Homemade cookies are always a welcome gift but we can make it even more special with these creative cookie packaging ideas.
How you wrap cookies for gift giving will depend on the occasion and how those gifts will be given. Mailing cookies needs special care versus hand delivering a tin or basket full of cookies.
Homemade cookies come in a variety of flavors and thankfully we can give them all in beautiful ways that our loved ones will enjoy even more.
Use these simple packaging ideas for Christmas, birthdays, housewarmings, and more.
The Simple Cookie Tin
The ever present cookie tin is a classic for a reason. A tin is a great way to put cookies of different types together easily.
Look for frugal tins at thrift stores and yard sales. Simply give them a thorough cleaning before filling.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with filling an entire tin with one type of cookie. This is a great idea for giving someone their very favorite type of cookie in large amounts.
If you want to give a variety of cookies, tins are great ways to do that as well. Layer cookies in tins by simply stacking them on top of each other in neat rows.
You can use cupcake liners as a way to keep cookies together and from touching one another in the tin. You can also include a key in the lid of the tin so folks can pick and choose cookies based on their favorites.
Fill empty spaces in the cookie tin with dried fruits, nuts, or hard candies to give the tin a decorative and more edible touch. This is an easy way to make a simple tin of cookie more festive for the holiday season.
The Brown Paper Bag
Using or reusing a small gift bag is another great way of packaging cookies. This is especially useful when the recipient is local and they don’t need (or want) another container in their home or if you’re giving to several people and don’t have the funds to purchase containers.
You can dress up brown paper bags with artwork or bits of fabric, you can even reuse bags from stores by covering their logo with some kind of artwork, you can also reuse gift bags that have been previously given to you.
The cookies can easily be packaged in plastic wrap and then tied with ribbon or baker’s twine. This is a great way to give small amounts of different types of cookies.
The Gift Basket
Give loved ones their favorite cookies and other bits by combining everything into a gift basket or box.
Combine pumpkin cookies with coffee, a travel mug, and pumpkin pie spice for the pumpkin spice latte fan in your life.
Give a favorite book, a handmade candle, and some lemon shortbread cookies to the homebody.
Simply wrap cookies in plastic or cellophane cookie bags and stack them in the baskets for ease. Tie ribbons or attach bows to the bags for festive and yet simple touch. Attach pretty labels to the cookies and, if the recipient also likes to bake, give them the recipe.
The Mailed Care Package
When mailing cookies, choose hearty, thick cookies over thin, brittle cookies. This is the best way to increase the chances that cookies will arrive to their destination mostly whole. Cookies such as sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and oatmeal cookies are great options for mailing.
Wrap cookies in wax or parchment paper or plastic bags by stacking them on top of each other and sealing tightly with twist ties or bakers twine. This tube-like effect will keep them from moving too much and sitting stably in their box.
Be sure to label those cookies clearly so that your recipients know what is in each bag.
You can then put the packaged cookies in cardboard boxes in ways to protect them from too many bumps and drops. Shredded newspaper works great as does just wadding the newspaper up tightly. There’s no need to buy expensive packaging supplies. You can also use reusable packaging you’ve gotten over the year – I like to reuse padded envelopes on the top and bottom of the cardboard box, reuse kraft paper for a rustic look or even tissue paper or wrapping paper for a more festive look.
If you want to give a bit more for special occasion, using tea towels to pad the box is a great option.
When mailing cookies, the priority is getting the delicious cookies to the recipient in one piece, not having an amazing packaging design.
Other Containers
Know someone who collects cookie jars? Find an interesting cookie jar and fill it with some homemade cookies for them.
A filled cookie jar is a favorite way to celebrate a housewarming, a new homeowner, or neighbor.
Wide-mouth mason jars will work for small cookies and look lovely tucked into gift baskets or given alone with a thank you card for something simple and delightful.
Other interesting containers could include wooden cigar boxes, homemade tote bags, an old candle jar and more. Simply put cookies inside things other people will love. This is a delightful way to increase the joy and the gift – tucking homemade cookies into something else that might feel (but probably isn’t) humble.
It’s the Thought
Homemade cookies are in and of themselves an amazing gift, and not just holiday cookies and other special occasions. Cookie gifts truly don’t need much wrapping to be better, it just feels nicer to give someone we love a pretty package.
However, the entire process of gifting cookies, from baking to packaging, along with other obligations mean that time is often short. Do the best you can but remember that creative cookie packaging can be simple and yet lovely at the same time.