Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmas Goody Baskets


They are finally done! Hooray!

I finally got the baskets all done. Whew! I did 18 of these babies in total, mostly for hubby's employees and colleagues, and a few for friends and family.

Here is all the loot lined up ready for the assembly line. I was so pressed for time that I did not have time to set up the lights for really good photos. I apologize for the quality of these shots.



Heather and I searched and searched for hours for a good basket supply source and she found them here: Baskets. I absolutely love this place. They have the largest selection of baskets and colors I have ever seen, great customer service, reasonably priced and the baskets were great quality. This is now my go to place for baskets.


In addition to the things I already showed you, I also made some candy cane cookies covered in textured red fondant, some large square transfer cookies, dipped pretzel rods, and small squares with a candy cane sugar lay on top.


I also added some purchased items: Hershey's candy cane kisses, and choc covered peppermint sticks ( hard to see in pics). I think the baskets would have looked better had I not bagged everything, but live and learn.


I always use shrink wrap on my bags to get a professional gourmet basket look. Coordinating bow and it is done!

-------------------------------------------------
Here are some pics of the baskets from last year, a snow theme:




Sugar cookies, snowman cookies, marshmallow sticks, rock candy sticks, decorated sugar cubes, snowflake Oreo molds, chocolate coffee spoons, and hard candy snowflake suckers.



The little mint candies are made with a personalized candy mold that says The Zambitos. You can get them here.



You can get the Oreo molds here.




Sugar cookies were fondant covered and over-piped with royal icing.

Shrink wrapped and ready to gift!
--------------------------------------------

So now I have to do a cookie order, and get my house ready to host Xmas dinner. No rest for the weary, and boy am I weary! Please send me pics of the goodies you guys made this year.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!

Hugs and love, Sharon

15 comments:

L said...

Lovely work, Sharon.

Heather said...

Just beautiful! You did a fabulous job, I swear I'm coming to help next year. Those baskets are a great color, i'm glad they got here in time. OH the things I do for you and still don't get a basket....ROFLMAO!! I love you my friend, have an awesome Christmas!!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! I love the colors, the cookies...everything! It must have been a lot of work, but it is worthwhile!

Anonymous said...

They turned out awesome! So fun! The baskets do look great. I got some wire baskets from them and they are really nice too! Great site (thanks Heather for finding the place!!!)

Some lucky people getting those baskets. Love the ones from last year also!!! Hope you get some rest now.

Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thanks for sharing your christmas goodies!

Ann (Miss Sweetstory) said...

You are the Energizer Bunny of beautiful creations...they just keep coming and coming!!!

How do you keep everything fresh...specifically the sugar cookies that you did a few weeks ago? Do you freeze the decorated cookies?

Happy Christmas!

SharonG said...

Oh my goodness Sharon! These are awesome!! You did such a beautiful job with your baskets. I really love how you have done these and the ones from last year...in a color theme. They all are amazing!

God Bless your heart & soul for all the time and work you put into the baskets. I hope DH gets you an extra gift for all the work you put into these, lol. Thank You, for sharing all the information and photos on the treats and baskets. Merry Christmas! to you and those you hold dear to your heart. God Bless & Happy Holidays Everyone!

Anonymous said...

bbbbbeeeeUtiful!!! Glad you got them all done up girl. Whew, I tired for you.

Saved all the sites you posted, thanks more toys I MUST BUY.

Hugs to you and your family for the holidays!

dai said...

Those are awesome!!

How many of those did you make - and WHERE ON EARTH do you find the time?! Seriously?! I have 2 kids & work part-time as a Wilton Instructor and I barely have time for anything. I'd show you what I made for Christmas - BUT I HAVEN'T MADE ANYTHING YET! Sad, I know! Hopefully tonight and/or tomorrow I will be baking my buns off, LOL

Happy Holidays to you!

SwellCakes said...

Wow, Sharon! These look so beautiful. Those are some lucky recipients!
Merry Christmas!

Staci said...

Hi! I came to your blog from TasteSpotting. You are amazing!! I see you used quite a bit of fondant. I've never had much luck with it b/c it tastes so bad. Any suggestions? Do you flavor it?

SugarEd Productions said...

Thanks all!

Ann: I kept the decorated cookies in air tight containers for 2 weeks or so and they were fine.

Dai: I have to tell you I overdid it this year. There were many many late nights and lack of sleep and I am paying ti for it now! LOL

Stacie: taste does depend upon brand. The best tasting are Fondarific and ChocoPan. The next is Massa Grunicha (sp?). Those 3 can be pricey. The next best, IMO is Satin Ice and then Pettinice. Wilton is just yuck. You can make your own from scratch or add candy clay to any fondant to help the taste. HTH!

Jacque said...

Wow, my hat's off to you! I'm guessing everyone (who gets one) looks forward to your baskets each year.

Way to go, girl!

Anonymous said...

On your little personalized candies....it looks like the foil wrap has the name on it too....Did you just rub the foil across the molded chocolate or how did you get it to show?

Thanks.

SugarEd Productions said...

Correct Anonymous: The indentation is in the candy and you rub the foil down inot it for it to show.

Unknown said...

I attempted the candy cane sugar cookie last night and I'm sad to report that they did not hold their shape like yours did. Is it the recipe? or is there a trick to making it cook without spreading?