I'm a procrastinator, that's why I never do christmas baskets....cause I always remember I want to do it a day before christmas.
So I was thinking, what if we form a group and challenge ourselves to bake one item for our baskets every week or every couple of days? (the ones that can be frozen or non perishable get done first).
We can come up with one item every week and then bake it at the end and so on...till we have a pretty good selection.
That way is more fun and we are accountable for getting it done.

What do you think??

Sounds good. It's a good way to get ideas from other bakers as to what they are putting in their baskets.

I'm in. I do baskets every year and it always seems that I end up waiting until the last minute to start also. LOL!

I have never done a christmas basket, so who do y'all give them to. Family as a gift or donate to local group? Just curious, sounds like fun.

Yayy!! great!
I did start another thread a while ago about what to include in it, and we got great ideas! (what would you include in an awesome christmas basket)
But then I didn;t even know where to start and get it done, that's why I had this idea.

Veronica720: I've never made one but i give my cookie tins to the teachers and anyone that was specially kind that year (my backyard burgers drive thru guy got one last year!). I don;t give them to family since they always eat my stuff at home anyways.

We can come up with a list of things to make and the order, so we start with stuff that is shelf stable or freezable, and end with the freshest.
Also we need a due date to be done.

I'm thinking we can do categories like: truffles, chocolate covered oreos, decorated cookies, breads/pastires and candies or something. that way we can either all do the same recipe or everyone can choose what they are making out of that category...

I give baskets to friends and family as their present.

I always give mine to family and friends. They love them. I usually do chocolate covered pretzels, cookies and fudge. This year I want to add cakeballs and mini pecan pound cakes to the list. Any new ideas would be appreciated too.

I'm with you Josie, I wanted to do Chocolate covered oreos or pretzels, Chocolate covered marshmallows, A decorated cookie, some kind of cake ball or truffle, and some kind of mini loaf or pound cake.
MAybe we can add some brittle, or pepermint bark? (something that we just mix, let dry and break into pieces)

I'd suggest everyone come up with their own list of what they are going to do and their timeframe to do it in. Then everyone else can support, encourage and ask if they are staying up to task.

Every year I think about doing something like this and never get around to it. I may join in, just have to see how things are going.

Here's a suggestion - orange, cranberry & pecan bark.
I just used some orange flavoring along w/about 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped zest; some craisins and pecans in melted white chocolate.
It was a winner

ohhh the pecan bark is a winner!! I'll add that for sure.

Well girls let's see if anyone else wants to join and then maybe we can come up with a list of things to make and a timeline.

Like texasSugar said, everyone can come up with their own list but If maybe we can just have categories in order of production that'll help us get organizes.

Maybe something like this:

week 1: truffles/chocolate covered items
week 2: pound cakes/loafs etc.
week 3: sugar cookies
week 4: misc, or candy etc...

We can do that, I just don't want people not to do it because it's too strict.
We can come up with a list and people can do as much or as little or do variations if they like.
I would say let's try to start next monday with at least a list of items and a timeline so we can get ingredients and supplies (like baskets, ribbon, containers etc) . That'll give us 3 weeks but keep in mind that thanksgiving is in the middle too!

I'm getting exciting already.

I didn't mean for everyone to do the same thing. Cause I can see what you mean about being to strict or something, but if there is anyone that would like to as a group type thing I will join that group....lol.

So i guess now I need to find different types of things to add to the list.....mmm

I will be a lead cheerleader for you guys!! Especially since I can't join in this year. I do baskets for friends, neighbors & teachers and that is our family gift to them. Everyone really loves them every year and that makes the work of putting them together so worthwhile! So if you're thinking about it, absolutely do them

There are outstanding ideas for stuff to include in vagostino's other thread http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=659301&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0

I bought all of my baskets, ribbon, filler and cellophane basket bags from the $ store. I made all of the treats over a week, and then put them all together assembly line style one night and delivered them the next day.

Basket makers-- make your list and gather your supplies, go team, go!! Here are a few pics every surface in my kitchen was covered, please excuse my bows, I stink at them & I was super tired by bow time

My husband and I were talking about putting together some baskets for Christmas presents for a few family members. I'll make a list in the next few days and get to work at the first of the month

Great idea!

count me in!! I ALWAYS wait til the nite before, and go "hey, I have an idea" then my dh gets cranky. Maybe,...just maybe...this year I'll get my butt in gear.

So, count me in...I'm anxious.

Hmmm...I don't usually make up a set schedule. I just pick something from my list and bake it, then pick something else and so on. I will check in and report on my progress.

