

oh 1 more thing. have any of you guys ever ship petite fours?

I love these ideas!
One caution however - I have several people who HATE to recieve the dry cookie mixes. No problem with premade cookies, but feel they have no time for mixing and baking cookies. WEIRD, I know.
I found out by accident, thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth...

I love these ideas!
One caution however - I have several people who HATE to recieve the dry cookie mixes. No problem with premade cookies, but feel they have no time for mixing and baking cookies. WEIRD, I know.
I found out by accident, thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth...
Is it possible to give frozen cookie dough as a gift? - that way the only work is 10 mins. and then they have fresh homemade cookies whenever they want it ... just a thought

Thanks debbie2881, I used a lot of different size baskets.. some were really small for the kids then a medium for adults and for my grand-mother I used a large/x-large basket. If you are going to purchase the jars I suggest that you buy them by the case.. they sell them at wal-mart in the canning section. It would be cheaper for you that way. The baskets, I'm not sure if that's a good price.. I look for baskets and buy them all year round...I've never spent $7 on a basket or tins or anything... like that. I always look for bargains. It just really depends on what you want to sell them for. You could look around at the dollar stores for baskets and tins..I love their tins. and if you don't like the look of the basket... you can always paint it or add ribbons and what nots to it...

I just picked up some pails for the cookies but I usually put them in celephane bags. I like to use baskets for treat gifts. I use jars for other treats. They are good for fudge as well. I buy fancy pie plates and make a pie and give them as gifts. They dont have to return the plate and many love the duo gift. This year I am making 10-12 afgans( have already made 6 of them) I will be putting the afgan in a large family basket that includes cookies, cakes, banana bread, candy, hot chocolate, popcorn and a movie. I get asked for my cookies and cakes for christmas gifts more than anything else. Its amazing the things we can come up with to make the treat extra special.

I want to make pizzelles cookies for this christmas, I want to dip half of the cookie in chocolate, white and dark, sprinkle them with almonds. I need ideas, i was thinking using cello paper and a bow, but I want to make something a little more fancy and nice, any ideas?



missnnaction i'm planning to give them away as gifts to my dh family, i have to ship a few to NY. It will be my 1st year giving homemade gifts and i want them to be good so that the people i give them to dont miss an actual gift they get to keep for a long time. i found a few recipes online and between now and christmas i'll be trying them out to make sure everything is yummy. i'll definately check out the dollar store for the baskets or tins but if i got the baskets at michaels i'll wait until they have a 40% or 50% off coupon. right now though the baskets are already on sale for 40% off so maybe i'll think about getting a few. i'm only doing about 5 baskets.

Cello packages are always a great idea because you spend all that time making something beautiful and should be showing it off. I found some cute boxes with lids through some daycare sort of supply catalog and they had see-through lids (Boxes were natural coloured cardboard type thickness) which would be nice for candies and what not if they were decorated on the outside. Havent tried this yet though.
For most of the stuff I put together as gifts, I go to the bargain store and find a huge assortment of cake /cookie tins of all shapes and sizes and (crotchety old aunty lol) well the bro's family gets the big tin 'caus there are more of him and my mom livse alone so she gets a smaller one. Everyone gets an assortment
For the special seashell chocolates I make to sell, I've been packing them in gigantic seashells (sanitized first) and wrapped in cello so they're visible on top to show off.
I'm thinking of all sorts of boxes that could be used for different people you give gifts to. Cigar boxes, thick 'books' that are hollowed out you know that some people use for hiding things in in their bookshelf lol.
Baskets are such a great idea too. (and so is this thread lol). So many shapes and sizes to turn into anything. I make personalized giftgs off all kinds for birthdays and Christmas sall the time. Gardening and artist theme and what not. When I run out of ideas for themes I go to the library and take out books on homemade crafts and 'borrow' them or just look at the pics to stimulate the creative juices.

oh I meant to add although it's not a CHristmas idea lol ( I loved that christmas stocking idea up therek or bag I mean), I was thinking for halloween you could use one of those plastic shaped pumpkin pails and fill it with halloween themed cookies. Although this has probably been thought of already lol


oh and how about the gift bags? There are some really pretty smaller ones out there, that could be filled with cello wrapped cookies or little cakes etc and then there are those metal santa sleighs you can get (about a foot or just under, long) for display/decoration, can fill those up with with cello bags and other pretty bags of treats.
One of my christmas treat/gift idea books has fondant wrapped cakes (little ones) to look like presents. I know we've made cakes before that look like gifts but these are wrapped all the way round and tied with ribbon and are specifically christmas cakes. I'll have to scan the pages when I get home that shows how to make them, They're so pretty!

ShabbyChic_Confections, are you keeping the pizzells flat or are you going to shape them... shaping them would give them a different look and from there you could add more to them.
debbie2881, I'm sure that they will love your homemade gift more than one that you could ever purchase them.. The thoought behind it is so much greater. You could also try using gift bags or boxes.. use them the same as you would a basket.. they look just as beautiful. Hobby lobby has a sale on their boxes/hat boxes this week...50% off. They may also be easier for you to ship.

I'm keeping them flat, I was thinking of makinf cones and fill them with something, but don't know what.


