Holiday cookies as gifts? Delightful. Creatively wrapped holiday cookies as gifts? Doubly delightful. Creatively wrapped holiday cookies in reusable packaging as gifts? Triply … well, you get the picture. When you’re planning your holiday baking, don’t forget about the finishing touches that take a gift from sweet to extra special. These low- and no-waste packaging ideas are a gift that keeps on giving.
Tea Towel Treat
Inspired by the Japanese practice of furoshiki (wrapping gifts in traditional cloths), a clean tea towel makes a sweet satchel for holiday treats. First, secure the cookies by placing them in an airtight container. Lay out the towel in a diamond shape, place the container in the center, fold in the top and bottom edges, and tie the sides together for a picture-perfect wrapping job. (This technique also works for books, a bottle of wine, and other small gift items.)
A Perfect Tin
Before that cookie tin in the pantry became a sewing kit (we all had one in our homes growing up, right?), it held treats that were baked with love. For a simple cookie tin, place fully cooled and/or dry cookies in single layers between sheets of waxed or parchment paper. You can use any airtight tin for this—thrift stores are a great place to find beautiful vintage tins. For the cleanest results, line the tin with wax or parchment paper, and if you’re layering cookies inside, cut pieces of wax or parchment paper to fit the shape of the tin and place one between.
To take your tin to the next level, line the bottom and sides of a square or rectangular airtight tin with corrugated paper. Fold short lengths of paper in half for dividers. Then, envelop your cookies in tissue paper, buffer them with corrugated paper tubes, and protect them using accordion folds of red paper. You can also tie a short stack of cookies with baker’s twine. Use several different types of cookies for a mix-and-match effect reminiscent of a box of chocolates.
Wish Upon a Jar
Wide-mouth mason jars make a perfect delivery vehicle for a stack of round, small-to-medium-sized cookies—complete with a cookie tag. If you have a baker in your life (or just an aspiring one), you can also do a DIY cookie mix. Seal the dry ingredients in your mason jar, and print a small label or tag with mixing and baking instructions. Attach the tag with twine for a rustic look or red ribbon for a classic Christmas vibe. After baking, the jars can be repurposed for storage or canning.
Mold to Fit
A Bundt pan or pudding mold lined with parchment paper makes an excellent vessel for treats—not to mention a useful gift long after the holiday season is over. If you use a Bundt or kitchen mold with an open top, this idea works best for a party or event where the cookies will be enjoyed the same day.
Seal for Freshness
Remember that an airtight container will keep your cookies fresh the longest. Whether you go for glass, tin, or Tupperware, seal your cookies off from the elements—and definitely make sure they are fully cooled and dry (if iced) before packaging them. You can count on your cookies lasting about five days for the best flavor and texture. If you need to make the cookies ahead of time, freeze them immediately after cooling and thaw fully before packaging.
