Baking and sharing go hand in hand. Here are a few sweet packaging ideas for the next time you have some cookies to share.
1. Cellophane Bag with Ribbon
This is the age old, never fail way of wrapping home made cookies. A cellophane bag and ribbon is all it takes – simple and gorgeous.
2. Pretty Paper
With this wrapping style you’ll need to grab some of your favourite paper or card and size it up against your bag. The width of your paper should span the width of the bag. In my example, the width of my paper is 11 cm across and 8 cm down. I then fold the paper at the 4 cm point. For a sharp edge use scissors to cut your paper, for a more rustic finish I hold a ruler along the cutting line and carefully tear the paper. This method is especially effective if your paper is textured.
The next step is to fold the cellophane bag down. Try and get as much air out of the bag as you fold it down. Staple the bag at two points across the top to secure it closed. Finally, place you pretty paper in position with the fold sitting at the top of the bag. Staple it into place at two points at the upper end of the paper.
3. Paper Fastener and Wrap
This style is a little more modern and fun. Once again, place your cookies into a cellophane bag, from the top, fold your bag a few times and staple to securely close.
Design and print your wrapping. Keep the design narrow so that it only partially covers the bag, allowing the cookies to be seen from either side. As your wrap needs to double span the length of the bag it needs to be quite long. I cut the A4 printed paper in half and then attach both pieces together. Fold the wrap around the bag, pierce a tiny hole into the top and insert your paper fastner to secure your wrapping into place.
4. Turn a box inside out
This is such an obvious thing to do, not to mention that it’s kind to the environment and so utterly resourceful. All of a sudden you’ll view boxes in the supermarket with a whole different eye.
To start this project chose a box that suits the cookies you’re sharing. I’ve used a Coles box of Cracked Pepper Water Crackers. This is a nice rectangle shape and works well for my choc chip cookies. Alternatively, you may prefer a square shaped box. Regardless of the shape, the process remains the same.
Carefully prize your box apart at all glued points and open it up completely. If a box is proving tricky to undo, I use a sharp knife between the layers to gently ease it apart.
Remember to keep a few boxes next time you unpack your groceries, they store so easily when flat and will come in so handy. Below are three fun variations on this concept.
Painted box with Window
Carefully prize your box apart at all glued points and open it up completely. Lay it flat and paint away. Once dry, fold the box back into shape with the painted side on display, pressing at the creases so it sits nicely. Decide where and how big you want your window, flatten out the box again, measure up for the display window and carefully cut, using box cutters. Once this is done you can refold the box and glue it together using a glue gun. Remember to keep one side open. Place your cookies into a cellophane bag, pop the bag of cookies into the box and glue the box shut.
The extra fun thing here is that you can save up a few boxes, fold them flat, store them away and once you have a little collection, get the kids painting. What a super special cookie box for grandma or grandpa.
Fine Line Drawing with Window
As with the option above, carefully prize your box apart at all glued points and open up completely. Decide where you want your window and cut this out with box cutters. Then have a little bit of fun with some fine line doodling. Pinterest has heaps of doodle inspiration. Make sure to have a few practice runs. Once you have completed your drawing, glue gun your box into shape, insert your bag of biscuits and seal the final opening.
Slip on Sleeve
Here the inverted box is partially covered with a paper sleeve that can be slipped off. In my example, I’ve trimmed some printer paper so that it covers about half the box.
Once you have decided on the size of your paper, measure and trim it down. Fold the paper around the box, creating a crease at each corner. This will help you identify where you need to position your designs so that they sit on the flat of each box side. Once you have completed your designs, wrap the paper around your box and secure at join with sticky tape. I like to keep this as a removable sleeve so I don’t actually secure it to the box.
5. Display box
The last idea also involves repurposing a box. This time a Carmen’s Muesli Bar box. I love this box as it can be securely closed without the need to glue it shut – have a look at the photo below to see what I mean.
This box works well if you have a few different cookies to gift. So that the cookies sit nicely I have placed a napkin at the bottom of this box. I have also used baking paper to make sure the cookies sit tight and don’t move too much.
Loving fine line doodles at the moment so had a bit of fun drawing some designs on this box. To make absolutely sure that the box remains securely closed I have used a paper sleeve which just slips over the box – see the previous example for instructions.
So there you are, five resourceful and easy ways to package up and share cookies.
