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Homemade Baking Gift Baskets
Baking gift baskets make wonderful (and useful) wedding gifts, bridal shower gifts, housewarming gifts, Mother's Day gifts, or on any occasion for someone who enjoys baking.
There are many kinds of containers that could be used when making
baking gift baskets.
Consider either a single stainless steel mixing bowl or a set of mixing bowls. Other options are wicker or wire baskets, cake pans, pie plates, bread pans, casseroles, or baking dishes. Determine your budget and what kind of items you want to include when selecting a container. When you are finished your gift basket should appear overflowing.
Shop for containers and gifts in your local supermarket, dollar-type store, or discount department store. If you browse flea markets, yard/garage sales, or thrift stores, keep your eye open for these kind of items. Many times you can find baskets for less than a dollar. Then, follow these easy directions for
making gift baskets.
which also includes descriptions of various filler products, directions to tie various bow styles, and dozens of ideas to personalize all homemade gift baskets.
There are many useful utensils and other kitchen items that would be great included. This can be an inexpensive gift basket because you can purchase baking mixes for cookies, cakes, bread, muffins, or brownies at your local supermarket.
An oven thermometer, a timer, measuring spoons, measuring cups are also readily available at supermarkets as well as department and discount stores.
Dollar type stores will carry decorative tea or terry towels, oven mitts, pot holders, and baking necessities such as wooden spoons, rubber spatulas, cookie cutters, and pastry brushes. If your budget is limited, use a wooden crate or box as the container for your baking gift. Many times the produce person at your supermarket will give you one. Fill it with items you find at your local dollar store.
If you prefer making more specific baking gift baskets, here are three suggestions:
Bread Baking Gift Baskets: Use a bread baking pan or a stainless steel mixing bowl as the container. Place a kitchen towel, cloth napkin, tissue paper, or shred in the bottom to hold the gift items in place. Include a bread mix, yeast, measuring cups, measuring spoons, potholders, and a silicone spatula as gifts.
Cookie Baking Gift Baskets: A cookie jar or colorful mixing bowl are nice containers. Place a kitchen towel, cloth napkin, tissue paper, or shred in the bottom to hold the gift items in place.
Add gift items such as cookie cutters, a cookie press, chocolate chips, baking nuts, coconut, cookie mixes, a wooden spoon, potholders, non-stick cookie sheet liners (the kind that roll up), and a silicone spatula.
Cake Baking Gift Baskets: Containers such as a bundt cake pan or a mixing bowl are nice ideas. Place a kitchen towel, cloth napkin, tissue paper, or shred in the bottom to hold the gift items in place. Gifts such as a cookie mix, can of frosting, spatula, cupcake liners, sprinkles, vanilla, and a small baking recipe book are useful gifts.
Since we are speaking of baking gift baskets,
it would be very nice to include something already baked. I suggest these delicious
Blueberry Scones.
They are easy to make and I've included decorative gift wrapping ideas to place them in your homemade gift baskets or to give as standalone gifts. If you don't care for blueberries, you can substitute raspberries, raisins, or dried cherries.
Another really pretty homemade gift idea is to make (or buy at your local bakery) a small loaf of quick bread like banana nut bread. Wrap it well in Sarah Wrap and then wrap a kitchen terry towel, a tea towel, or large fabric napkin completely around the loaf with the ends of the bread showing. Make sure the towel overlaps and then use twine or raffia to hold the towel in place; simply wrap the twine or raffia around the center of the bread several times and tie in a bow.
Decorative Ideas:- Line a terra-cotta bread loaf pan with a decorative cloth napkin or tea towel. Add homemade scones or muffins and a small of homemade apple butter or other jam.
- Wrap a wide ribbon around the top edge of a wicker or wire basket instead of wrapping the entire basket. Trim the ends of the ribbon in a slanted shape.
- Tie cinnamon sticks or
chocolate dipped spoons
in with the ribbon.
- When in doubt, Pyrex glass bakeware is inexpensive and, since it is see through, can look beautiful as a gift; particularly when you place a solid color towel in the bottom.
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