15 Easy Christmas Gifts to Make in Bulk for Coworkers
A little Christmas gift for one coworker is easy enough. Finding something for the whole team? That is when the cost of gift bags, ribbon, and “just one more thing” starts adding up.
These easy Christmas gifts to make in bulk for coworkers are planned around 12 people, so you can choose one idea and work out the whole batch before you shop. There are homemade treats, a few simple crafts, and quick gifts you can assemble without turning on the oven.
The aim is a thoughtful little gift you can repeat comfortably. You do not need 12 completely different presents.
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For a wider range of ideas before choosing your project, see my cute, inexpensive Christmas gifts for coworkers.
Choose a gift that fits your budget and your evening
For the quickest option, choose tea, coffee, or cocoa packets. For a homemade food gift, consider bark or snack mix. Felt bookmarks and cork coasters give you non-food choices, but allow a longer session for making a dozen.
About the estimates: The dollar ranges below are illustrative planning estimates for ingredients or supplies actually used, including basic packaging. They are not live store-price quotes. New tools, sales tax, and shipping are extra, and buying full packs can make your checkout total higher. Hands-on times include simple packaging and are planning allowances, not tested batch timings.
| Gift | Estimated cost each | Hands-on time for 12 | Extra time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot chocolate gift bags | $1.50–$3 | 25–40 minutes | None with sealed packets |
| Tea-break gift packets | $1.50–$3 | 25–35 minutes | None |
| Peppermint bark treat bags | $2–$4 | 45–60 minutes | Allow about 2 hours overall, longer for separate batches |
| Shortbread cookie packets | $1–$2.50 | 45–60 minutes | Baking and cooling; allow 2–3 hours overall |
| Simple felt corner bookmarks | $0.75–$2 | 2–3 hours for a beginner | None for the stitched version |
| Chocolate-dipped pretzel bundles | $1.50–$3 | 60–90 minutes | Setting time depends on the coating |
| Coffee-and-biscotti packets | $2–$4 | 25–35 minutes | None |
| Savory snack-mix bags | $1.50–$3 | 35–50 minutes | 1 hour baking, plus cooling |
| Maple-cinnamon pecan bags | $2–$4 | 35–50 minutes | About 25 minutes baking per round, plus cooling |
| Dry soup-mix jars | $3–$5 | 60–90 minutes | None; the recipient cooks the soup |
| Rosemary salt mini jars | $1.50–$3.50 | 25–40 minutes | None when using dried ingredients |
| Vanilla sugar mini jars | $2–$4 | 35–50 minutes | Allow 2 weeks for the best flavor |
| Layered cookie-mix jars | $5–$8 | 75–105 minutes | None; the recipient bakes the cookies |
| Decorated cork coaster pairs | $1.50–$3.50 | 90–120 minutes | Paint drying and curing, according to the product |
| Dried orange-and-spice simmer bags | $2–$4 | 35–50 minutes with purchased dried fruit | Several extra hours if drying fruit yourself |
Before shopping: Check any workplace rules and recipients’ dietary needs. For food gifts, keep ingredient and allergen information available and pass it on with the gift. A small handwritten card is enough for a message or preparation directions.
15 easy Christmas gifts to make in bulk for coworkers
1. Hot chocolate gift bags
A cozy little gift without buying, wrapping, and transporting a dozen mugs. Use sealed cocoa packets for the quickest version, or make a homemade cocoa mix for gift kits if you enjoy spending a little time in the kitchen.
Budget: $1.50–$3 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 25–40 minutes. Extra time: None with sealed packets.
For 12 gifts: Buy 24 single-serving hot chocolate packets, 12 individually wrapped candy canes, 12 small wrapped chocolates, and 12 gift bags. Each coworker gets enough cocoa for two mugs.
- Set out all 12 bags and add two cocoa packets to each.
- Add one candy cane and one chocolate, keeping their wrappers intact.
- Fold or tie the bags closed and add a handwritten holiday message.