I didn't get around to starting the mince and fruitcakes yet againt today, I am still working on the huge order for my friend's business opening (8 dozen brownie bites--2 dozen each of 4 flavors: fudge, peanut butter, raspberry, and mocha--and 200 2" sugar cookies iced with rolled buttercream and then decorated w/ company insignia). I've finished the brownie bites and all the cookies are baked and iced. Half have the insiginia on them and I'm taking a quick break before tackling the rest of the cookies.

Tomorrow I'll be cooking all day again, but this time for my church's Wednesday night supper. Hopefully I'll get to the mince and fruitcake between Thurs and Fri.

thanks Andpotts for your support!!!

everyone that wants to play get supplies this week and be ready!
Also, please post a list of what you want to make and then we can agree on a general list and schedule (you can follow that or change it)
My list looks like this so far:

Chocolate covered marshmallows
choc covered pretzel rods
choc covered oreos
truffles (not sure what kind)
mini pund cakes (not sure either what kind)
the orange cranberry bark posted here
Decorated sugar cookies
Biscotti
another cookie

Ok...here's my list...so far anyway...I'm always open to new suggestions and ideas.

Chocolate dipped pretzel rods
Chocolate covered pretzels
Chocolate dipped Nutter Butter Cookies
Truffles
Sugar Cookies
Oatmeal - Peanut Butter cookies
Chocolate Chip Pecan cookies
mini Pecan Pound cakes

Oh Man! I would love to join in! I've been thinking instead of giving ugly sweaters and things my family doesn't need, I would make edible gifts...this would be perfect! I'm also thinking of assembling a dinner basket, that would include an entree recipe (like lasagna or something) and all the ingredients to go with it...the only thing being they would have to be refridgerated! LOL!

I have a peanut/nut allergy in the house, so I'll have to adjust recipes accordingly, but will try to come up with a list this afternoon!

Oh! I'd like to be in on this too! I'm already getting my planning in order since I always start my baking projects the week after Thanksgiving.

My tenative list so far is:

Gingersnaps
Snickerdoodles
Butter Brickle toffee (has chocolate instead of nuts! Very yummers!)
White chocolate cherry shortbread
Fudge (diff. varieties)
Homemade Marshmallows (diff. flavors)
Decorated sugar cookies
Cinnamon and/or Pumpkin bread

But my list often changes depending on my moods and what I find on sale.

Ok, so noone shoot me for asking this...but does anyone want to exchange/post recipes to go along with this?

of course we can post recipes!
I think we can all choose what we make and what recipes we use etc.
I just din't want to make it too specific or rigid so everybody can participate at their own level.
I think it'll be great if we can come up with a master list and deadlines for each item kind of thing, and then we'll go from there!

Oh, I want to join! I'm off work tomorrow, so I'll try and go by the $ store for supplies. I usually wait til the last minute and they're sold out of the good stuff. And work on my list. For those of you making snickerdoodles, whenever I make them I double the batch and while I have them in the oven I roll extra dough, roll it in cinnimon, put a tray of them in the freezer, and in a ziplock freezer bag when they are frozen. Then whenever we feel like fresh baked cookies through the holidays all I have to do is pop them in the oven.

Janebrophy, I love it! Instead of ugly sweaters tasty treats! I'm in. I need motivation to be kept on scedule. I have started buyng some supplies...need much, much more. I have a question though, are we gonna do 2 schedules, baskets to be delivered before Christmas (I was thinking of teachers) and then for friends & family that we can get to Christmas week?

We just finished a craft fair and I want to sell some baskets. I'll try to show a photo of my favorite baskets, they are called market trays, I think. Really cute.
We did:
dipped pretzel rods, mini cupcakes, fudge, dipped oreos, cake balls, dipped peanut butter balls, dipped rice crispie treats on a stick, we put our dipped marshmallows on a sucker stick too, they were really cute. We put each item in a small cellophane bag with a ribbon. I want to make pecan tarts, they are little, cute and yummy.
I'll post any recipes you're interested in.
j.

Oh I want to play too ! I always make treat baskets for Christmas, but my planning is poor.
So far on my list: truffles or oreo cake balls, fudge ( not sure what kind yet), peppermint bark, white chocolate covered snack mix, marshmallow snowmen on a stick(very cute), mini bundt cake, and a few different cookies....
Now I just need to go and get baskets. ribbon, small containers and filler.
How do you store everything? I hate to make things too early - I have an unhealthy fear of things not tasting fresh, lol

** I make dog treats too...one year I put them in a dog treat container ( decorated with bones and it had the recipients dog's name on it)and included it in the basket...found out a few days later that my brother in law had eaten them by mistake LOL