One of my favorite posts of the year: it's time for the 2023 Holiday Cookie Box! This post also includes tips and tricks to create your own holiday cookie box at home. This year's cookie box is filled with some of our favorite cookies and treats. Some of these are oldies-but-goodies, and some were new to the blog this year and deserved a place here!
Making a holiday cookie box is a labor of love, so if you have your heart set on it, settle in for a lot of baking! But they are wonderful gifts to give at the holidays to family, friends, and neighbors and are always appreciated!
You can see my 2022 Holiday Cookie Box for inspiration as well (and hopefully over the years we'll build up a library of these to look back on!). You can also find all of my cookie recipes here.
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How to make a holiday cookie box
If you're getting ready to make a cookie box of your own, there are a few things you'll want to consider.
- Pick a theme: This could be a flavor (chocolate, for example), a color, an ingredient, or anything! This is what is going to tie your cookie box together.
- Choose your box: A holiday cookie box doesn't truly need to be in a box. You can use a tray or platter, a baking sheet, a box, or anything that will hold your cookies! A few things I like to use:
- This year I used the Little Sheet baking pan from Great Jones. I love its color!
- You can buy cookie boxes or cupcake boxes online, or make your own. These are better for shipping.
- Bamboo or wooden tea boxes or organizer trays also are great for cookie boxes! Check out this Bamboo 4-Compartment Organizer Tray, or this 12-Compartment Tray as great options.
- Plan time for baking: Cookie boxes are a labor of love - making potentially several batches of several types of cookies is going to take time. You don't have to do this all in one day! Cookies store well in an airtight container at room temperature, so keep accumulating until you are ready!
- I like to space out my cookie baking over one week, so at the end of the week, I have all the cookies that I planned for my holiday cookie box.
- Add accessories: Holiday accessories can really help make your cookie box come to life. Velvet ribbons, small ornaments, or even holiday napkin rings (that look like wreaths!) are great accessories.
- Choose your cookie recipes: Below are the recipes I used for the 2023 Holiday Cookie Box!
Choosing Your Cookies
Choose your cookies to suit your theme (or honestly, if there are classics that you just have to make every year, go for it!). Here are the recipes I used in the holiday cookie box this year:
- Sourdough Discard Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Candied Orange Slices
- Dried Orange Slices
- Sourdough Discard Shortbread
- Chocolate Covered OREOs
- Candy Cane Marshmallows
More on these recipes below!
Sourdough Discard Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Blossoms are an all-time favorite at our house, and this sourdough discard version adds a bit of sourdough tang to the classic cookie. I've topped these with dark chocolate Hershey's Kisses, and also rolled a few in sprinkles! This is a great way to add some color to your cookie box.
Click here for the recipe for Sourdough Discard Peanut Butter Blossoms.
Candied Orange Slices
Candied Orange Slices made another appearance in the cookie box this year. They are easy to make, delicious, and always beautiful! They also add a really nice pop of color and texture among all of the cookies.
Click here for the recipe for Candied Orange Slices.
Dried Orange Slices
Dried Orange Slices are another great way to add some texture and color to your cookie box. They're edible, great for cocktail garnishes, but also great for making holiday decorations such as garlands and wreaths. With their versatility, they earned another spot in our box this year!
Click here for the recipe for Dried Orange Slices.
Sourdough Discard Shortbread Cookies
These Sourdough Discard Shortbread Cookies were a new addition this year! The buttery cookies have orange zest in them, which carries through well with the Candied Orange Slices and Dried Orange Slices in the box. They're also dipped in dark chocolate, which ties in well with some of the other chocolate-forward cookies!
Click here for the recipe for Sourdough Discard Shortbread Cookies.
Chocolate Covered OREOs
Chocolate Covered OREOs bring in a bit more chocolate to the cookie box, and are also a way to get festive with sprinkles! You can use any kind or color of sprinkle you like. Also, if you're ever in a pinch and need to come up with a quick and easy no-bake holiday cookie, this is it! You can have these ready to set in about 15 minutes.
Click here for the recipe for Chocolate Covered OREOs.
Candy Cane Marshmallows
Candy Cane Marshmallows are another new addition this year! They break up some of the color of the cookie box, add a nice texture, and are a delicious treat to eat on their own or in a cup of hot chocolate. I'm a big fan of having not just cookies in the cookie box!
Click here for the recipe for Candy Cane Marshmallows.
Cookie Storage
Room Temperature Storage: Cookies will keep for about 2-3 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature. This is a great storage solution as you are baking all your batches of cookies. This also means that cookies ship well.
Freezer Storage: Cookies also freeze well. Once they're cooled, transfer them to an airtight container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. This is a great way to store cookies that you are making well in advance of the holidays. Before serving, let the cookies thaw to room temperature.
Note: If you are making candies (such as the Candied Orange Slices or Candy Cane Marshmallows), those will have different storage directions. You can find storage information in the recipe posts for each.
Holiday Cookie Box FAQ
Make sure to package your cookies well, either in bags or airtight containers. Bubble wrap will also help prevent breakage. Also, make sure you're not shipping anything that needs to be refrigerated or will melt!
I typically bake the cookies for a cookie box over several days (it's just too much for one day!). Once the cookies are baked, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will keep well for 2-3 weeks, which gives you plenty of time to make the rest of the cookies.
Yes! If you want to make holiday cookies well in advance, I recommend freezing them after they are baked. You can freeze cookies for up to 2 months. Then you can pull them out of the freezer and let them thaw any time you want to serve!
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