Holiday Cookies

Presentation counts! Make your holiday baked goods extra special with seven sensational packaging ideas from HGTV.com.

Glitz & Glimmer Bags

Gold bags with a silver lining, sealed with a flash of holiday ribbon. Now what could be prettier? Here's how to make them.

Materials:

silver and gold vinyl with thermal backing (commonly used as tablecloth material) -1/4 yard of each
hot glue or needle and thread
three yards of 1/2" sheer gold ribbon
scissors

Steps:

1. Glue or stitch vinyl pieces together, right sides out.
   
2. Make a center fold in the length of the joined fabric. Make a second and third fold two inches from the center fold.
   
3. Using the center fold as point placement, fold at the second and third lines in to form a triangle shape with the point that hits the center fold. Stand the outer edges of the bag up and overlap them to form the bag sides. Glue the triangular flap up on the bag.
   
4. Repeat steps 3 and 4 on the opposite side of the bag. It should resemble a lunch bag.
   
5. Fold down the top of the bag and cut two, centered 1/2-inch slits in the folded flap.
   
6. Fill the bag with goodies and then lace the yardage of ribbon from the backside of the flap to the front and center it. Tie a shoestring bow, pulling it taut. Tie a second bow, a third, a fourth and a fifth, arranging the ribbon in a pleasing manner.

Inexpensive glass bowls and jars, as well as plastic or tin holiday-themed containers with lids are terrific for packaging holiday goods. Just finish these off with a pretty ribbon, securing the lid while dressing up the package.

Cardboard gift boxes with printed holiday-themed lids are just the thing for cookies that need to lay flat. Line the box bottom with tissue paper, position the cookies, cover with tissue, then top with the lid and a festive bow.

Need a smaller box to accommodate a half-dozen cookies? Try this pattern. Trace it onto card stock, cut it out, make a few cuts with a utility knife, fold on dotted lines, tape or glue to secure, and you have just the perfect thing. Add cookies, wrap in plastic wrap and secure with a length of ribbon and a bow.

Line a small wooden crate (available in craft and department stores for less than $4) with a holiday dishtowel or napkin. Line up the cookies inside the crate, then fold the napkin/dishtowel neatly to cover the cookies. Tie off with ribbon and a small ornament for a great gift.

A basket is a great packaging choice if you've got several items or cookies that need a lot of space, like frosted ones. Pick out a basket and select 1/4 yard of coordinating fabric. Line the basket with the fabric, letting the excess drape over the sides. Fill the basket, then cover the goodies with the excess fabric. Finish with a fussy bow for a fabulous gift.

What's functional, beautiful, edible and perfect for giving out holiday goodies? A plate made of hard candy! Here's one made using a microwave hard candy recipe:

Materials:

oven-safe pie plate
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp. oil flavoring (depends on the goodies—we used cinnamon)
liquid food coloring
heat-resistant glass bowl
candy thermometer
plastic wrap
nonstick cooking spray
wooden spoon

Preparation:

Generously spray the pie plate with cooking spray. Thoroughly mix together sugar and corn syrup in the glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and cook in the microwave for three minutes and 15 seconds. Remove bowl from microwave. Using extreme caution remove the plastic wrap (careful of the steam!!) and stir with a wooden spoon. Cover with a new sheet of plastic wrap.

Return to microwave, heating for an additional three minutes and 15 seconds. Remove immediately, uncover (again, careful of the steam) and stir. Test the temperature with a candy thermometer. The temperature needs to reach between 250 and 300 degrees. Once boiling subsides, stir in coloring and flavoring.

Pour immediately into the pie dish. Allow to harden, then remove "plate" from the pie dish. Line cookies up on the candy plate and wrap with plastic wrap. Secure the wrap with ribbon.