There are a few ways to make nut gift baskets at home. You can use small cans of various nuts, or you can purchase bulk nuts and wrap them yourself. The great thing about making these gourmet gift baskets is that you can save money by doing it yourself and tailor the nut selection to the recipient's tastes, rather than settling for the choices available in retail nut baskets.
Creative Gift Baskets
Nuts are small and you don't need a ton of them to whip up an impressive gift. This gives you a tremendous amount of flexibility in choosing a basket for your nut gift basket. If you are using cans of nuts, you'll want to stick with a large, traditional basket. If you're using bulk nuts, you can look for a container with compartments or put the nuts in individual plastic bags, which can be found at party stores.
For a sports fan, consider a plastic batting helmet filled with nuts. For the gentleman, a small humidor will work. Even a wine carafe or a sectioned serving bowl can be made more special by turning it into a gift basket.
Filling the Nut Gift Basket
If you are using cans of nuts, line the basket with pieces of tissue paper or a decorative dishtowel, then fill the basket about half full with crinkle paper. This will make the basket look fuller and keep the cans from slipping out of place. Wrap the basket with colored cellophane paper and tie it off with a bow.
If you are using bulk nuts and have a basket with pre-made dividers, add the nuts and other items directly. If the basket is open, you can use heavy-duty construction paper or colored posterboard to make dividers. Put any other items in the basket first, so you can work the dividers around odd-sized items. Cover the entire basket with clear plastic wrap, making sure to wrap the plastic all the way around the basket to keep the nuts from falling out of the basket.
Additional Items to Include
Anything that would go in a gourmet gift basket works well with nut gift baskets. Consider including wine, cheese, crackers, sausages, wine glasses, a cheese slicer and smoked meats. Include a nutcracker or two if your basket features nuts with shells.
Nuts are party food, so you can create a party mix by adding other ingredients. Consider small pretzels or pretzel sticks, cheddar crackers, potato chips and Melba toast.
 | It's easy to learn to make gift baskets and they make excellent gifts. The best thing about them is that they can be personalized for any occasion or individual tastes. |
 | The time-honored tradition of gift giving has been practiced by all societies, in all walks of life. Since the beginning of time, the giving of gift baskets has been a thoughtful means of expressing oneself. And whenever a gift is given from the heart, it becomes much more than just a gift. |
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Movie theme gift baskets are an impressive gift for singles, couples and families. It's easy to control costs with this gift as well, since most of the candy and snacks you'll use for filler can be found at the local supermarket. |
One of the great things about making your own gift baskets for women is that you can control the cost and choose basket fillers that have special meaning to the recipient. |
