The Times They Are A Changing

If you have a specialty baking recipe that everyone always loves, then half your battle for this gift ideas is done. If not, I’ll give you some great “easy” recipes to use that the recipient of this gift will think you slaved over. Fewer and fewer people have time to bake cookies and candies for the holidays, yet it doesn’t seem like the holiday season with out them. And besides, everyone likes food. You can’t go wrong with this handmade gift idea.

Baked Goods Gift Containers

If you are not particularly crafty you can purchase holiday tins and containers for very reasonable prices at discount stores. Another easy container is a basket lined with raffia or colored tissue paper. If you want to spend a bit more, purchase a cookie jar and fill it with homemade goodies. There are also clear, gold and silver bags made for just this purpose. Simply fill with goodies and tie the bag with a festive ribbon.

Baked Goods Gift Containers for Even the Slightly Crafty

A large canning (or other glass) jar is perfect to see the layers of goodies. You could spray paint the lid white or red and then tie a patterned ribbon around it with a homemade gift tag attached. Patterned ribbon can be found at discount or craft stores.

If you’d like to go a step further, purchase some festive cotton fabric and cut circles twice as large as the top of the jar. Cut the edges of the circle with a pinking shears or other decorative edging scissors. If you are working with a canning jar, place the circle of fabric over the lid and then attach the screw top. If working with a regular jar, just place the circle down and then screw on the lid. Tie a solid ribbon around the lid with your homemade tag attached.

Another option is to purchase a plain hard card/paper box at the craft store. They come in different sizes and shapes. Purchase some scrapbook paper and glue it to the outside and inside of the box. Now it can be embellished with beads, ribbon, stickers, paper shapes, etc. Tweens and teens would love to help with this part of the gift as well as the baking. Line the box with colored tissue paper before adding the baked goods. The box can be used later by the recipient for decorative storage.

Baking

When you bake, make sure to make plenty so that you can put some away for your own family to enjoy.

Gingerbread Cookies
Sugar Cookies

Both of these are fun to make and can be mixed with a recipe of easy fudge. Purchase some fun shaped cookie cutters. Just make sure you use a good recipe of royal icing for decorating them and it will harden so you won’t have mushed frosting as you pack them.

Monster Cookies (you can add peanuts to this recipe) are loved by all and they are huge so they really make a statement. However, you can make any cookie recipe into “large” cookies for the effect. Just make sure you cook them a few extra minutes to make up for the size.

No Bake Cookies are nice for the younger helpers to make. The easiest and best fudge is right on the back of the marshmallow cream jars in the baking isle of the grocery store. It’s easy to make and comes out perfectly every time.

Happy baking.

Resources

More Holiday Cookie Recipes

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