Beach Basket


As much as we’d probably all like to go the beach this summer, between the heat, the expense and workloads, it is not always feasible.

In place of traveling treating a friend to a trip the shore, give a basket filled with best of the beach finds.

That way, your friend can enjoy beach side fun (sort of) without some of its negatives (the heat, the sand, the sunburn, the kids running around causing sand to fly up all over you).

A large brightly-colored sand bucket makes an ideal container.

Bake a batch of sugar cookies, decorated to look like seashells, beach balls, sunglasses and beach umbrellas.

Start with your favorite recipe of cookie dough, or purchase a roll of pre-made dough from the grocery.

For the beach ball cookies, roll out well-chilled dough and cut into rounds. Bake according to recipe or package directions and cool completely on wire racks.

Use seashell-shaped (say that three times fast), sunglasses and umbrella-shaped cookie cutters next. Look for them at cake and candy supply stores as well as large craft and discount stores. Bake as directed and cool completely.

Outline cookies with white icing (see recipe below). Fill in with various colors. Personalize cookies with your friend’s name, if desired.

Let decorated cookies dry completely.

Package cookies in clear cellophane bags or in small bakery-style boxes.

Gather together the packaged cookies and sand bucket, as well as other fun shore-styled gifts: inexpensive plastic sunglasses, a CD of Beach Boys music or ocean sounds, small plastic fish, bottled water and sunscreen.

You may want to first crumple tissue paper to fill the bottom of the bucket. Then begin placing the cookies and other small gifts. Arrange the items until a variety peaks out, tempting the recipient to dig in to the unique gift.

Attach a card in the shape of a sand dollar or sailboat, saying something like, “I couldn’t bring you to the beach, so I brought the beach to you!”

Royal Icing for Decorating Cookies

3 tablespoons meringue powder (available at cake decorating supply shops)

4 cups sifted (about 1 pound) confectioners’ sugar

6 tablespoons water

Combine meringue powder and confectioners’ sugar. Add water, one tablespoon at a time, and beat at low speed for 6 to 10 minutes. For outlining and piping, add about 4 tablespoons of water. For other, add additional water by tablespoon until to the desired consistency. Divide icing into small batches and color as desired.

The copyright of the article Beach Basket in Gifts of Food is owned by Keetha DePriest Reed. Permission to republish Beach Basket in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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