Where can I get cookie tins???

[DSR]

Hi! Just reading through and thoroughly enjoying!!! This is my first Christmas at planning on giving everyone home baked goods...(this ought to be an experience!) The problem I'm having right out of the gate is finding the empty cookie tins to pack the cookies in. The only ones I have been able to locate already have stuff in them (nuts, etc.)

Is there a website I can find the empty holiday cookie tins that don't cost an arm and leg???

Thanks so much for anyone's help!

[NicksMommy]

Last year I went to my local grocery's bakery section and bought a dozen donut boxes--for 7 dozen they really were a little tight. For gifts of food I give out at the holidays(not at the party)I use containers from the $1 store. They are nice AND cheap--just not usually big enough for 7 dozen. This year I think I will go to a craft store or a party store to see what they have. In the past I have had everyone bring their own containers to take their cookies home in,but this year I plan on having them already.

[Cathie in PA]

Hi:

You can find tins at the dollar store or if your fortunate enough to have a store like the 5 and 10 you can get tins. I collect them and get alot (only in real nice condition) at yard sales too, and I use them for storing what I bake. I line them well with wax paper. Some of our local grocerie stores sell them too. I think tins are the best way to store your cookies.

Cathie in PA

[bonnieb]

Wal-Mart has the plastic holiday containers out that I usually buy every year. They come two in a pack for $3 (last year I found them for $1 each). The Dollar Store is usually a good bet too.

[francinenj]

try your local dollar stores! ours has many beautiful ones all the time,many sizes;also ask your local businesses you go to (hair salon or dr offices)if you could have their tins after they enjoy their gifts from the holidays & you will pick up when they call.

enjoy,francine in NJ

this past sunday was my 17th cookie exchange!fun,fun,fun!

[Cathy Minneapolis]

I looked all over for tins and had trouble finding bigger ones...small basic ones were everywhere, but I wanted ones that would fit 6 dozen cookies. I finally ordered them online from a company called Atlantic Sales and Distribution. They sell tins in cases of 12 or 24 (no one else would do orders that small at wholesale prices). Price for bigger tins (9-7/8" diameter, 7" high) was around $55 for 12 and, including shipping, it worked out to around $6 per tin. You have to order all the same pattern, but that was okay by me because it set the theme for the party. I decided to spend the money on the tins in place of "party favors," or a prize that only one person would get to take home.

[Bekcy]

We have a card and party -type outlet that usually has inexpensive tins. I think I've bought them for $1-3 depending on the size.

[mbguba]

I found some really nice ones this year at Michaels, the craft store. They were about $2 each and a decent size, not the smallish ones. One had a great pattern of years gone by holiday stamps and one had an angel flying over a town. Loved them, try there if you can.

[Marguerite Kennedy]

I dont use cookie tins..there is always way too many ladies for me to buy tins for everyone..last year I had 35! and seems to get larger every year. I supply the big oval chinett paper plates and they have always worked out fine...I have holiday wrap ready when they are done pilling up their sweets..this will be my 8th year and never had problems with the plates.

[Susan in PA]

This will only be my 2nd cookie exchange, but what seemed to work well last year were the disposable aluminum pans with the clear plastic lids. I found some at the dollar store that were called lasagna pans, and they seemed to be pretty deep ... held LOTS of cookies!

[hopeshaw]

you can find great tins at yard sales, very cheap.....

[aim225]

Last year was my 1st exchange and I struggled with this also but I finally decided on $0.99 plastic shoe boxes in the Christmas aisle at Wal - Mart some had red lids some had green lids and they were more than large enough to hold 6 dozen cookies and I found Christmas wax paper at my local dollar store as well as Christmas baggies.

So we washed all the plastic shoe boxes in the dishwasher and placed wax paper and several baggies in each one put the lids on them and passed them out to everyone when we were ready to swap and it worked out perfectly!!!! ;D

[maryemc]

It may sound strange, but in the past I have recycled Pringles cans that I've wrapped with holiday paper -- you will find you need to wipe them out as well as providing some type of filler to take up the extra space.

PS -- I like the idea re the plastic shoe boxes :-)

[Christieinwi]

I use to buy cute theme containers, but found that they were always too expensive and were too small to hold all the cookies - 2 years ago I started buying the large foil pans for roasting turkeys - the ones that are disposable. They are not very cute, but they cost about $1.00 a piece and have more than enough room - so it serves the purpose - they are really for transport only - I tell all my guests to separate the cookies when they get home anyways so the flavors don't mix.

I also put out on the counter 3 different sizes of plastic storage bags, foil and saran wrap, and small decorative bags with twist ties or ribbon and tell guest that if the would like to wrap anything separte they can use any of the things I put out. My mom who is always on a diet, takes her cookies and uses the decorative bags I have out and makes up little gift bags to pass out at her work.

[Robin]

Hi Christie,
I use the disposable roasting pans, too. They're sturdy, that's why I like them better than bakery boxes, which can be flimsy. They work well. Are you on my newsletter list? I just wrote about take away containers.

Thank you all, I love everyone's suggestions!
Robin

[meekotheracoon]

Not sure if this is what you want the tins for.
For the actual exchange I provide each person with a Chinet oval platter and a 2 gallon baggie. I have them already together- plate inside baggie. And have a sharpie for them to put their name on the baggie before going around the table. The Chinet platters are about $4.50 for 24. And baggies are about a dozen or so in a pkg for no more then $3. So I end up spending about $11 but it's enough for 24. I don't have that many attend but invite about 20-24 so want to make sure I have enough. Use leftovers to make cookies platters for neighbors maybe?