Holiday Tradition: Cozy Gift Boxes

Holiday Tradition: Cozy Gift Boxes. Cozy Christmas Gift Basket Ideas for Neighbors (+ Free Printable Simmer Pot Tags) Leave your neighbors a cozy Christmas gift basket on December 1st, filled with a homemade simmer pot, a holly mug, chocolates and more, plus free printable tags.

A Cozy December 1st Tradition

A few years ago I started a little tradition that has become one of my favorite parts of the holidays. On December 1st, I leave a cozy Christmas gift basket on the porches of my neighbors and friends. It’s filled with simple, cozy things to help them settle into the season, from a homemade simmer pot jar to a mug for hot cocoa.

This cozy gift basket is the very first project in my Old-Fashioned Christmas Craft Club. It’s an easy DIY Christmas gift, it doesn’t cost a lot to put together, and it makes people feel so loved right at the start of December. Below I’m sharing everything I put inside, how to make the simmer pot, and free printable gift tags so you can make your own.

Shop the Cozy Gift Basket

You can find links to everything in my cozy gift basket here:

SHOP THE BASKET ON LTK

What’s Inside the Cozy Christmas Gift Basket

A Homemade Simmer Pot Jar

The star of the basket is a glass jar filled with stovetop potpourri ingredients. It makes the whole house smell like Christmas. (The full simmer pot recipe is below.)

A Holiday Mug for Cocoa or Coffee

A sweet holly mug is the perfect excuse to slow down with a cup of hot cocoa, coffee or tea on a chilly December morning.

A Little Bottle Brush Tree

A tiny bottle brush tree adds instant vintage Christmas charm to a windowsill, kitchen counter or bookshelf.

A Glass Ornament Filled with Chocolates

I filled a clear glass ornament with Lindor truffles. It’s a treat now and an ornament to hang on the tree every year after.

Cozy Twinkle Lights

A strand of battery-operated fairy lights can be tucked into garland, wrapped around the bottle brush tree or put in a jar for a soft, cozy glow.

A Pretty Holiday Dish Towel

At the bottom of the basket is a holly-embroidered dish towel. It’s an easy way to bring a little Christmas into the kitchen all season long.

How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot Jar

What’s in the Simmer Pot

A Christmas simmer pot (also called stovetop potpourri) is one of the easiest and coziest homemade gifts you can give. I layer everything in a glass jar with a bamboo lid and tie it with red velvet ribbon and a printable tag. Here’s what goes inside:

• Dried orange slices
• Dried lemon slices
• Dried cranberries
• Cinnamon sticks
• Star anise
• Whole cloves
• Bay leaves

As it warms, the oranges and lemons bring a bright, sweet citrus scent. The cinnamon, star anise and cloves add that warm, spicy smell of holiday baking. The cranberries add a little tartness, and the bay leaves give it a soft, fresh, almost evergreen note. Together they make your home smell like an old-fashioned Christmas.

How to Use the Simmer Pot

1. Pour the contents of the jar into a small saucepan.
2. Cover with about 3 to 4 cups of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a low simmer.
4. Add more water every 30 minutes or so to keep the pot from running dry.

You can also put everything in a small slow cooker on low with the lid off. When you’re done for the day, let it cool, then keep it in the fridge and reuse it for another day or two. Never leave a simmer pot unattended on the stove.

[Optional photo: simmer pot on the stove]

Free Printable Simmer Pot Gift Tags

Download the Free Printable Tags

To make your cozy gift baskets extra special, I made free printable Stove Top Potpourri tags. They include the simmer pot directions, so your neighbors and friends know exactly how to use them. Just print them on cardstock, cut them out and tie them to the jar with ribbon or twine.

How to Put Together a Cozy Gift Basket

Assemble the Basket

Start with a small kraft box or basket and fill the bottom with red crinkle paper shred. Lay the dish towel in first, then tuck in the simmer pot jar and the mug. Add the bottle brush tree, chocolate ornament and twinkle lights on top. Finish with a little sprig of greenery and red berries for that old-fashioned Christmas look.

Deliver It on December 1st

I love dropping these cozy Christmas gift baskets on porches on December 1st, because it gives everyone something cozy to enjoy for the whole month. It’s a simple neighbor gift idea, but it’s such a sweet way to start the holiday season together.

Who are you going to make a cozy gift basket for this year? Let me know in the comments!

XOXO,