Giving food gifts this holiday season? Make them extra special with pretty packaging! From containers to liners and labels, here’s what you need to know to create beautifully packaged edible gifts for your friends and family.
I’m pretty sure my love languages are food and gifts. There’s something wonderful about putting time and effort into making a delightful treat and then giving it to someone you care about.
For years, I have made dozens and dozens of cake pops, cookies, bread, and all sorts of other goodies for my neighbors, colleagues, and friends. I love to see their reactions!
If you’d like to give an edible gift, there are two parts to consider:
- The actual food itself, of course.
- How it’s packaged—that’s the icing on the cake!
It can be slightly intimidating to know how to package food, but it’s not hard. Here’s what you need to know!
PICK THE RIGHT CONTAINERS
I keep these take-out boxes on hand at all times. Not only are they perfect for leftovers, but they’re the best container ever for little treats!
Other containers I like:
- Canning jars
- Cupcake boxes
- Cellophane bags
- Paper bags
- Tea towels (for bread)
- Baskets
- Old sprinkle containers (Yep, I’ve used these before! I love the ones with cork tops that look like test tubes.)
LINE YOUR CONTAINER
A liner may be necessary to keep the treat from sticking to the container, especially if your food has oil or butter in it. Plus, a liner adds a little visual detail, which is always lovely!
What kind of liners should you use? I like the following:
- Butcher paper
- Parchment paper
- Napkins
- A tea towel (for bread)
- You could also use tissue paper or wax paper!
LABEL YOUR GIFT
Now that you have a container and a liner, you need to label your gift! Here are five ways to do that:
- Use a label maker: It’s important to label your gift, and my go-to way to label anything is to use a label maker. I’ve tried so many other ways of labeling, but I always come back to this. Why? It’s easy, looks cute, and is perfect for the tops of jars and take-out boxes.
- Gift tags: These gift tags are simple, classic, and come with a roll of jute for making labels!
- Washi tape: You can find cute washi tape designs in the school supply aisle at the store. Choose a favorite color!
- Chalkboard labels: Chalkboard labels are also fun, and I recently discovered these cute chalkboard pens to make writing easy.
- Good ol’ Sharpie: In a pinch, I just write a message with a Sharpie, either right on the container itself or on the ribbon around it. I use Sharpies so much, I keep them in my purse! That’s how passionate I am about labeling things!
ADD TIES AND RIBBONS
Okay, so you’ve got your container, your liner, your label… what’s next? Now it will all come together! To attach your labels and secure your gift, use:
- Baker’s twine
- Jute
- Yarn
- Tulle
- Clothespins
- Ribbon
A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA
The finishing touch of your edible gift packaging is what will bring it all together. For the holidays, I like to add a sprig of rosemary (it smells so good!), a jingle bell, or little ornament.
I also really try to think of the gift itself, and then attach anything that might be needed for it. For example, if I’m giving a sugar cookie mix, I’ll add a mini cookie cutter. If it’s hot chocolate mix, I’ll add a little spoon (IKEA has the cutest little spoons) or whisk. My favorite is to add a little spoon alongside cupcakes or pies.
FINAL TOUCHES
And finally, every package must be given with LOVE. That sounds cheesy, but it’s really the most important thing in gift giving. I’ve given fancy edible gifts, and I’ve given popcorn in Ziploc baggies. It’s all good! Whatever and however you package your gift, the goal is that whoever you give it to will know they’re thought of and loved.
I would love to see how you package your edible gifts this season! I’m sure you all have more tips and tricks to share, so use #srediblegifts so we can feature them on our Instagram stories!
- Need some ideas for what to make? Check out our 19 Food Gifts for the Holidays!
