Step 1

. Whether you are including homemade cookies, storebought, or both, you want to choose a variety of cookies with different shapes and sizes and flavours. This will make the cookie box look interesting. I suggest baking anywhere from 4 to 8 different types of cookies (this year I went overboard with 15 different cookies). I plan out my cookie boxes about one month ahead of time, and make changes to it as I get inspired to add new cookies, and take some off my list.

Step 2

Choose other treats. Think about whether or not you want to include other treats such as candy canes, festive chocolate kisses, or peppermint candies.

Step 3

Check that you have the required baking equipment. Once you have a set list of cookies that you will be baking, determine that what baking equipment you will need. Typically, for most cookies, you will need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, a hand mixer or stand mixer, large half sheet baking pan, silicone baking mat, and a wire cooling rack. You may also need a cookie scoop, Christmas cookie cutters and a rolling pin, depending on the cookies you are baking.

Step 4

Make a shopping list.Ingredients: Make a shopping list of all the ingredients that you will need (including any treats or candies that you are including).

Step 5

Baking equipment: Do an inventory of the baking equipment that you have at home and determine what you need to purchase. Add anything you need to your shopping list.

Step 6

Cookie boxes and accessories: For the cookie boxes, choose something that is shallow with a lid. It can be disposable cardboard boxes (like these plain boxes or these festive decorated boxes) or keepsake cookie tins. You may also want to add mini cupcake liners (to layer in smaller cookies), burlap twine or ribbon (to tie a stack of cookies together), and cardstock (to divide parts of the box) to your shopping list.

Step 7

Make a schedule. It can be overwhelming when you have a list of cookies to bake, even if it is just four. Some cookies need to be chilled for hours, some need to be rolled and cut out, some need to be decorated with icing, some are sandwiched together... you get the drift. Go through each cookie recipe that you want to make, and starting with the easiest, write out a schedule starting at prep. Then, incorporate the next cookie into that schedule. Depending on the cookies you are baking, you may be able to schedule everything in one day, or spread it out over the course of a few days or weeks. The best thing is that most cookies freeze really well, so you can start baking the cookies even a month ahead and freeze them as you bake. Once you are ready to assemble your boxes and gift the cookies, just take them out of the freezer.

Step 8

Assemble the box. Arrange the cookies in different ways and put cookies of different shapes, sizes and colours next together to make it look interesting. You don't want to have a big section of cookies that all look the same. Use cupcake liners and burlap twine or ribbon to group certain cookies together. Use cardstock to divide and section off areas of the box.