building a gift basket is the perfect gifting solution for any foodie in your life this holiday season.  whether you need a hostess gift, something to drop off for a neighbor for whom you feel particularly grateful, or something that will knock the socks off your brother-in-law with elusive tastes, food gift baskets are so easy to pull together & will absolutely wow.   read on for my method to building the ultimate food gift basket & keep coming back every week from now until new year’s for a new food-centric gift basket idea in this year’s plays well with butter holiday gift basket series!

this Recipe for Later!

friends!

has the razzle dazzle of holiday cheer made its way into your heart yet this season?  i am a self-proclaimed holiday freak, one of those people whose heart is full of holiday cheer year-round.  i completely live for this time of year.  (& i may or may not listen to christmas music BEFORE halloween…gasssssssp!)

but, c’mon…

’tis the season for holiday parties at work, neighborhood cookie exchanges, guests dropping in on you unannounced just to share in the joy of the season, bite-sized everything, secret santas, family gatherings, & one-too-many wintery cocktails with friends.

ahhh, it is SO the best.

but, such as most things in life, along with the abundant joy & excitement that the holiday season brings also comes stress.  & one of the most stressful parts of this festive & gathering-packed time of year can absolutely be figuring out what the eff you’re going to gift.

your  neighbors, co-workers/bosses, & haven’t-seen-you-since-last-holiday relatives aren’t likely spilling their holiday wish list with you. you don’t always know what they want or what they could use. you may not always sure whether you need to bring a hostess gift or if it’s even appropriate to bring a bottle of booze to work as a gift.

(hint: yes, you always need to bring a hostess gift, even if it’s something small – it’s the thought counts!; & yes, it’s usually fine to discreetly gift booze at work, just don’t expect to crack into it in the office.)

i am SO very excited to help ease away some of the gift-giving stress this holiday season with a plays well with butter holiday gift basket series. 

featuring a new food-centric gift idea every week from now until new year’s, the plays well with butter holiday gifting series will be seriously jam-packed full of rock-your-socks-off food gift baskets.

food is a great unifier. even if you don’t know your giftees faves & dislikes, you can easily hone in on one of their general interests.

have a coffee lover in your life but don’t drink coffee?  i’ve got you covered.  not sure what to get for your beer-snob brother-in-law?  i’ve got your back!  how about your friend who is the life of the party or loves to partake in sunday funday?  yep, we’ll talk about them too.

with a couple of added artisan &/or homemade touches, you’ll deliver the ultimate food gift basket that feels totally special & is totally useful (& delicious!).  your effort & attention to detail will totally wow & leave a lasting impression with your recipient.

& let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that?

let’s get started!

plays well with butter food gift basket essentials:

the vessel:

you could definitely use a gift bag or a kraft paper bag, but i love the traditional idea of gifting with a gift basket.  nothing beats the stunning presentation of treats & treasures thoughtfully arranged in a basket.  you can use a traditional woven wood basket; i love to modernize mine up a bit by using a wire milk crate.

it is the perfectly stylish touch that your recipient can put to good use in their home once they’re done enjoying the treats you stuffed it with for the holidays.

tissue paper:

no matter what direction you choose to go with your vessel, you’ll need some fun tissue paper to help build your gift.  stuff your bag or basket with a generous layer of colorful tissue paper.  it will make the perfect base onto which you can nestle your treats. 

weck jars & cello bags:

i love the retro look that weck jars add to a gift basket!  they’re sturdy & seal tight, making them the perfect vessel for any liquid or sauce that you might be gifting.  you can feel free to swap weck jars with mason jars or working jars with lids.  the key here is having something that will seal well. 

cello bags are another serious life-saver when it comes to food gifting.  this time of year you can get bags that are decked out with colorful & festive designs, though i tend to opt for clear bags that really highlight the food that i put in them. 

plays well with butter food gift basket method:

the method for the perfect food gift basket is so simple, but always leads to a thoughtful gift with an impressive presentation & will absolutely wow your recipient.  the key is to really hone in on something you know your giftee loves & blow it up with tons of personal touches.

#1. think about your gift basket recipient

what does your recipient LOVE?  will your neighbors not stop raving about their recent trip to italy?  do you know not to talk to your boss until he or she has had his or her first cup of coffee in the morning?  does your brother-in-law always geek out over the craft beers on the beer list when you go out to eat with him?

you don’t have to know their life story, but think about some of the things you know that they appreciate & really hone in on them as a theme central to your gift basket.

#2. start with something store-bought

it’s the holidays, we’re all busy, & we definitely don’t need to over-complicate our lives by setting out to diy everything.  think about your gift basket’s theme & choose a couple of things that you know you can simply grab at the store.

maybe it’s a bottle of wine or a cookbook by your favorite author.  maybe you’re going to grab a super cute holiday mug for the coffee lover in your life.

the key here is choosing a couple of easy things that will tie into the theme perfectly.  keep it simple!

#3. add in something with local or artisanal flare

think about your favorite local treats & how they could tie into your gift basket’s theme.

do you have a go-to cheesemonger who has a drool-worthy assortment of amazing cheeses?  do you have a neighborhood bakery that you stop at every week for fresh-baked bread?  does your  favorite coffee shop roast their own beans?

a couple of hand-selected favorites from your favorite local spots will not only be a great conversation starter when you give your gift basket to your recipient, but will also give your favorite small businesses some great business this holiday season.

#4. & finish with a homemade touch or two 

what can YOU add to the mix?

do you make a killer kale pesto or have a spicy candied nuts recipe that people go crazy for?

make a small batch of something that you know will kick ass.  add it to your gift basket (& be sure to include the recipe as well!). the time & effort you take to include an extra handmade touch will totally knock the socks off of your giftee & make them feel absolutely spoiled.

now that we’ve got the basics down, keep coming back over the next five weeks to see this gift basket method put into action!  i can’t wait to share these ideas with you.  comment below to let me know what is the best gift you’ve EVER received – i would love to know!

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