Gourmet Cookie Gift Baskets
Who doesn’t love those amazing gourmet cookie gift baskets? Each individual cookie is an absolute WORK of ART! There's no reason why you can't make your own gourmet cookies gift basket, all you need is a terrific sugar cookie recipe, a set or two of groovy shaped plastic or metal cookie cutters, a little creativity and lots of imagination!    Check out this selection of superb ready made gourmet cookie gift baskets ( click on the pics for more info and pricing) and then read on for some TERRIFIC IDEAS to inspire you to make your own awesomely fabulous baskets!
Firstly invest in a decent selection of plastic or metal cookie cutters. If you're having trouble finding the right shaped cookie cutter try tracing around shapes cut out from ordinary cardboard. Or have a dig around in your child's play dough utensils set. You'll be surprised what LITTLE TREASURES will turn up in there! To help you create your own fabulously individual designs for your gourmet cookie gift baskets try looking for pictures in magazines or on line and then get baking. Check out these SIMPLE cookie shape ideas for inspiration, or make up a few of your own. Housewarming –house, letterbox numbers
Gardeners – flowers, leaves
Valentines – heart, lips
Easter – Easter Bunny, eggs
Halloween - Witches hat, cat, pumpkin
Kids – Gingerbread man or woman, animals
Christmas - Christmas trees, stars, angels
Birthday - Balloons, presents, candles
New Baby - Duck, teddy bear, rattle
Sports Fanatic -Football, basketball, ice skates
Need some SUPPLIES? Check out these delightful Christmas cookie cutters. For the perfect icing colors, these Americolor soft gel colors are amazing!! Or swap the old disposable type icing bags for these bottles and grab a silicone baking mat, so much easier to use and much kinder on the environment too! Use one of the basic sugar cookie recipes like this one below to begin with. Make sure your cookie dough is STIFF enough to be rolled out and cut into shapes. Sugar cookies - basic recipe for using with shapes.
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter
1 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
- Sift the flour and baking powder together then stir in the sugar and salt.
- Cut in butter and blend until it's nice and crumbly. Lightly beat the egg and mix with the cream and vanilla. Tip in to the bowl and blend the mixtures together.
- VERY IMPORTANT! Put your dough in the fridge for at least an hour, it's much easier to roll out when it's cold!
- Sprinkle some flour on to a flat surface and roll the dough out until it's about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out your desired cookie shapes.
TIP - If you're putting your cookies onto skewers, press the skewers into the cookies BEFORE you put them in the oven. You will need to push the skewers into the dough for about 2 inches. - Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake for 6 - 8 minutes, or until lightly brown.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for a couple of minutes BEFORE moving them onto a cooling rack. Make sure you don't pick them up by the sticks until they are cool, or you will end up with a big mess :(
- Allow the cookies to cool and then ice and decorate with your chosen theme.
Once the icing is completely dry, if you prefer, you can wrap the cookies individually using cellophane and a length of curly ribbon around the top of each stick.
How to Assemble
Gourmet Cookie Gift Baskets
When it comes to presenting your delectable designer cookies you have two options, you can either look for some interesting
containers
or pop the cookies on to wooden skewers (choose from lollipop sticks, chopsticks, or popsicle sticks) and make them into a bouquet like the pics at the top of the page (scroll down for instructions).If you decide a bouquet is not quite your forte, then go for something like a decorative cake tin, a themed or plain gift box or a wicker basket. Make sure you line the container with florists tissue first.
If you’ve made cookies with DIFFERENT FLAVORS try placing each variety of cookie in it’s own individual box, then stacking the boxes on top of each other and tying with gorgeous color co-ordinated ribbons and bows.Or put the cookies into cellophane bags, tie the top securely with a length of curly ribbon and place a selection of bags into a nice basket. Use a complementary color ribbon and tie a bow to the handles of the gift basket. Follow these instructions if you need help with
how to tie a bow
How to Make a Simple Cookie Bouquet
First you'll need something to stand your cookies in, a vase, a cardboard box, or a bucket or pail, or mug will all work well. Just remember to consider the length and size of your cookies when you're choosing a container. You don't want all your hard work to topple over!- Place some styrofoam to fit tightly into the bottom of the container.
- Poke the cookie "stems" into the foam and arrange your "cookie flowers" just like you would make a regular bouquet!
- When you're happy with the way your bouquet looks, stuff some tissue paper in between the skewers, this not only helps to hide the styrofoam it also looks really nice!
- Add ribbons and bows and any other decorations you feel are appropriate and that's it! EAZY PEAZY!
Superbly Delicious Cookie Recipes Check out this selection of favorite cookie recipes to add some variety to your gourmet cookie gift baskets. Some of these cookie recipes have been baked in my family since I was a child. They are SO GOOD that I'm still baking them now! Enjoy!
Homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe
-everyones's favorite!
Shortbread cookies
- rich and buttery, plain or choc dipped.
Anzac biscuits
- a classic New Zealand cookie!
Recipe for Biscotti
- perfect for dunking!
And whilst not traditionally a cookie
a decadent
fudge brownie
would be
perfectly acceptable to include in
your gourmet cookie gift baskets. Made with real chocolate, who could
possibly resist?
Some more great pages you might like!
Creative Gift Packaging
Empty Gift Boxes
Homemade Christmas Basket Ideas
Gourmet Cookie Gift Baskets to Home Page of Gift Basket Ideas
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