Gift Bags and Cookies for Teachers

Early in the school year, I love to make cookies for the teachers, the bus driver, the principal, the secretary and all the folks that help get the school year off to a smooth start.

I've come up with a clever and inexpensive gift bag to put the cookies in…

1. Start with a simple brown lunch bag.
2. Put the cookies in a ziploc bag before putting them in the brown lunch bag.
3. Fold over the top.
4. Punch 2 holes through the top.
5. Insert a red plaid ribbon.

Here are a couple of The Budget Diet girl's favorite cookie recipes to fill those bags with!

Everything Cookies

• • 2 cups flour
  • 2 t. baking powder
  • 2 t. baking soda
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 2 sticks butter (room temperature)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 t. vanilla
  • 1, 12oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 1/2 cups raisins

• Heat oven to 350^
• Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a bowl.
• In another bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth & creamy, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, about 2 minutes.
• Add eggs & vanilla, beat well.
• Stir in flour mixture until just combined.
• Stir in all remaining ingredients.
• For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased cookie sheet, spacing 3 inches apart.
• Bake at 350^ for 17 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
• Yield 2 dozen giant, yummy cookies!

Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

• • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups oats
  • 1 cup craisins
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup bits-o-brickle toffee pieces

• Mix flour and baking soda together, set aside.
• Mix butter and sugars together until smooth.
• Add vanilla and egg.
• Add flour mixture.
• Fold in oats, craisins, chocolate chips & toffee pieces.
• Roll into balls and place 2″ apart on a nonstick cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350^ for 8 – 10 minutes or until light brown.
• Yield: 5 dozen

Check out all my yummy cookie recipes!

Don't underestimate the power of a homemade cookie!

Happy Baking!