Homemade option: Cassie at Wholefully has a hot chocolate mix recipe that makes 12 drink servings. For two servings per coworker, make two batches and portion one cup of mix into each of 12 airtight, food-safe bags. Include her preparation directions and an ingredient list.
Batch tip: Keep the packaging the same even if you choose a different cocoa for someone with dietary requirements. Make sealed-packet gifts ahead within the products’ dates; for homemade mix, follow the recipe’s storage guidance and the earliest ingredient date.
For other ways to give cocoa, our hot chocolate gift ideas include jars, reindeer cones, stirrers and a larger family gift basket.
2. Tea-break gift packets
A straightforward assembly gift when you need everything ready tonight. Two tea bags and a wrapped cookie make a complete little break without extra mugs or teaspoons.
Budget: $1.50–$3 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 25–35 minutes. Extra time: None.
For 12 gifts: Buy 24 individually wrapped tea bags, 12 individually wrapped cookies, and 12 small paper gift bags or envelopes large enough to hold the contents without bending them.
- Choose one tea pairing, such as breakfast tea and a caffeine-free herbal option.
- Put one of each tea bag into every gift bag.
- Add a wrapped cookie and fold or seal the bag.
- Write a short message such as “A little something for your next tea break.”
Batch tip: Check that the tea bags have individual outer wrappers. Loose tea bags from an open carton need separate food-safe packaging and ingredient information.
Make ahead: Assemble within the earliest product date and store away from heat and strong scents. Keep all original ingredient labels available; choose a different wrapped treat when needed.
3. Peppermint bark treat bags
Chocolate bark looks festive without decorating 36 individual cookies. Break it into irregular pieces and let the white chocolate and candy-cane topping do the work.
Budget: $2–$4 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 45–60 minutes. Extra time: Allow about 2 hours overall, longer for separate batches.
For 12 gifts: Plan on about 2½ ounces of finished bark per person: 30 ounces altogether. You will also need 12 food-safe treat bags, a kitchen scale, parchment paper, and ribbon.
Use Sally’s Baking’s peppermint bark recipe. Its stated yield is just over a pound, so make two standard batches for comfortable portions and spare pieces. Keep the recommended layer thickness rather than cramming twice the chocolate into one small pan.
Once fully set, weigh out 12 equal portions before filling the bags. A few smaller pieces make it easier to reach the right weight without breaking every attractive shard.
Batch tip: Clear refrigerator space before melting anything. Cooling space, rather than mixing, is what can slow this project down.
Make ahead: Follow Sally’s storage directions: a few days at room temperature or up to three weeks refrigerated. Include the relevant storage note on each gift.
4. Shortbread cookie packets
Simple shortbread is a good choice when you want a classic homemade gift without piping bags, cutters, or a kitchen covered in decorations.
Budget: $1–$2.50 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 45–60 minutes. Extra time: Baking and cooling; allow 2–3 hours overall.
For 12 gifts: Aim for three shortbread strips each, so you need 36 pieces, 12 food-safe bags or small boxes, and parchment to protect the cookies.
King Arthur Baking’s shortbread recipe yields about 16 strips or wedges. Three standard batches give approximately 48 pieces, leaving room for broken edges and a few extras. Bake in the specified pans; oven space will determine how many rounds you need.
Cut the shortbread at the stage directed in the recipe, then cool completely before packaging. Divide the best pieces among all 12 gifts before adding any extras.
Batch tip: Choose plain vanilla shortbread for the first batch. A chocolate dip looks lovely, but adds coating, setting, and cleanup time.
Make ahead: Keep cooled cookies airtight and follow the recipe’s storage instructions. Package close to gifting so they spend less time in decorative bags.
5. Simple felt corner bookmarks
A small handmade gift for the readers in your team. Keep the shape and stitching simple so making a dozen remains an enjoyable evening project.
Budget: $0.75–$2 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 2–3 hours for a beginner. Extra time: None for the stitched version.
For 12 gifts: Gather enough firm craft felt for 24 right triangles with two three-inch legs, embroidery floss, a needle, scissors, and scrap cardstock for a cutting guide. Trace the triangles on your felt first to calculate how many sheets to buy.
