Bulk Christmas goodies
November 24, 2013 8:16 PM Subscribe
What are your best recipes for holiday goodies to give out as gifts, to make in bulk?
I normally give Christmas tin boxes of cookies or a bag of truffles for Christmas which costs me about $10-12 each, but this year I am on a tight Christmas budget and can't spend more than $100. I have 25 of these goodie boxes, if you will, to give out, do you have any ideas how to make this work? Of course I'm realizing I'll have to do the baking/DIY myself. Currently Im considering cookies, assortment of goodies, or chocolate dipped nuts clusters so recipes, ideas, links to resources.. all your help is appreciated! I'm not an experienced baker so if you could give me ideas other then cookies that would be fantastic! Also presentation tips on how to wrap these goodies would be great too!
I normally give Christmas tin boxes of cookies or a bag of truffles for Christmas which costs me about $10-12 each, but this year I am on a tight Christmas budget and can't spend more than $100. I have 25 of these goodie boxes, if you will, to give out, do you have any ideas how to make this work? Of course I'm realizing I'll have to do the baking/DIY myself. Currently Im considering cookies, assortment of goodies, or chocolate dipped nuts clusters so recipes, ideas, links to resources.. all your help is appreciated! I'm not an experienced baker so if you could give me ideas other then cookies that would be fantastic! Also presentation tips on how to wrap these goodies would be great too!
A friend of mine gives out caramel popcorn. It looks a little time-consuming but it's delicious. Also: cheap.
The pâtes de fruits recipes at candy.about.com are reliable, and delicious. It wouldn't be easy to give everybody a huge box, but if you make a selection of flavours it quickly turns into such a luxurious sort of thing that just one of each is really nice to get.
posted by kmennie at 8:49 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
The pâtes de fruits recipes at candy.about.com are reliable, and delicious. It wouldn't be easy to give everybody a huge box, but if you make a selection of flavours it quickly turns into such a luxurious sort of thing that just one of each is really nice to get.
posted by kmennie at 8:49 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Peppermint bark is very easy, reasonably cheap, and very festive.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:51 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:51 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Hot chocolate mix - Alton Brown's recipe is more "cocoa mix"-like (with powdered milk) and cheaper on a per-serving basis, but I prefer J. Kenji López-Alt's recipe for sheer chocolate-y ness.
You will want to look for a local baking/chocolate supply source for this amount, but getting something like this or this for 100% cacao chocolate and this for cocoa powder will be right in your price range and will give your recipients some of the best hot chocolate they've ever had.
posted by saeculorum at 8:57 PM on November 24, 2013
You will want to look for a local baking/chocolate supply source for this amount, but getting something like this or this for 100% cacao chocolate and this for cocoa powder will be right in your price range and will give your recipients some of the best hot chocolate they've ever had.
posted by saeculorum at 8:57 PM on November 24, 2013
These sugared cranberries are fabulous, easy and cheap. Ingredients- two kinds of sugar, cranberries, and water. And you can use the steeping liquid in cocktails too!
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:58 PM on November 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:58 PM on November 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
My mom always makes butter crunch candy. If you can buy butter and/or almonds in bulk, you can make quite a lot of it and give it to people in varying amounts. It's super delicious and easy to make lots of.
posted by jessamyn at 8:59 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 8:59 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
Someone gave me a bag of homemade puppy chow once, and it was the best thing. I think you just have to shake melted chocolate, peanut butter, confectioner's sugar, and cereal together in a bag. But it is amazing. People will love you. Put it in a cellophane bag and put a ribbon on it.
When I was in high school, I gave all my friends snack boxes every year. It was generally assorted cookies and bars (brownies, Rice Krispie treats, chocolate chip cookies, and sometimes a couple of fancy gingerbread or sugar cookies made to look like atoms or Erlenmeyer flasks or lobsters). Ziploc puts out plastic resealable containers every winter; I usually used those for the bars and things. Each person would usually get one brownie, one Rice Krispie treat, and enough cookies to fill the rest of the box (generally 3-5; they were small boxes). I put a small, stick-on gift bow on each box. I wrapped the fancy cookies in cellophane bags when I gave them out.
