Homemade treats are some of the bests gifts to give and receive! Giving from your heart, hands, and oven show the recipient that you are they are worth the extra effort, and love always the best ingredient. Cookies are a great gift for almost everyone: the sweet neighbor across the street, your child's very patient teacher, or even the Amazon driver who you see more than your BFF during the holidays. Need a some inspiration to gift wrap your little morsels in a Pinterest-worthy, heartfelt package? We got you!
Here's our top 10 clever ideas to give homemade cookies (no tape or gift wrap required!):
Can-do with canning jars
Vintage jars remind us of our grandmas – homemade jellies, pickles made with fresh garden cucumbers, spiced apple rings and apple butter. Gifting cookies in jars evokes warm, heart-filled memories. Simply stack cookies in the jar of your choosing (hint, make sure the opening is large enough to fit your cookies), close the jar, and adorn with a ribbon or a bow (or even a cross stitched jar topper like grandma would make). How easy is that?
Pair with your favorite hot cocoa mix
Cookies and hot chocolate go together like a cheeseburger and fries, peanut butter and jelly, and a Coke and a smile. Gift 2-4 cookies (or more, who are we to judge?) with single-serve packet of hot chocolate. Stay traditional with hot cocoa – or mix it up with white chocolate, double chocolate, or salted caramel hot cocoa. Yum!
Beautiful and elegant antique plates
Treasure hunt antique plates at local thrift shops with precious patterns, ditzy florals, soft pastels, and intricate designs. Select a variety of plates to provide uniquely perfect gifts for family members, co-workers, or friends. These also make a striking display at a cookie exchange party.
Cookies for Santa plate
Some may say the reason for Christmas cookie season is jolly old St. Nicholas’ visit on Christmas Eve. A Cookies for Santa plate paired with homemade cookies is perfect for new parents, young kids, or the young-at-heart. Etsy has a large selection of customizable plates and trays for an extra special way to start a Christmas tradition for the little ones.
Put the cookie in a cookie tin, literally
Cookies in cookie tins are so nostalgic! It’s no wonder - the origin of placing cookies in tins dates to the mid-1800s when biscuit companies began using tins to help preserve their sweet treats in one piece as they were transported. Tins come in all shapes, sizes, and patterns, and best of all, are practically pre-wrapped making gifting super easy. No scissors or tape required!
Char-cookie-rie board
Char-cookie-rie, charcuterie. Tomayto, tomahto. Take your cookie game to the culinary next level by creating a char-cookie-rie board with your homemade cookies. Choose a simple, circular wood platter or a wood board with a live edge. Makes a perfect hostess gift or your “I’ll bring” to a potluck. For char-cookie-rie inspiration, check out our blog with ideas like a nutty, nutcracker-themed board.
Hug in a mug
What’s an everyday, household item conveniently shaped to fit circular drop cookies? A mug of course! Simply stack cookies inside the mug nestled in a napkin or cellophane. Add a little personality by choosing a mug with a cute saying like hug in a mug, mom boss, or make today awesome.
Wrap in a dishtowel
After placing cookies in a food-safe box or in a cellophane bag, wrap your package in a cute dishtowel tying the ends in a topknot bow. Make the dishtowel fit the event (housewarming, holiday, teacher gift) and add a cute topper (a fun new utensil, ornament or floral / greenery accent, for example), and the perfect gift is ready to go!
Give with a Giving Plate
Truly the gift that keeps on giving, inspire gifting love and bringing joy to friends and family with the paying it forward Giving Plate. If you’re really creative, make a giving plate using a simple plate and food-safe paint and personalize with the recipients’ names.
In a muffin / cupcake tray
The cousin of cookies are cupcakes, right? So it’s somewhat magical that the round molds of cupcake trays most excellently fit cookies! It’s also a clever way to gift a variety of cookies – which gives us “life is a box of chocolates” vibes. Simply place a different cookie into each cupcake mold (maybe even separating with cute muffin tins), seal with plastic wrap or in cellophane bags, place in a shirt box, and gift!
Gifts from the heart
No matter how they are packaged, homemade cookies are truly a gift from the heart. We would love to hear from you - how do you like to package your homemade treats? Share your favorite ideas with our community below!