28 / matters magazine / holiday 2018 L ike a pair of woolly mittens on a cold day, sweet treats go hand in hand with the holidays. Whether or not your family tra- ditions involve epic baking sessions, elaborate decorative icings or some- thing more straightforward, now’s the time to think about making your favorite homemade creations and packaging them as gifts. What’s that expression? Oh, yes – "It’s the thought that counts." Giving someone a fresh-baked batch of cookies isn’t just an act of generosity, it also counts as a deliciously personal gesture. Plus making something with your heart and hands has a magical way of jump-starting that often elusive holiday spirit. Pile a bunch of cookies in a box and hand them off with a bow on top – it’s not exactly rocket science, but the secret to transforming an otherwise humble package of baked goods into something memorable lies in the presentation. You don’t need to go full-on Martha Stewart to make a package that shines with care and attention. Home-Baked Holiday This season, get inspired to package and share homemade cookies BY KAREN TEDESCO Even adding a handwritten tag to a plain brown pa- per bag of homemade cookies adds a warm touch, making that gift much more special. Cookies freeze well, so bake some batches in ad- vance if that saves time. Then follow these simple tips for cookie gifting. The best types of cookies for gift-giving: Choose cookies that aren’t too delicate. Variety in shape and size is ideal. Include a few different ones to mix things up. Try making two, three or more different kinds: Crunchy and sturdy – Biscotti, shortbread, ginger- bread Dense, chewy – Chocolate chip, peanut butter, oat- meal, sugar cookies. Bar cookies – Brownies, blondies, fudge, nut bars. Tips for packaging: • Choose a sturdy container – a covered tin, wooden box or heavy cardboard. • Line the container with parchment or wax pa- per. If you can find food-grade tissue paper, use it for wrapping stacks of cookies. • If you’re shipping the cookies, put a sheet of bubble wrap in the box first, adding more if you’re layering cookies. • Use large muffin or cupcake liners or other dividers like pieces of cardboard to organize the cookies. • Fill spaces in between the cookies with crinkled gift basket paper, crumpled foil or tissue. How to dress up your package: Make your gift look festive by embellishing with a few inexpensive items easily found in stationery or craft stores. • Fabric ribbons and twine • Plain gift tags or labels to write on • Tissue paper (if you’re wrapping cookies directly in tissue, use food-safe paper) • Small tins, wood or cardboard boxes • Kraft paper and bags If your container has a lid, tie a ribbon around it and add a cute gift tag attached with a piece of twine or colorful string. For containers without a lid, securely wrap in plastic or cellophane before adding a ribbon. To make charming hostess gifts, pack cookies in fun containers like cake or loaf tins, vintage bowls or mugs and wooden storage boxes – it’s like giving two gifts in one. Source creative cookie packaging supplies at these local stores: • Kitchen a la Mode (19 S. Orange Avenue, South Orange, 973-821-5145) Baking pans, equip- ment and parchment paper. • No. 165 (165 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, 973-821-4852) Distinctive household items, cards and accessories. • A Paper Hat (94 Baker Street, Maplewood, 862- 250-3129) Craft yarn, decorative paper, washi tape, stamps. Karen Tedesco is a recipe developer, food stylist and photographer living in Maplewood. For seasonal recipes and more, visit her website Familystylefood.com