Cookie Tags And Ornaments

Transform your decorated cookies into gift tags and tree ornaments just by making a hole in the top of them before baking.

The tags are a sweet addition to wrapped gifts and the ornaments are little works of art that will last year after year if kept in an airtight container.

This is an especially fun cookie project for a large group or the whole family.

Here's how:

Make a batch cookie dough. Click here for my favorite sugar cookie recipe and click here for my favorite gingerbread recipe.

Lay your cut out cookies onto a sheetpan and make a hole in the top of them.

I used the end of my scribe tool to make the holes but you could use a dowel, straw or another tool to make about a quarter-inch size hole in the top of the cookie. It's important that you make the hole larger than you need it to be since it will close up a bit during baking.

For the gift tags, I outlined the baked and cooled cookies with red piping consistency icing and let that dry for about 15 minutes.

Then I flooded the cookie with ivory tinted icing and set the cookies aside to dry completely.

Once the cookie tags are dry, you can write on them with edible markers and thread a piece of twin or ribbon through them. The markers can be found online, in decorating supply shops and art and craft stores like Michael's and JoAnn's.

Cookie Tags

A sweet way to finish off a packaged cookie is with a ribbon-tied gift tag.

Of course you can buy gift tags at craft and paper supply stores but I prefer to make them myself using paper punches. The punches are a one time purchase and with them I can make as many tags as I like. Purchased tags are not cheap.

You can use paper punches that actually punch out the entire tag or you can use punches that add decorative edges to tags you cut.

My two tag punches.

My scalloped edge punch.

I used the latter for my recent batch of Double Decker Bunny Cookies for Easter. I found the scalloped edge punch on sale at Michael's Arts & Crafts for $5.

Here's how:

Get your supplies together — (clockwise from the top) a hole punch, ribbon and scissors, paper for the tag, decorative edge paper punch, ink pen for writing on the tag and a decorated cookie wrapped in a cellophane bag.

Line up your paper in the punch. You can see exactly how the paper is aligned if you check the guide on the bottom of the punch. Be sure to start with an evenly cut piece of paper.

The punch finishes off 2.5 inches of paper at a time.

Keep aligning and punching until you have one entire edge done. Then repeat with the second edge.

Cut your tag to the desired size.

Add writing, a hole in the top corner and the tag is ready to be tied on. To attach the tag, punch another hole in the cellophane cookie bag, thread your ribbon through both and tie a bow.