Whether you're gathering with neighbors for the annual holiday party or talking on the phone to grandparents across the country, the holidays are a time of togetherness and sharing. What better way to show your love than giving the gift of homemade cookies or other holiday treats, made with care—and the very best ingredients, of course! After all, the most important thing during the holidays is sharing the best foods, to savor the good times spent with all the people you love most. Read on for two dozen of our favorite homemade treats, as well as ideas on how to wrap, decorate and ship them!
The Gift of Holiday Cookies
Nothing announces the holiday season like a platter of delicious cookies just waiting for eager hands! Making cookies with family and friends is truly the gift of time spent together: play some carols or your favorite holiday movie in the background, assemble all your ingredients and tools, tie on an apron and spend an afternoon scooping, rolling and making magical memories!
Top Tips for Baking Together
- Decide on your recipes beforehand, and assign everyone ingredients or decorative touches to bring
- Be conscious of any dietary restrictions: make gluten free and gluten full cookies separately or at different times, to prevent cross contamination, and keep those ingredients (and the tools you use with them) separate as well
- Read the recipes for timing: some doughs need to be refrigerated for a few hours before shaping and baking, anything with yeast will need at least an hour to rise, Like and most baked goods need ample time to cool before frosting
- Have people bring containers, so they can safely take their creations home
You'll find complete instructions for our chewy, sparkly Molasses Cookies and our tender, snowball-like Holiday Tea Cookies in our Give the Gift of Homemade ebook!
We have three favorite ways to wrap cookies to gift them for the holidays: which way you choose will depend on the type of cookie you're baking, and how far they have to travel.
Holiday Gifting Is in the Bag
Sturdy holiday cookies that aren't highly decorated are wonderful for gift bags. Some of our favorites are our classic gluten free Sparkling Stars and Snowflakes and these versatile, classic Shortbread Cookies. If you're looking for variety in a hurry, take a peek at our master recipe for Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies. One simple dough makes four different holiday cookies: Holiday Sprinkles, Fruit & Pistachio, Peppermint Cocoa, and Pumpkin Pecan.
Instructions
- Stack six cookies and tie with twine
- Slide into a paper or cellophane bag
- Close bag securely—don’t forget to add a gift tag (you can find print-at-home tags here)
- Make it merry: decorate with greenery or cinnamon sticks, attaching with a glue gun or adhesive of choice
- Repeat with your remaining cookies and go spread some holiday cheer!
Box up Some Holiday Treats
When gifting holiday cookies that are fragile or feature a lot of decorations, you'll want to wrap them with care in a sturdy box. While we have full instructions showing a simple kraft paper box in our Gift Giving Guide, there are several beautiful ways to package these creations:
Our Favorite Holiday Cookie Containers
- Paper boxes: A classic, and easy to find online or at craft stores
- Holiday tins: Here's a #ProTip: visit your local dollar store (the earlier in the season the better), they usually have all kinds of bright, beautiful tins in a variety of sizes
- Upcycled goods: Keep an eye out for things you already have that you can repurpose, like a candy box or glass jar that you can decorate with wrapping paper, ribbon and greenery
- Cookies & cocoa mug: Find a cute holiday mug to fill with cookies, and gift to a friend alongside some homemade hot cocoa mix!
Box and tin-worthy treats include Gluten Free Danish Butter Cookies (perfect for a round tin), which taste just like the Christmas classic, but are gluten free thanks to our expertly blended Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour. Another huge favorite here at the mill are these Chocolate Pecan Oatmeal Lace Cookies, made with the magic of browned butter, Organic Unbleached All Purpose White Flour, melted chocolate and a pinch of flaky sea salt.
Fragile-yet gorgeous Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies are also ideal for boxing: to keep them in place, place them in regular or mini paper cupcake liners, depending on the size of your cookies. Frosted cookies like these Gingerbread Cookies and Frosted Sugar Cookies make gorgeous gifts and are also gluten free (Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour wields its magic once again), although you can substitute our high-quality Organic Unbleached All Purpose White Flour in equal amounts if you prefer.
We recommend no more than two layers of treats per box, separated by layers of parchment paper!
Holiday Dessert Gifts
Gluten Free Mint Chocolate Pound Cake
Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Maple Oat Streusel