- Draw and cut one three-inch square from scrap cardstock, then halve it diagonally to make a triangle guide.
- Cut 24 matching felt triangles and group them into 12 pairs.
- Place each pair together and stitch along the two short sides with a small running stitch or blanket stitch. Leave the long diagonal edge open.
- Secure the thread ends and trim. Slip the pocket over the corner of a book page to check the fit.
Batch tip: Cut all pieces before threading the needle. Skip individual embroidered initials unless you want a longer project.
Make ahead: Finish any time and store flat. Give one bookmark per coworker on a small handwritten card.
6. Chocolate-dipped pretzel bundles
Three decorated pretzel rods make a generous-looking little bundle. Choose one chocolate and one topping so the dipping stays manageable.
Budget: $1.50–$3 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 60–90 minutes. Extra time: Setting time depends on the coating.
For 12 gifts: You need 36 intact pretzel rods, plus a few spares, chocolate or melting wafers suitable for coating, one topping, 12 long food-safe bags, and parchment-lined trays.
Sally’s chocolate-covered pretzel tutorial explains melting, coating, and setting. Her measured recipe uses pretzels by volume; large rods need a different amount of coating, so dip a sample before buying chocolate for the whole batch.
- Dip one rod to the depth you want, add the topping, and let it set.
- Use the sample to check your bag size and coating needs.
- Dip the remaining rods in groups, adding sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
- Package three fully set rods per bag, with the coated ends pointing the same way.
Batch tip: Lay rods flat in a shallow box for the trip to work. Follow the tutorial’s storage directions; it allows up to one week in an airtight container at room temperature.
7. Coffee-and-biscotti packets
A compact gift for the coffee drinkers in your team. Individual coffee servings keep it practical for people who do not own a particular type of machine.
Budget: $2–$4 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 25–35 minutes. Extra time: None.
For 12 gifts: Buy 24 individually sealed instant-coffee servings or single-cup pour-over packets, 12 wrapped biscotti, and 12 gift bags. Each gift contains two coffees and one biscotti cookie.
- Check how the coffee is prepared before buying. Choose servings that only require hot water, rather than machine-specific pods.
- Put two servings in each bag and add the wrapped biscotti cookie.
- Close the bag and add a short holiday message.
Batch tip: Take a photo of the sample gift beside its packaging, then use it as your reference while filling the remaining bags. This helps keep the contents consistent.
Make ahead: Keep the products sealed, follow the earliest best-by date, and cushion the finished packets in a shallow box so the biscotti survive the trip.
8. Savory snack-mix bags
A welcome change for coworkers who would rather have something salty than another sweet treat. This is also a useful way to turn a large oven batch into individual gifts.
Budget: $1.50–$3 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 35–50 minutes. Extra time: 1 hour baking, plus cooling.
For 12 gifts: Set aside 12 food-safe bags large enough for one cup of snack mix each. Your target is 12 cups of finished mix.
Lauren at Tastes Better From Scratch has a savory Chex Mix recipe whose dry ingredients total about 13 cups before baking. That should be close to this gift plan, but measure the finished batch before committing to your portion size.
Follow the recipe, spread the mix across the specified trays, and allow time for the full one-hour oven method. Cool completely, then divide evenly among the bags.
Batch tip: Use the same measuring cup for every portion and gently stir the bowl between scoops so the crackers and nuts do not all end up in the last bags.
Make ahead: Lauren recommends eating it within two to three days for best quality. Her recipe contains nuts; check workplace suitability and share the ingredient information.
9. Maple-cinnamon pecan bags
A small bag of homemade candied nuts feels a little special and is easy to portion. Choose this only when you know nut gifts are suitable for the recipients and workplace.
Budget: $2–$4 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 35–50 minutes. Extra time: About 25 minutes baking per round, plus cooling.
For 12 gifts: Plan on ½ cup of finished pecans each: six cups altogether. Have 12 food-safe bags ready.
