Christmas Cookie Box

Choosing what cookies to bake seems like the simplest step, but there are things you want to consider. First off, how many cookies do you want to make? We suggest about 6-8 cookies because you don’t want to burn yourself out. Obviously our Christmas Cookie Box is over the top with more than 10 cookies, but you don’t need to choose that many! Choose cookies that share complimentary tastes and flavors, especially when using strong flavors like peppermint. We like to make cookie recipes that are different sizes and textures to add variety.

Honestly, giving yourself ample time is the secret weapon to making stunning Cookie Boxes. Everything else is (literally) just filler. Give yourself enough time to shop for ingredients and supplies. Baking, cooling, and decorating cookies all adds to the time. It takes time to assemble the boxes, especially if you plan on wrapping things individually, and pack them correctly for shipping. Finally, you’ll need to figure out how long shipping will take and plan on a few hours at UPS or FexEx during the holidays.

Print out the recipe cards for all your cookie recipes and read them through at least once before you go shopping.

Plan out the order you need to make each batch of cookies so they have enough time to cool completely and for any decorations to set.

Take inventory of what you have on hand both for ingredients and supplies, and separate them out. This includes any packaging for the actual boxes.

Get an idea of what else you want in your box besides cookies. Things like candy, roasted nuts, fudge, and cute little holiday knickknacks or ornaments, etc.

This is where choosing which cookies you want to bake ahead of time makes a big difference. It takes a little prep work (and some math), but it’s worth it to only have to make one trip to the grocery store to get all the baking ingredients you need. I like to print out all the cookie recipes I want to bake. This way I can cross things off as I add them to my list and I don’t have to toggle between a bunch of open browsers.

Now for the fun part, the actual holiday baking! I like to double check which types of cookies I want to bake and in what order, based on the timing to chill dough, decorate, etc. I set out any pantry ingredients and baking equipment the night before and first thing in the morning I pull out any ingredients that need to be at room temperature. Let the baking and decorating commence!

Here’s a little secret: You don’t have to bake all your cookies on the same day or even on the same weekend. Many types of cookies can be frozen head of time, either as baked cookies or as raw cookie dough.

Leave plenty of time for cooling, especially if the cookies are frosted. Also, you want to use frosting that will harden, like Royal Icing, unless you don’t plan on stacking your cookies. Both our Classic Gingerbread Cookies and our Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies recipes have instructions on how to make Royal Icing. Swapping soft frosting with a drizzle of dark chocolate or white chocolate can work too.

A lot of the time the little boxes and bags that are too small for an actual gift box are perfect for packing a box and separating smaller kinds of cookies. From festive plastic bags to tiny treat boxes – you’d be surprised at what you can get at the dollar store. You can also use holiday ziploc bags, plastic wrap, and cellophane to separate cookies. Foil tins, small cookie tins, cupcake liners, mini loaf pans, or even cardboard ornament dividers are also great to create sections in your cookie boxes.

Cookies are the star of a cookie box of course, but half the fun is in the decorating. Adding tiny ornaments, ribbon, gift tags, mini pine cones, and tissue paper will really make your box pop. Use twine around a stack of cookies or tie the ends of cellophane wrap with festive ribbon for an easy decoration.

Don’t store soft cookies and crisp cookies next to each other because they will soften the crisper cookies. Line your cardboard box with parchment paper or wax paper to keep the cookies fresh. Make sure your cookies are completely cooled before packing them in the box. Finally, use parchment paper or wax paper between layers of cookies to keep them firm and prevent them from sticking together. Only wrap cookies in food safe paper and use tissue paper for decoration only.

Try festive favorites like candy canes, chocolate kisses, candy coated chocolates, peppermint candies, candied nuts, roasted nuts, fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, or Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods. We have over 50 Christmas Candy Recipes that would make great additions to your treat boxes!

You want a large enough box to fit your actual cookie box in with room to add fillers to keep your cookies from breaking and the box from jostling around. Use fillers like bubble wrap, scrunched up newspapers, cardboard paper towel tubes, shredded paper, or folded up cardboard pieces. Tape up your box with packing tape and make sure to write FRAGILE on every side in big bold letters.

You’ll want to double check your local shipping times and costs for where you want to ship your cookies. We recommend shipping through UPS or Fed-Ex and paying for 2 day air shipping so they get there as soon as possible, but again go with your budget and time needs.