I used to make Rice Krispie treats with the recipe on the cereal box; it was super easy. This is a good, simple brownie recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Smitten Kitchen is a great resource; I taught myself how to bake using recipes from there. It will not fail you or set you astray.
Seriously though: Puppy chow. Just do it.
posted by topoisomerase at 9:00 PM on November 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
When I was in high school, I gave all my friends snack boxes every year. It was generally assorted cookies and bars (brownies, Rice Krispie treats, chocolate chip cookies, and sometimes a couple of fancy gingerbread or sugar cookies made to look like atoms or Erlenmeyer flasks or lobsters). Ziploc puts out plastic resealable containers every winter; I usually used those for the bars and things. Each person would usually get one brownie, one Rice Krispie treat, and enough cookies to fill the rest of the box (generally 3-5; they were small boxes). I put a small, stick-on gift bow on each box. I wrapped the fancy cookies in cellophane bags when I gave them out.
I used to make Rice Krispie treats with the recipe on the cereal box; it was super easy. This is a good, simple brownie recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Smitten Kitchen is a great resource; I taught myself how to bake using recipes from there. It will not fail you or set you astray.
Seriously though: Puppy chow. Just do it.
posted by topoisomerase at 9:00 PM on November 24, 2013 [4 favorites]
You would probably find some good ideas in this recent thread.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:14 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
- Here is a nice easy gingersnap-type cookie recipe from NotMartha.
- tiny gingerbread houses that perch on the edge of a mug (also from NotMartha; these might be more labour-intensive than you want but they look terrific)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:14 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
My mom makes English toffee. Not too hard or time consuming and fairly impressive.
posted by town of cats at 9:24 PM on November 24, 2013
posted by town of cats at 9:24 PM on November 24, 2013
This Lip-smacking popcorn concoction is amazingly delectable and super easy. It's basically popcorn, pretzels, M&Ms and slivered almonds tossed in white chocolate (says "confectioner's coating" in the recipe, but white chocolate has always worked for me, as long as you don't heat it up too fast).
It also has the virtue of being very pretty and Christmasy-looking if you use red and green M&Ms: you don't have to get fancy with the packaging, just shovel into plain cellophane treat bags and tie tightly with festive curly ribbon.
posted by Bardolph at 9:38 PM on November 24, 2013
It also has the virtue of being very pretty and Christmasy-looking if you use red and green M&Ms: you don't have to get fancy with the packaging, just shovel into plain cellophane treat bags and tie tightly with festive curly ribbon.
posted by Bardolph at 9:38 PM on November 24, 2013
Sugared and spiced nuts are insanely easy and after I made them last year my family has specifically requested them again this year.
Just take some nuts (whatever you like) whisk up an egg white and stir in the nuts to coat them, stir through sugar and cinnamon (or other spices), spread out on a baking tray and bake in the oven for a little while. Leave to cool and break the nuts apart.
Smitten Kitchen recipe
posted by neilb449 at 11:14 PM on November 24, 2013
Just take some nuts (whatever you like) whisk up an egg white and stir in the nuts to coat them, stir through sugar and cinnamon (or other spices), spread out on a baking tray and bake in the oven for a little while. Leave to cool and break the nuts apart.