Cookie and Kate’s maple candied pecans make three cups per recipe. Two standard batches provide the six cups needed. Use the vanilla-and-cinnamon version for a straightforward Christmas gift.
Bake in separate batches or on appropriately spaced trays as your oven allows. Let the nuts cool fully before checking the yield and dividing into gifts.
Batch tip: Pecans are the main expense. Price the six-cup quantity before buying jars or other extras; simple bags leave more of the budget for the gift itself.
Make ahead: Follow Kate’s cooling and storage directions, and keep the finished nuts airtight until packaging. Include the ingredients rather than labeling them simply “Christmas nuts.”
10. Dry soup-mix jars
A thoughtful savory option that becomes a meal on a busy winter evening. Choose one flavor for the whole batch, rather than buying supplies for several different recipes.
Budget: $3–$5 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 60–90 minutes. Extra time: None; the recipient cooks the soup.
For 12 gifts: Wholefully’s soup-mix collection includes an Italian barley soup sized for a wide-mouth pint jar. Make 12 identical jars using 12 times that recipe’s dry ingredients. The barley alone comes to 12 cups; check package weights before shopping.
Line up clean, fully dry jars and add one ingredient to all 12 before moving to the next. Include the wrapped bouillon cube exactly as the recipe specifies.
Add the complete cooking directions, the extra ingredients needed at home, and the source URL to a handwritten card. Make clear that this is a dry mix requiring cooking, not a ready-to-eat meal.
Batch tip: Use dehydrated tomatoes as directed, not tomatoes packed in oil. Keep ingredient quantities accurate rather than adding extras to fill space.
Make ahead: Keep airtight and dry, following the shortest ingredient date. Check bouillon ingredients when choosing a vegetarian version.
11. Rosemary salt mini jars
A useful kitchen gift for coworkers who enjoy cooking. Small jars make sense here: you are giving a seasoning, not enough salt to fill the pantry.
Budget: $1.50–$3.50 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 25–40 minutes. Extra time: None when using dried ingredients.
For 12 gifts: Plan on ¼ cup of seasoning per jar, or three cups altogether. Buy 12 clean, completely dry spice jars with a capacity of at least two fluid ounces, checking that a sample portion fits comfortably.
Kalyn’s Kitchen’s rosemary salt uses sea salt and ground dried rosemary and yields about 3½ cups. One recipe therefore covers the 12 portions with a little left over.
Make the blend using Kalyn’s method, divide it evenly, and label each jar. Add a simple suggestion: “Use sparingly in place of regular salt on roasted potatoes or vegetables.”
Batch tip: Ground dried rosemary gives a more even texture than woody, needle-like pieces. Keep fresh herb sprigs out of the jars.
Make ahead: Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place, following the ingredient dates. Wash reused jars in advance so they are fully dry before filling.
12. Vanilla sugar mini jars
A little kitchen luxury for coworkers who bake or enjoy sweetened coffee. Unlike homemade vanilla extract, this does not need months of preparation.
Budget: $2–$4 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 35–50 minutes. Extra time: Allow 2 weeks for the best flavor.
For 12 gifts: Give ½ cup of vanilla sugar each, for six cups altogether. You need 12 clean, completely dry jars with at least four fluid ounces of capacity, plus enough room to close them easily.
Sally’s homemade vanilla sugar recipe makes two cups from one vanilla bean and two cups of sugar. Three standard batches cover the 12 portions.
Prepare the sugar using her method, then measure equal portions into the jars. Label with the preparation date and suggest using it in coffee or baking in place of ordinary sugar.
Batch tip: Buy the three vanilla beans before committing to the project; their price has a bigger effect on the budget than the sugar. Use real beans as the recipe recommends.
Make ahead: Sally recommends waiting at least two weeks for optimal flavor. Store sealed in a cool, dry place and follow her storage guidance.
13. Layered cookie-mix jars
An attractive gift for coworkers who would enjoy baking over the holidays. It is a more substantial option, so check the cost of the jars and candy before choosing it for a large team.
Budget: $5–$8 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 75–105 minutes. Extra time: None; the recipient bakes the cookies.
