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We've all seen them. Clusters of
big, gourmet cookies, individually wrapped in shiny, coloured cellophane, with
bows and ribbons. They come in many styles and with different treats, toys or
gift items attached to or inside a basket or vase of some sort. They make a
terrific and edible gift idea. After all, who doesn't love cookies? Sadly, they
can be very expensive gifts, especially when considering that cookies don't cost
a whole lot to bake.
Here's how to make your own cookie bouquets at home without spending a fortune!
What You Will Need:
Chopsticks or Wooden Skewers - Make sure they are heat-proof. If you're baking
smaller cookies, then popsicle sticks would also work.
Cookies - Find a delicious cookie recipe that makes larger size cookies, (your
favourite or your gift recipients favourite will do fine) Container - This needs
to be a sturdy container that is a bit bottom heavy, especially if you plan to
include more than a few big cookies. You can try putting some pebbles in the
bottom to make sure the container won't tip over, if needed. Some ideas for
containers include: a coffee mug, a metal or plastic pail, a basket, a vase, a
planter, cookie jar or glass jar, glass bottle, a toy or wood box of some sort,
teapot, porcelain or pottery serving ware.
Cellophane - The shiny, coloured kind looks best, but the coloured plastic wrap
you get at your local supermarket would work too.
Ribbon - The curly kind works well for this. Any colours you like.
Decorations - Anything goes! What's appropriate to the occasion and what does
the gift recipient like? Some ideas include: stuffed animals, small toys, candy,
balloons, fake or real flowers, stickers or whatever you find at the local craft
store.
Block of Styrofoam or florists foam - You know that stereo you bought last
December? You probably kept the box, just search your garage for some spare,
clean, Styrofoam.
Something to cover up the Styrofoam or florist's foam - You can use a big
ribbon, some moss, plastic grass, tissue paper crumpled up or whatever else you
have handy.
Instructions:
1. When you place the cookie dough on the cookie sheet, press the dough down a
bit to flatten it so that it doesn't spread too much while baking and so that
the stick can be inserted properly. Before you bake the cookies, you must insert
the chopstick or wooden skewer into one side of each cookie. Push it in almost
the length of the cookie without going out the other end. This is an important
step, as if your cookie is too big and your stick is not sturdy enough, the
stick won't hold it and the cookie may fall apart when you pick it up. When
baking big cookies, you probably won't be able to fit more than 3 cookies with
their sticks to a cookie sheet.
2. After baking the cookies with their sticks, cool the cookies thoroughly, then
wrap each one with the coloured cellophane. A different colour for each cookie
would be ok, or all the same colour appropriate to the occasion. Tie each one
with some curly ribbon at the base where the stick comes out of the cookie. Tie
it very tightly so the cookies will stay fresh on the stick. You can adorn each
cookie with additional, larger ribbons or bows at this point. When using curly
ribbon, don't forget to curl it!
3. Now cut your Styrofoam or florist's foam to the size of the top of the
container you chose. Then fit the foam in so it is nice and tight and near the
top of the container. Remember, you can place something heavier in the bottom of
the container so that it does not tip over. Small pebbles work well for this.
Remember that the sticks will poke through the foam and into the bottom of the
container.
4. Here comes the fun part, let's assemble the cookie bouquet! Take each of your
cookies and stick them through the foam so they go all the way through the foam
and further, near to the bottom of the container. You can assemble the cookies
in any manner you like, but most cookie bouquets have one cookie at the center
that is taller than the other cookies, so keep that in mind. Decorate with
additional ribbons, toys, candy, flowers, gifts etc. Each item can be attached
with additional ribbon to the container or the sticks of the cookies or even
with a glue gun (if appropriate).
5. Give your gift and watch the smiles! Make sure to give the bouquet as soon as
possible after you have assembled it, you don't want the cookies to go stale!
Tips:
Make sure you bake enough cookies for your container, if baking small cookies,
you may run out if you are filling a large container. Always bake more than
enough. Surely your extras won't go to waste.
Bake both large and small cookies and use them both in the bouquet for a nice
varied look, like a more traditional flower bouquet.
More Ideas:
Some cookie bouquets use cutout cookies, these can be fun to make and decorate.
Use your favourite sugar cookie cutout recipe and cut into shapes appropriate for
the occasion. For cutout cookies to work, you may want to double your sugar
cookie recipe as the cookies need to be nice and thick for the stick to go
through them. For this type of cookie, wooden skewers will work best, chopsticks
may be too thick. Then decorate the cookies with frosting or icing. The icing
should be the kind that hardens a little so that it won't stick to the wrapping.
No need for coloured cellophane with these cookies, use regular plastic wrap or
clear cellophane so that the beauty of your hand decorated cookies shines
through.
Remember, your cookie bouquet doesn't need to look professional, it's the
homemade touch that makes it a truly special gift.
About the Author
Ricky Alberta is a baker and one of the editors of
Cookie-Recipes.net.
Cookie-Recipes.net is a site devoted exclusively to cookie recipes.
Includes a recipe exchange forum, baking tips, how to's, articles, a blog, as
well as hundreds of tasty cookie recipes.
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