I usually take a whole weekend to bake if making cookies, I want them to be very fresh!

WOW! I thought the thread had died forever! I'm so glad to see it going again!
THIS JUST SPOTTED: Dollar Tree has a large assortment of cookie and candy gift packaging ideas. Baskets, plastic "tins", small buckets, small shower caddy like things, mini laundry baskets, almost all in nice shades of red and green.
I settled on my packaging for this year just yesterday. They have these small storage bins that look like the giant ones. Clear on the bottom and the lid has that interlocking circle closure. I don't have a theme picked out for my labels, thinking of things like "Coookie Stash", "Secret Cookie Storage" "Cookies for Safe Keeping" , something along those lines.
I try to never spend much on the container, especially baskets as I have gathered a collection of them in my basement that I have no idea what to do with. I'm just not a basket person (the wickery ones anyway - love the new metal/wire ones they have now!) So I usually go with something disposable or that can hopefully be useful after it's empty.
I choose my cookies to make before thanksgiving and make labels then. I start making any doughs that can be frozen about 3-4 weeks ahead, then take the 2 weeks before my deadline to bake like crazy. So I make things that freeze well first, and continue down the line to the more fragile cookies. Everything gets packaged the night or two before the first "deadline", If it's going to be another week before giving them, I put the whole container in the freezer. Cookies stay soooo fresh when they're wrapped up well and in their final packaging.
puzzlegut, I personally like to make lots of different kinds of cookies. Usually I do 10-12 kinds. I figure if I'm going to be baking about the same amount of time anyway, I might as well do lots of kinds for variety and to try out new recipes. Problem is, after a few years there are too many favorites!
sweetthistle, I don't know if the paint cans keep things fresh for that long, as I have been freezing with great luck for a few years. But once the lid is on, it's pretty air-tight.
Wow guys, keep the ideas coming! We'll have to be sure to post our package pics after the holidays!

Ok...those paint cans are just flat out adorable! Do you mind me asking how you do the labels? I'm assuming you make them yourself on the pc and print them out...but what kind of paper do you use and what size is it, etc?? Sorry for all the questions, but I just love them!!

Ok...those paint cans are just flat out adorable! Do you mind me asking how you do the labels? I'm assuming you make them yourself on the pc and print them out...but what kind of paper do you use and what size is it, etc?? Sorry for all the questions, but I just love them!!
JennT: I generally use LABEL PAPER - either a specific size or the full-sheet stuff so I can customize it for whatever size I need. I've done wine bottle labels this way for my father who is a winemaker ... "Casa de Papa" is the "vintner" and a line for year and type (he experiments with lots of different types. Rhubarb wine, Blueberry wine ... sound disgusting, right? But more like adult Kool-Aid with a Kick! Yummmmm!). Background graphic of grape cluster and viola! Done. These were a big hit one year.
Sometimes you can find the label paper at the dollar store, sometimes the local office supply has a sale, you just have to keep your eyes open.
Another source: www.papermart.com. They have lots of different types of packaging, ribbons, wrapping papers, etc. You buy in bulk (or by the case, whatever) instead of individual items most of the time, but they have cool ideas and some very nice products.

missnnaction thank you. the hat box idea is really great. I'll have to check to see if there is a hobby lobby close by.
since this is my 1st year and i'm getting recipes from the internet i am testing them before i decide what i will use. Lastnight i tried this brownie recipe, it was sooo good. it was gone in no more than 3 hours, and thats just between my dad, my dh and myself.
so how do you guys wrap your goodies to keep them fresh? i'm planning on baking in 1 weekend and then mailing out that monday so that everything is pretty much fresh but still will mailing time i'm kinda worried that it might go stale.

You made a good point czyadgrl. I always love trying new recipes, but those usually create new favorites .
As far as when I do my baking, I like to try to make them as fresh as possibly so I'll usually bake them a day or two before I give them out to people. Though maybe if I'm having trouble with timing, I might need to try freezing the goodies. Although I'd be affraid that it will affect the taste of them.

I have not noticed freezing to alter the taste of cookies yet. As long as they are sealed air tight in ziplocks, (and I suck the air out before sealing!) they stay super fresh.
The only one I had problems with were Macaroons. I've read that you can freeze them, but thought they dried out when I did. Other than that, the gingersnaps, chocolate mud bars, sugar and gingerbread cookies, ect. all hold up great to freezing. It takes so much stress off to not do them all in two days (for me anyway).
My paint can labels were made from sparkly paper (called Shine or Curious Metallics). Printed out on a color printer, then I ran it through a Xyron, it makes anything a sticker. And smacked them right on the cans! To figure the size, I just held a ruler up to the paint can to see about how big I wanted it. I did a circular label on the top with area to write the "To" and 'From" to personalize it a bit.
I'm getting so exctied for cookie making! (Yes, I'm a complete and total baking dork! LOL)

I'm getting so exctied for cookie making! (Yes, I'm a complete and total baking dork! LOL)

I know what you mean, i cant wait to get started either. I did some recipe testing today.
Michaels has all baskets 40% off, i found a few for $1.79 with the discount.
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