In 2022, on Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law dropped by with a container full of delicious baked goods and snacks since we couldn’t all be together that year. As I enjoyed the treats, I got the idea to share my own homemade goodies as gifts. It seemed like an easy and affordable way to spread some joy. I told my fiancé that I wanted to do something similar for Christmas the following year, but with a twist—I’d create themed boxes of treats and give them out during the holiday season.
I spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas for themes and used Google Sheets to keep track of my thoughts. Since it was my first year, I decided to keep it simple and focus on classic Christmas themes. I picked about 14 holiday characters and items, and then chose desserts that fit with each one. For example, for Scrooge, I made Snickerdoodles, calling them “Scroogedoodles,” and for Hot Cocoa, I created a “Hot Cocoa Cake.” I also put together a simple menu to include with each box. Then, I packed up the treats and gave them to my immediate family. There were a lot of leftovers, so I left the extras with family members to share with others.
After the boxes were handed out, I asked everyone to fill out a survey so I could improve for next year. I had my own notes, but I really wanted to hear everyone’s feedback. I believe constructive feedback is key to getting better. Some of the changes I made for 2024 included starting preparations earlier—like making inventory lists, organizing recipes, and creating menus—and testing the recipes to make sure they’d be a hit. Based on the feedback, I also decided to introduce “Mini TREAT$” alongside the main Christmas TREAT$ Box.
These culinary projects have been a great way to improve my cooking and baking skills, and they keep fueling my passion for making treats to share with others.
Mini TREAT$
Starting in 2024, I’ll be offering a Mini TREAT$ Box alongside the main Christmas TREAT$ Box. Each Mini TREAT$ drop will include four desserts—one of each kind—along with appetizers called TREATIZER$, and a bread selection called BREAD N’ SPREAD.
The timing of each Mini TREAT$ drop will vary from year to year. For example, in 2024, the first Mini TREAT$ drop will happen on Thanksgiving, while in 2025, it might be on St. Patrick’s Day! You never know when the next one will be. I think these Mini TREAT$ drops will be a fun way to get recipients excited for the big Christmas box while also giving me the chance to explore new themes beyond just Christmas.
Wrapped TREAT$
In 2025, I decided to share my love for gift-giving through our new Wrapped TREAT$ drops. Whenever we give gifts in our house, they’re always themed. For example, last year I made my brother a Fortnite-inspired gift: a Loot Bin box with a yellow balloon, gaming gear, V-Bucks, and homemade snickerdoodle “V-Buck” printed cookies packed inside a medkit.
Each Wrapped TREAT$ theme comes with its own recipes and gift pairings, plus links to the items we used so you can try them too. We’re excited to keep growing our collection every year!
Share Your Feedback + TREAT$ Suggestions
Products are not for sale. We gladly accept donations of any kind. Click here to learn more.
Email:
treatdollasign@gmail.com
treatdollasign.design.blog 