We've all seen them. Clusters of big, epicurean cookies, individually wrapped in shiny, colored cellophane, with bows and ribbons. They come in many styles and with separate treats, toys or gift items attached to or inside a basket or vase of some sort. They make a terrifying and edible gift idea. After all, who doesn't love cookies? Sadly, they can be very high-priced gifts, especially when inspecting 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!
How To Make Homemade Cookies
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 yummy cookie recipe that makes larger size cookies, your favorite or your gift recipients favorite will do fine.
* package - This needs to be a sturdy package that is a bit lowest heavy, especially if you plan to contain more than a few big cookies. You can try putting some pebbles in the lowest to make sure the package 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, ceramics or ceramics serving ware.
* Cellophane - The shiny, colored kind looks best, but the colored plastic wrap you get at your local supermarket would work too.
* Ribbon - The curly kind works well for this. Any colors you like.
* Decorations - whatever goes! What's accepted to the opening 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 hunt your carport 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 practically the distance of the cookie without going out the other end. This is an foremost step, as if your cookie is too big and your stick is not sturdy enough, it naturally 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 sheet.
2. After baking the cookies with their sticks, cool the cookies thoroughly, then wrap each one with the colored cellophane. A separate color for each cookie would be ok, or all the same color accepted 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 package 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 lowest of the package so that it does not tip over. Small pebbles work well for this. Remember that the sticks will poke straight through the foam and into the lowest of the container.
4. Here comes the fun part, let's assemble the cookie bouquet! Take each of your cookies and stick them straight through the foam so they go all the way straight through the foam and further, near to the lowest 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 added ribbons, toys, candy, flowers, gifts etc. Each item can be attached with added ribbon to the package 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 inherent after you have assembled it, you don't want the cookies to go stale!
Tips:
Make sure you bake adequate cookies for your container, if baking small cookies, you may run out if you are filling a large container. Always bake more than enough. in effect your extras won't go to waste.
Bake both large and small cookies and use them both in the bouquet for a nice various look like a more customary flower bouquet.
More Ideas:
Some cookie bouquets use cutout cookies, these can be fun to make and decorate. Use your favorite sugar cookie cutout recipe and cut into shapes accepted for the occasion. For cutout cookies to work, you may want to duplicate your sugar cookie recipe as the cookies need to be nice and thick for the stick to go straight through them. For this type of cookie, wooden skewers will work best, chopsticks may be too thick. Then decorate the cookies with frosting. No need for colored 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.
How to Make Your Own Homemade Cookie Bouquets
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