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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you be happy to receive a Christmas cookie box as a gift?

197 replies

PeachRings · 01/12/2025 21:51

I’m planning on making Christmas cookie boxes for friends and family this year in place of plastic tat as gifts. I’m planning for them to include:

• homemade digestives (chocolate)
• chocolate salami (like a rocky road in a log)
• snickerdoodles
• lemon biscotti (nut free)
• triple chocolate peppermint cookies
• vanilla bean shortbread
• chocolate cookies
• stained glass window biscuits

would you be happy to receive these?

OP posts:
DeafLeppard · 02/12/2025 07:16

Are you actually any good at making biscuits? That would shape my answer….

We’d struggle to deal with a big box of biscuits at Christmas, especially if they need eaten quickly. We generally have too much nice things as it is, and our freezer is rammed.

Also I’d rather have loads of one kind, rather than a selection.

Original poster
PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:17

DeafLeppard · 02/12/2025 07:16

Are you actually any good at making biscuits? That would shape my answer….

We’d struggle to deal with a big box of biscuits at Christmas, especially if they need eaten quickly. We generally have too much nice things as it is, and our freezer is rammed.

Also I’d rather have loads of one kind, rather than a selection.

I like to think I am 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:17

I’ve mainly asked because I work in a hospital and I was also thinking of giving some to the teams we work closely with, they’ve had a rough time of it this year and I wanted to bring them a little bit of happiness around Christmas, but I wasn’t sure if it would be appreciated

OP posts:
HelloCharming · 02/12/2025 07:27

My sister has Ukrainian colleagues who made everyone the most delicious Christmas biscuits last year, beautifully decorated. Absolute hit. I’d probably end up taking them into work or giving to DSS for his poker game mates….but I need to lose weight.

Holluschickie · 02/12/2025 07:31

PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:17

I’ve mainly asked because I work in a hospital and I was also thinking of giving some to the teams we work closely with, they’ve had a rough time of it this year and I wanted to bring them a little bit of happiness around Christmas, but I wasn’t sure if it would be appreciated

I don't eat sugar any more but would make an exception for these and eat one or two a day.

SleafordSods · 02/12/2025 07:34

I’d just give them to the DC who may or may not eat them. Pigging out on biscuits is just not my thing, i much prefer savoury and 2 days is a very short expiry date when people may have things going on anyway.

ToffeePennie · 02/12/2025 07:34

Yes please! In fact can I be added to your Xmas list? We always get boxes of chocolates and one crap box of biscuits for Christmas, but these sound so much nicer than the crap ones from Tesco!

Original poster
PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:36

SleafordSods · 02/12/2025 07:34

I’d just give them to the DC who may or may not eat them. Pigging out on biscuits is just not my thing, i much prefer savoury and 2 days is a very short expiry date when people may have things going on anyway.

I’m not entirely sure where two days has come from? Usually in our family they’re all eaten by day 3 or 4 and I’ve never had any complaints about them going stale

OP posts:
Chasingsquirrels · 02/12/2025 07:39

PeachRings · 01/12/2025 22:01

I used to do them quite religiously at Christmas and they’d always get eaten. My tactic is to do one of each biscuit per family member, in cellophane bags. They tend to last for a couple of days but I do always time it to be firmly in the “fuck it, it’s Christmas” period. So people tend to just eat what they want 😂

Edited
Show quote history

This is where the 2 days came from.

Euphesia · 02/12/2025 07:39

I got a jar of homemade shortbread one year. It was lovely so I'd be delighted. But, depending on the recipient, not such a huge quantity. Nice presentation is a must too.

Original poster
PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:41

Chasingsquirrels · 02/12/2025 07:39

This is where the 2 days came from.

Show quote history

A couple days, and as I then caveated, it’s because people eat them.

OP posts:
Mt563 · 02/12/2025 07:42

AgentPidge · 01/12/2025 22:10

Yes, it's a lovely present. I don't normally eat biscuits but a friend in Germany makes delicious Christmas spiced cookies and I really enjoy getting that Christmassy box. Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of crumbs by the time they get to me, so pack yours well, OP!

