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Cozy Teacher Thank You Cookie Gift Box with 5 Easy Pencil Pretzels Ideas

cozy teacher thank you cookie gift box - featured image
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A heartfelt gift box featuring soft, buttery cinnamon-vanilla cookies paired with playful pencil-shaped pretzels, perfect for teacher appreciation or any special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (can swap for gluten-free flour)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 bag pretzel rods (standard size)
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips or melting wafers
  • Orange and yellow food coloring gels
  • Black edible marker or melted dark chocolate
  • Miniature pink candy-coated chocolates or pink sanding sugar
  • Optional for gift box: cellophane bags or small boxes, ribbon or twine, decorative tags or stickers

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. In another bowl, beat softened butter with granulated sugar and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract until just combined.
  5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
  6. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers look set but soft.
  8. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  9. Melt white chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl in 20-second bursts, stirring until smooth.
  10. Divide melted chocolate into three bowls: tint one with yellow gel, one with orange gel, leave one plain white.
  11. Paint bottom third of each pretzel with orange chocolate; chill until set.
  12. Paint middle section with yellow chocolate; chill until firm.
  13. Dip top inch of pretzel into white chocolate, then sprinkle with pink sanding sugar or place pink candy; chill again.
  14. Use black edible marker or toothpick dipped in melted dark chocolate to draw pencil tip details.
  15. Assemble gift box by layering cookies and pencil pretzels in box or cellophane bags; tie with ribbon and add tag.

Notes

Cream butter and sugars until very fluffy for soft cookies. Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning chocolate. Chill pretzels between chocolate layers to keep colors crisp. Rewarm chocolate gently if it thickens. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 months. Pretzels best fresh or refrigerated.

Nutrition

Keywords: teacher gift, cookie gift box, pencil pretzels, homemade cookies, gift ideas, cinnamon cookies, easy baking, holiday gift

Find it online: https://yumyep.com/cozy-teacher-thank-you-cookie-gift-box-with-5-easy-pencil-pretzels-ideas/