Smitten Kitchen recipe
posted by neilb449 at 11:14 PM on November 24, 2013
I usually make candied orange slices (dip some half in dark chocolate for extra decadence). They are easy and very pretty, especially in cellophane bags tied with ribbon. Beware you need quite a lot of space to leave them spread out while they dry though.
posted by lollusc at 11:39 PM on November 24, 2013
posted by lollusc at 11:39 PM on November 24, 2013
My dad makes party mix. The savory chex mix variety with onion salt, worsterchire sauce, peanuts, pretzels, etc.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:41 AM on November 25, 2013
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:41 AM on November 25, 2013
Another Smitten Kitchen recipe - this was the easiest and best thing I made last year - I always make cookies, but this was *amazing*. Saltine, butter, sugar, chocolate. I did not add nuts to it.
posted by needlegrrl at 5:06 AM on November 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by needlegrrl at 5:06 AM on November 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm seconding not only peppermint bark but other types of bark with any ingredients. Though the chocolate is more expensive than say popcorn especially if you pop your own from kernels. Fancy bark example.
posted by RoadScholar at 5:29 AM on November 25, 2013
posted by RoadScholar at 5:29 AM on November 25, 2013
I give out jars of vanilla sugar. Last year I made 20 6oz jars for about $60 total. The jars are the biggest cost for me, so you can obviously use a cheaper container to cut costs further, but I liked the idea of a container that people could reuse and not just throw away. You can get vanilla beans on Amazon on the cheap.
Vanilla sugar in coffee and in baking is heavenly.
posted by marshmallow peep at 6:29 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Vanilla sugar in coffee and in baking is heavenly.
posted by marshmallow peep at 6:29 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
We make Chocolate Almond Buttercrunch Toffee. If you buy the nuts and chocolate in bulk at Costco and give it in cello bags, it's cheap enough including the packaging. You will absolutely need a candy thermometer, however.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:46 AM on November 25, 2013
posted by DarlingBri at 6:46 AM on November 25, 2013
Paper Baking Pans.
Martha Stewart bakeable paper pans.
It's a pan and your gift package. Easy.
Look for pound cake recipes and quick bread recipes, like pumpkin spice or cranberry breads. I make Smitten Kitchen's Jacked Up Banana Bread often. I leave out the bourbon and the cloves, not because I don't like those ingredients, I just don't have them on hand. It's delicious and easy, not mixer required. Ina Garten's lemon pound cake and orange pound cake are also winners.
posted by Fairchild at 6:50 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Martha Stewart bakeable paper pans.
It's a pan and your gift package. Easy.
Look for pound cake recipes and quick bread recipes, like pumpkin spice or cranberry breads. I make Smitten Kitchen's Jacked Up Banana Bread often. I leave out the bourbon and the cloves, not because I don't like those ingredients, I just don't have them on hand. It's delicious and easy, not mixer required. Ina Garten's lemon pound cake and orange pound cake are also winners.
posted by Fairchild at 6:50 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Haystacks (peanut butter or butterscotch) are super cheap and add variety in cookie tins. Here's a recipe I looked up but haven't tried myself.
posted by stompadour at 6:57 AM on November 25, 2013
posted by stompadour at 6:57 AM on November 25, 2013
Seconding Haystacks. I make these every year to give out to teachers, coworkers, etc, and they are always a huge hit.
posted by SkylitDrawl at 7:01 AM on November 25, 2013
posted by SkylitDrawl at 7:01 AM on November 25, 2013
Two Christmas treats I've made that have been big hits are David Lebovitz's Pretzel & Nut Mix, and mini pretzels topped with Rolo candies. Lay mini pretzels on a cookie sheet and place a Rolo on top of each. Put them in the oven until the Rolos are mostly melted. Let them cool before removing them from the cookie sheet. Really easy and tasty.
posted by neushoorn at 7:32 AM on November 25, 2013
posted by neushoorn at 7:32 AM on November 25, 2013
If you want to get away from candy/nut mixes, you can make Nekisia Davis's Olive Oil and Maple Granola. I'm eating some right this minute and it's delicious, and unusual enough that it would make a fun gift.
posted by HotToddy at 7:41 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 7:41 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
P.S. One thing about the granola is you can manipulate the ingredients to fit your budget if necessary--I would say the key ingredients are the oats, olive oil, maple, brown sugar, salt, and coconut chips, but after that I think you can do what you like.
posted by HotToddy at 7:48 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 7:48 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Flavored salts are also easy and inexpensive. We sent out "chicken salt" (kosher salt with some pepper, thyme leaves, and lemon zest) and "bloody mary salt" (salt with ground celery seed) last year.