Have you tried the Spekulatius/Christmas spiced biscuits from lidl? They might be similar of you want more!

Screamingabdabz · 02/12/2025 07:44

Yes as a gift to colleagues but no as a gift to family/friends.

You say it’s better than ‘useless shite’ but why are you contemplating giving useless shite in the first place? That’s just shite gift giving.

I’m not a a fan of home made gifts. It just says it’s all about you and your hobby rather than what the other person might like. That said, I’d rather get edibles than some tacked together bit of sewing or knitting.

FastTurtle · 02/12/2025 07:45

PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:17

I’ve mainly asked because I work in a hospital and I was also thinking of giving some to the teams we work closely with, they’ve had a rough time of it this year and I wanted to bring them a little bit of happiness around Christmas, but I wasn’t sure if it would be appreciated

So many people are aware of their allergies now I would worry about giving homemade food as a gift.

Original poster
PeachRings · 02/12/2025 07:45

Screamingabdabz · 02/12/2025 07:44

Yes as a gift to colleagues but no as a gift to family/friends.

You say it’s better than ‘useless shite’ but why are you contemplating giving useless shite in the first place? That’s just shite gift giving.

I’m not a a fan of home made gifts. It just says it’s all about you and your hobby rather than what the other person might like. That said, I’d rather get edibles than some tacked together bit of sewing or knitting.

To be fair my family love my baking. I’ve had multiple requests for bread this year so I’m thinking as well as a cookie box I’m going to give out some loaves of sourdough 😂

OP posts:
TunnocksOrDeath · 02/12/2025 07:48

An alternative - which won't go off or get eaten by the dog if left under a tree: There are lots of recipes on line for cookie mixes in jars - You layer up the dry ingredients in a jar to look pretty and stick the instructions on a label...The recipient adds the butter/oil/egg/whatever and makes their own cookies once all the Christmas kerfuffle has died down.

wateraddict · 02/12/2025 07:51

I would love that as a gift, it sounds delicious. The only thing I would say is it’s possible the peppermint flavour may transfer to the other beautiful things you are going to make (or maybe I just use too much in my cooking!)

Candleabra · 02/12/2025 07:54

I’d enjoy a homemade gift at any other time of the year but there’s just too much other food at Christmas and they’d probably go to waste.

hattie43 · 02/12/2025 08:00

I’d like it from a child but other than that no . Homemade doesn’t necessarily mean nice and at Christmas I’d have stocked cupboards anyway . You don’t have to buy plastic tat as there are many other things for sale .

Mumtobabyhavoc · 02/12/2025 08:01

I'd love it, but. "Chocolate salami" has an unappealing ring to it. Re-name that.
Also agree with a PP that peppermint will transfer to other items.

landlordhell · 02/12/2025 08:02

Not my thing but I’d use it over Christmas or take it to a family event to share. I’d rather have a bottle of wine.

Original poster
PeachRings · 02/12/2025 08:03

Mumtobabyhavoc · 02/12/2025 08:01

I'd love it, but. "Chocolate salami" has an unappealing ring to it. Re-name that.
Also agree with a PP that peppermint will transfer to other items.

That’s just what I’ve seen it referred to as online, I don’t know how to describe it 😂

im going to use bags for them all, so it won’t transfer

OP posts:
landlordhell · 02/12/2025 08:04

PeachRings · 01/12/2025 21:56

I just think that between the normal useless shite you get at this time of year and something I’m passionate about, I’d rather gift people something nice and tasty! Out of interest why would you hate it?

Show quote history

With respect that is not to my taste . Hate biscuits/ shortbread etc so your idea of this being better somehow is not for everyone.

Syida · 02/12/2025 08:04

If you were a friend I would probably think it was nice although rather a lot of biscuits. But if you were family I would feel it was a rubbish gift to be honest, biscuits feel unluxurious and a bit cheap even though I know logically it isn't cheap to buy ingredients. They fall into "token gift" category for me.

Holluschickie · 02/12/2025 08:05

Hmmm... so many people seem unenthusiastic. I might point out that I am not Christian and I don't " do" Xmas, so I have freezer space and plenty of room for gifts!