Count me in! I usually do homemade fudge, pralines, divinity, and cookies. I can't wait to try out everything else.

I'm in too. I have been doing a treat basket/serving plate for a while as our family Christmas gift. Our family continues to grow so it makes it much cheaper to give a basket/plate to each individual group. Bake a big batch of a few different items and then divvy it up according to how many people are in each group.

LaBellaFlor's idea of an early deadline for teachers etc. is a really good idea. I also like KKristy's idea of the doggie treat tin.

So far the only things on my lists are decorated sugar cookies and cake balls. In previous years I have done various cookies, Apple cinnamon jelly, pineapple jalapeno vinegar, fudge, and various breads.

I'm in!! I've never done baskets before but I've got my plans in place for this year. I've got all my treat boxes I just have to get the main basket to put them in. No more rubbish to fill up the place all edible gifts which for my family are perfect lol. I'm doing 2 different types of basket one for my generation and a more "classy" basket for my parents/grandparent generation.

Im doing:
decorated christmas cake
cranberry cookies
checkerboard cookies
cocoa shortbread diamonds
shortbread stars
rum pudding truffles
rocky road candy and gourmet rocky road candy
almond and cherry fudge
hot chocolate on a stick
tiger butter
caramel white chocolate fudge
easy chocolate truffles some rolled in cocoa, nuts and chocolate shavings.

These are going to be mine and my mums gifts to family and we are working on them together. Well I'll be doing and she'll be cleaning up and helping where she can. My mum is a star.

KKristy I love the idea of making doggy biscuits a lot of my friends have dogs and whilst we dont get each other anything we always give something for the dogs and kids (not necessarily in that order hehe)

Hanx

Oooo Hannahlass, do you mine posting the recipe for Rocky Road Candy, GOurmet Rocky Road Candy & Carmel White CHocolate Fudge. I know it's a lot, but I really need some candy recipes. I only have 3.

I'm only going to do the deadline for the teachers etc (mid december). My family is not getting any baskets since is only us (my family lives in another country). I just bake during the holidays and we eat that.
Do you think is too early if we start next week doing some of the stuff? (candy items, or choc covered stuff)? should we start the week after thanksgiving and do 2 or 3 items a week?
Hannahlass, I'd love it if you post those recipes too! Thanks!

I was thinking the last week in November, cause I'm looking at what few candy recipes I have and the should be good for about 3 weeks. I'm thinking we want to have them ready by the time the kids get out & the last week of school for us if Dec.14-18. Now if anyone has any great recipes that will hold up longer, then maybe sooner. But we all know how chocolate can get tempermental and start to seperate.

Look what i found!!!!

Browsing another post i followed a link and it has this cute tags to print!! perfect for "our" baskets! (i feel like this is the sisterhood of the Christmas baskets!

www.lollychops.com/lollychops/2008/12/tagerific-tags.html

If the link doesn't work just copy and paste it in your browser.

Sorry the link that i posted above is not going to work as it is, for some reason it doesn't let me edit it.
Just copy and paste the link but only untill the first "html". the rest, from "target" on is not part of the link.

hi every one , for my baskets I usually add these items, I usually mix up the items from year to year

white chocolate , candy cane almond bark
Rum balls
mocha or orange or mint naiomi bars
chocolate covered rice krisy treats( made to look like presents)
raspberry oatmeal squares ( like a date square but with raspberry pie filling instead of date)
whipped shortbread cookies
gingerbread cookies
mini oreo cheesecakes ( must be refrigeraded)
butter tarts
lemon tarts
chocolate covered hay stacks ( we use chow mein noodles and pecans)
truffles
magic cooKie bars
pineapple squares
pumpkin tarts
banana chocolate chip muffins
coffee balls ( made like rumballs but with no alcohol)
Chocolate caramel pecan cookies



hope this helps anyone looking for inspiration
melissa

oo, oo, havn't shared my list yet. Okay:

buttercrunch toffee
peppermint bark (CakemommyTX way with the candy can heart frame)
pralines (just like the one in New Orleans, yum!)
turtles
chocolate pistachio spirals
jumbles
Swiss-Italian Mocha Meringues
gingerbread cookies
stained glass star sugar cookies
snickerdoodles
shortbread
lemon poppyseed cookies
chocolate carmel chews
almond cranberry cookies
Holiday icebox cookies

And I would like to try a few more new candy & cookie recipes. I usually do about 15 different cookies, but I think I'm only going to do 10 this year, so I can up my candy number.

http://www.lollychops.com/lollychops/downloadprintfreebies.html

They have a ton cute tags to print off.

Question. How do you package everything? Like, if you're giving fudge or truffles, are you putting each thing in a separate tin or just a plastic baggie? I have my list of things that I want to make, but I'm stuck on this part about how to package everything up.

I'm not sure how to package everything. I'm thinking that at least the crunchy stuff shouldn't be with the soft stuff...like shortbread with poundcake etc...so definetely pack the cookies separate, and then the mini loafs wrapped them and put a ribbon maybe? maybe cellophane bags with tags from the link you sent?
or little cardboard boxes? not sure!
I gotta go shopping and see what i find buy my daughter is sick so i have to stay home today and probably tomorrow.

Okay, for some reason this is no longer in my watched topics, so I'm posting again just because.

LaBellaFlor,
Please tell me about your peppermint bark...what is the cakemommyTX way ???
** Your list sounds yummy !