The most expensive part was the jars, since we went with super cute clamping lids, but you can buy regular spice jars in bulk. Or perhaps if you have an in on small cute tins. :) Add some labels and you are golden.
If you'd rather do sweets, there was a mention of vanilla sugar above. You can go nuts here, too -- cinnamon or clove sugars, lemon or orange (use zest)...
I don't recommend you send flavored salts and flavored sugars in the same gift. :)
posted by janell at 11:39 AM on November 25, 2013
The most expensive part was the jars, since we went with super cute clamping lids, but you can buy regular spice jars in bulk. Or perhaps if you have an in on small cute tins. :) Add some labels and you are golden.
If you'd rather do sweets, there was a mention of vanilla sugar above. You can go nuts here, too -- cinnamon or clove sugars, lemon or orange (use zest)...
I don't recommend you send flavored salts and flavored sugars in the same gift. :)
posted by janell at 11:39 AM on November 25, 2013
I've made these gingersnaps for the last few years' christmas presents, and several people have asked for them again. They are crazy delicious and super easy. I make them with a tablespoon of ginger instead of a teaspoon, and add a teaspoon of nutmeg, since I like them a bit spicier.
Depending how big you make them and how long you cook them, they can be made chewy, chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside (my favourite), or crispy all the way through. Experiment with the first batch, it'll make a ton of cookies, so I usually halve the recipe if I'm not giving many as gifts or if I'm making other cookies as well. They are pretty sweet if you roll them in sugar so sometimes I skip that, but it gives a really nice crust on the outside. You could drop the mixed-in sugar amount a bit if you're worried, but they're great as-is.
posted by randomnity at 12:59 PM on November 25, 2013 [5 favorites]
Depending how big you make them and how long you cook them, they can be made chewy, chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside (my favourite), or crispy all the way through. Experiment with the first batch, it'll make a ton of cookies, so I usually halve the recipe if I'm not giving many as gifts or if I'm making other cookies as well. They are pretty sweet if you roll them in sugar so sometimes I skip that, but it gives a really nice crust on the outside. You could drop the mixed-in sugar amount a bit if you're worried, but they're great as-is.
posted by randomnity at 12:59 PM on November 25, 2013 [5 favorites]
(and ignore the ugly picture on the recipe page, mine look much nicer, more like this)
posted by randomnity at 1:03 PM on November 25, 2013
posted by randomnity at 1:03 PM on November 25, 2013
Biscotti is easy to make and the homemade stuff tastes much better than the crap sitting in a jar by the cash register at your local Starbucks.
posted by Napoleonic Terrier at 7:36 PM on November 25, 2013
posted by Napoleonic Terrier at 7:36 PM on November 25, 2013
I would make a bunch of sweet puppy chow, and a bunch of savory chex mix, packed in ziplock bags, 1 each in a home-decorated paper bag, with a holiday sticker to close the bag. Or popcorn balls or ginger snaps. But cereal mixes have reasonably-priced ingredients and you can get the generics. You can use olive or corn oil instead of butter, and can omit nuts. I make chex mix with chex only - corn, bran, rice and wheat, because I don't want anything to sully the flavor of the yummy chex. Paper lunch bags can be gussied up with stamps, ribbon, etc., and can function as both package and holiday card.
posted by theora55 at 10:18 AM on November 29, 2013
posted by theora55 at 10:18 AM on November 29, 2013
« Older Why is sports officiator Frank Fats Cubellis... | Help me identify the meaning and origins of this... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Empidonax at 8:44 PM on November 24, 2013 [7 favorites]