Easy Wrapping Ideas

Decorative Mini Loaves

Bakers with many gifts to give might consider making mini quick breads. To make them, follow one of our recipes, but divide the batter among three small pans (ours measure 5 3/4 by 3 1/4 by 2 inches) and bake for 45 minutes. Set each mini loaf in a bakery-style gift box (available at craft stores) lined with parchment. Wrap strips of festive paper, either store-bought or decorated by your kids, around the outside of the box. Full of sunny flavors, the Coconut-Lemon Loaf would make a wonderful holiday gift.

Personalized Gift Tags

Simple yet sophisticated, brown paper (cut from a roll or a paper bag) makes an earth-friendly and easy wrapper for a holiday quick bread. To dress it up, use a ribbon and a family photo tag. Make the tag by printing or trimming an image to size. Insert it in a metal scrapbooking rim (as shown), or glue the photo to a store-bought tag or circle of card stock. For a quick gift bursting with holiday cheer, the Old-Fashioned Date Nut Bread is sure to please.

Cutting Board Keepsake

For a gift that keeps on giving, cover a loaf of quick bread in foil or parchment, then gift wrap. Put the loaf on an inexpensive cutting board and tie a pretty ribbon around the two. For the chocolate lovers on your list, try the Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin Loaf.

Seasonal Sampler

Instead of a single loaf, give friends slices of several quick breads. Wrap each slice in parchment, add a handwritten tag indicating the type, and package the slices together in a gift bag or bakery-style gift box. The Double Apple-Walnut Bread is a delicious combination of seasonal flavors.