Usually when you make peppermint bark, you just spread it and brake it up. She said they take 2 candy canes, have them face each other so they make the form of a heart and then pour the peppermint bark in the middle. So you get this pretty heat shaped peppermint bark instead of just regular 'ol broken up bark. I thought it was a great idea and sounded very pretty.

I have always packaged everything seperate (already portioned) in sealed baggies and then put each little baggie into the big packages when I'm ready.

BUTTERCRUNCH TOFFEE-LaBellaFlor, please post that recipe.

Our last day of school is Dec. 18 also so I am good with that deadline.

That peppermint bark idea sounds great...I usually add a layer of chocolate to my bark...so maybe I could just dip the back of the whole thing in melted chocolate....yum ! Thanks for explaining it !

Mahogany Buttercrunch Toffee-The infamous Rose Levy Beranbaum ( Iswear some people act like she's a criminal on here )

2 cups blanched sliced almonds
1 1/4 cups (firmly packed) light brown sugar
2 TBLS. water
1/2 cup unsalted butter (can you substitute salted, NO)
1 tsp. PURE vanilla extract (NO IMITATION)
1/4 tsp. baking soda
6 ozs. (2-3 oz. bars) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Place almonds on cookie sheet & toast in oven, stirring constantly. Now, you have to stir constantly, your gonna see them get golden and you gonna start smelling the great toasty smell. Pay attention & pull them out, cause if you burn them, you gotta tost them. Cool completely.
In food processor or with sharp heavy knife, chopp up finely, but NOT powder fine. Sprinkle half the nuts on greased or buttered 7x10" cookie sheet. Place it near the range.
In a heavy, medium saucepan. Combine brown sugar, water, and butter, stirring constantly, bring to boil. Sit often to prevent burning until it reaches 285 degrees (or soft crack stage) Immediately remove from stove because temperature will continue to rise to 290 degrees. Stir in vanilla extract & baking soda. Pout toffe mixture evely over nuts. Immediately scatter chocolate squares over hot toffee. Press lightly with your fingures so chocolate starts to melt, about 5 mins., spread around evely with long, metal spatula. Sprinkle with remaining almonds and allow to totally cool. Break into irregular pieces. Store in airtight container. Good for a month, but will start to crystallize after a month. You can still eat it though.

A layer of chocolate is just gonna make it better & I will be doing the same!

Thank you for that recipe LaBellaFlor. I can't wait to try it

Please everyone else start posting your recipes, if you're willing to share. I desperately need more to add variety to my baskets.

this is a pic of the peppermint bark hearts, it is from another thread but I alredy saved it so I can do it.

Oh my I'm getting hungry !

LaBellaFlor - Thanks for that recipe - adding that to my list (...whispering so no one hears me.....I love Rose)

Veronica - thanks for the picture ! Are those made with the mini candy canes ? That would be so cute sitting in a candy dish ! Oh the ideas I get from you guys !!!

I think this is cakemommytx's idea and yes she uses the mini canes and said the chocolate holds them together.

Great idea, I want to do this as well so I'm not scrambling at the last minute. I plan to make:

Cake truffles
Mini pound cakes
Rainbow cookies (aka venetian ribbons)
Chocolate covered cherry cookies
Decorated sugar cookies
Caramel Popcorn drizzled with chocolate
Holiday M&M cookies
and possible one other kind of cookie (kids' choice)

okay Fullhouse,
I have to ask...what are rainbow cookies? carmel popcorn drizzled with chocolate....yum !!

this is so awesome. i gave out baskets last year and everyone loved them. we have a store near here called the Dollar Tree where everything in the store ia a buck or close to it. i got all my supplies there and will probabaly do the same this year. lol. here is my list so far:

marshmallow snowmen on pretzel rods
mini pound cakes
gingerbread muffins
snickerdoodles
white choc peppermint fudge
peanut butter chocolate layer fudge
and now added to my list is that great sounding peppermint bark the "cakemommyTX" way. lol. sounds so good and looks cute!

Rainbow Cookis, DHs fav. Not a great pic they look better in person...
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Rainbow-Cookies

I'm posting this because I have a HUGE task this holiday. I have decided on TWENTY different items to fill this year's gift baskets. Some baskets will be small (for individuals or couples) and some will be very large (for families and school staff, etc.) and I'm crossing my fingers I can get it all done. I've estimated that I need between 80 & 100 DOZEN cookies! I've moved into a much smaller house with a MUCH smaller kitchen (downsizing due to children all leaving the "nest") and frankly - I'm SCARED! LOL!

Hopefully, posting this will provide a little extra motivation and accountability and keep me on track. This year, I plan to make the following:

1. Gingerbread men
2. Decorated cut-outs
3. Dipped pretzels
4. Chocolate covered oreos
5. Marshmallow snowmen
6. Cake balls (different flavors)
7. Grand marnier truffles
8. Egg Nog cups
9. Peanut Brittle
10. Chocolate bark
11. Mini loaves (cranberry & pumpkin)
12. Dipped brownie bites
13. Pistachio biscotti
14. Red velvet petit fours
15. Homemade marshmallows
16. Macaroons
17. Caramel corn
18. Fudgy bon bons
19. Peppermint fudge cookie sandwiches (from Pampered chef cookbook)
20. Candy cane cookies

Pray for me!

okay i am a n/b im in if anyone has the time i would love some ideals i work all dat turn so i can do this in the evening alway wanted to never knew what to put in them ,and it gives me practice and some new things to try any and all ideals wecome and greatfull

Start reading the thread fromt he beganing and you will have a great start for ideas. You can ask someone to post a recipe if you see something you like.