I need to make food gifts for all the shifts I work with, and need HELP

[mtnester]

Used to be we were a smaller organization, and it was easier for me to bake cookies for everyone.

Now, each duty shift gets together and pools their dough to buy me a giftie. I like to return the favor, but cookies are getting out of hand (we are talking more than 40 people now)

Anyone have large batch ideas for me to make (also, these are all men, so they eat a LOT and love sweets, not that all men are like that, but these ones ARE!)

Maybe brittle? Hate to do carmel corn or the like, cause they will get a bunch of stuff like that from the public.

I have some ideas, but, it would be helpful if I hear yours because I may just go "AHA! That is it!"

Thanks in advance!

[wryter2000]

1. An idea

I don't make huge batches of things, but I wonder if the sort of thing where you make one big pan of something and cut it up might be easier than recipes where you have to form all the cookies separately. Things like brownies. I think you can do a pan chocolate chip cookie recipe, too.

[mtnester]

2. Brownies have crossed my mind, however, I would have to make

about 16 - 20 pans of them, and they will get a lot of them from the public (they are FIREFIGHTERS, and if you have never seen them eat, well...)

They also live here (i.e work longer than normal folks on their "work" day. You normally have folks nibbling for one entire day (8 hours) however, I have to make enough to keep them snackin for 24 hours, three straight days.

It is still on my list though.

[ernstbass]

3. A few ideas:

Muddy Buddies - chex cereal w/ peanut butter, chocolate and confectioner's sugar on them. Or perhaps a basket of assorted sweet breads (banana, pumpkin, sweet potato, cranberry) You could start early and freeze the loaves.

[mtnester]

6. Great idea! I have lots of mini loaf pans, plus the snack

mix is a great idea! Thanks! I can make a bunch of it in short time, huge batches too...wrap em up in some large gift bag ties with nice ribbon.

Thanks!

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Any sweet bread baked in smaller loaf pans

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001GZBE8/102-8832150-1991308?v=glance&n=284507

Four of the pans for 8 bux isn't bad. Buy a dozen or two and make minibreads. Maybe even give each person one of of two different kinds. You can double your dough batch and the only work is loading and unloading. And wrapping.

Surely others have some great sweet bread recipes.

Personally, I like orange cranberry bread myself.

[mtnester]

7. Orange cranberry - I bet muffins would be great too

I also have a lot of dried cherries right now, that would go great with the orange as well.

[japple]

5. See the earlier thread on Peanut Brittle.

It's quick, easy, and delicious, plus you can vary it widely.

Happy cooking!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

8. Trust me............

These go a long way in terms of filling people up:

SEVEN LAYER COOKIES


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt ¼ cup butter and spread in a 13 x 9 baking pan.

Spread 1 cup graham cracker crumbs on top.

Layer evenly with 1 cup each butterscotch chips, semisweet chocolate chips, chopped, walnuts and shredded coconut.

Drizzle one can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk on top.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, just until barely golden. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Cut into 2 x ½ inch squares. Make 3 dozen.

(The Empress Of All - who knows everything - told me that she doubled this recipe quite nicely, and she was right! It's great, dense stuff, and SO easy to make, cut, wrap, and present.)

[mtnester]

9. Ahem...did I not see a fawning thread over these around Thanksgiving?

They MUST be good...I will add them to the goodie bag!

:) Thanks!
On edit - I will need to bring milk too I think!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

10. And cots

You'll need lots of cots for your poor buddies who will eat too many - two are too many, believe me - and then they'll need to lie down.

They are SO rich.................

[DawgHouse]

14. Hey, those are "Hello Dollies"

and you are correct. They are delicious!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

15. Here we go!!!

"Dick" - one of the greatest movies ever made.

You are correct!

[grasswire]

11. what about something like...

.....dipped pretzels in white chocolate and dried apricots dipped in regular chocolate? That makes quite a nice pretty plate and it's fun to do.

Or maybe half a dozen soft pretzels in little baskets with little jars of homemade jam and mustard?

How about chocolate pound cakes? That's no harder than quick bread.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

[mtnester]

13. Pretzles in chocolate would be a good idea too

I will finalize the gities by Sunday (I have to dammit)

[Warpy]

12. I bake for the neighborhood every year

and I've found out that the simpler things are the things they all appreciate the most, so I do 4 dozen each chocolate chip cookies, spice cookes, peanut butter cookies, and sugar cookies.

I then please myself by doing mini loaves of various quick breads and I always throw in something or other made with puff pastry.

Multiple sheets of cookies got a whole lot quicker once I discovered two things: parchment paper and a small ice cream scoop.

[politicat]

16. Cookie press cookies or Chow.

The only icky thing that slows down is loading the barrel, but even that's not too bad if you have a small ice cream scoop.
After the barrel's loaded, it's like a caulk gun. Press and squeeze until you're done. Then re-load and run again.
I did about 6 dozen this afternoon in about 2 hours. I need more cookie sheets, but that's all.

However, there's always Chow. (This may have another name, but I've never heard of it.)

Get Chinese chow mein noodles (thin or thick) and melting chocolate. Mix the former into the melted latter until it seems too thick with noodles.
Dollop on waxed paper. Let cool.

This also works with white "chocolate" and the raw ingredients for chex mix (i.e. chex, pretzels, nuts); at that point, use less of the white ... stuff... and mix with the cereal, pretzels and nuts until everything looks barely frosted.
(In my family, all of these candy things are "chow".)

[housewolf]

17. Soft Butter Caramels

They're easy to make but something of a pain to cut and wrap each one in waxed paper or cellophane. One batch makes a 9"x13" pan, if you cut 1" squares you have about 10 dozen pieces. Decadently delicious and always a hit. I'm happy to share the recipe if it's something you would like.

Almond Rocca is also easy to do, as are spiced nuts.

[fortyfeetunder]

18. Rum balls

they are a hit at work...but I use rum flavoring instead of the good stuff for the flavor. Best thing, no bake!