For 12 gifts: You need 12 wide-mouth quart jars with lids and 12 batches of the dry ingredients in Wholefully’s M&M cookie-mix recipe. Each jar is one complete recipe, making about 24 cookies.
Make one jar first to check that the ingredients fit. Then measure each ingredient into all 12 jars in turn, following the recipe’s layer order. This is easier to track than finishing one whole jar before starting another.
Attach the baking directions, ingredients the recipient must add, and the recipe URL. A handwritten card is fine. Include an ingredient list and a reminder that the mix needs baking.
Batch tip: Do not squeeze the recipe into pint jars or change the ingredient quantities just to improve the layers.
Make ahead: Wholefully gives a three-month pantry storage window for sealed jars; respect earlier ingredient dates. Carry upright in the divided box the jars came in.
14. Decorated cork coaster pairs
A practical non-food gift made from precut blanks. A small repeated design is easier to reproduce neatly than a different picture or name for every coworker.
Budget: $1.50–$3.50 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 90–120 minutes. Extra time: Paint drying and curing, according to the product.
For 12 gifts: Buy 24 coaster-grade cork blanks around four inches wide, water-based craft paint suitable for cork, a small foam brush, a simple stencil, low-tack tape, and ribbon. Choose blanks sold for coaster use rather than thin bulletin-board cork.
- Decorate one sample with a small stenciled star or a simple painted edge. Keep most of the absorbent cork surface bare.
- Check that the paint dries cleanly and the coaster stays flat.
- Repeat the design on the remaining blanks, using a light touch so paint does not bleed under the stencil.
- Let everything dry and cure for the time stated on the paint, then pair the coasters and tie with ribbon.
Batch tip: One color, one stencil, and 24 repeated designs are enough. Avoid glitter and bulky embellishments where a mug will sit.
Make ahead: Make these several days before gifting so they can cure fully. Label them “Wipe clean; do not soak.”
15. Dried orange-and-spice simmer bags
For coworkers who enjoy seasonal scents at home, a dried simmer mix makes a pretty alternative to food gifts. Bags are lighter and usually simpler to transport than a dozen glass jars.
Budget: $2–$4 per gift. Hands-on time for 12: 35–50 minutes with purchased dried fruit. Extra time: Several extra hours if drying fruit yourself.
For 12 gifts: A simple portion is three fully dried orange slices, two cinnamon sticks, one teaspoon of whole cloves, and one dried bay leaf. Buy 36 dried orange slices, 24 cinnamon sticks, four tablespoons of cloves, 12 bay leaves, and 12 sealable bags large enough for the fruit.
Homestead and Chill’s stovetop potpourri guide explains dried ingredients and preparation. Divide the fruit and cinnamon first, then add the measured cloves and bay leaves. Keep the bags closed and dry.
Add handwritten directions: “For home fragrance, not eating. Pour into a saucepan, cover with water, and simmer gently. Stay nearby, add water as needed, and never let the pan boil dry.”
Batch tip: Purchased dried citrus keeps assembly short. If drying your own, count that work separately and cool the slices before packing.
Make ahead: Follow the guide’s drying and storage advice. Choose another gift for anyone who avoids scented products.
How to adjust the quantities for your team
For assembled gifts, multiply the contents of one gift by your headcount. Three pretzel rods each means 30 rods for 10 coworkers or 60 for 20, plus a few spares for breakages.
For recipes, work from the finished yield. Divide the amount you need by the recipe’s yield, then round up to a sensible number of batches. Do not multiply the baking time along with the ingredients: keep the recommended pan depth and allow extra oven rounds instead.
For jar mixes, follow the specified quantities and container size. A recipe that fills one quart jar needs 12 complete sets of dry ingredients for 12 gifts; it is not a recipe to divide between 12 jars.
Check the checkout total before you commit
A $3 gift means $36 for 12 people, but only if your shopping list really comes to $36. Add the full price of every pack you need to buy, including containers and ribbon, before ordering anything.
Here is a hypothetical example: ingredients used cost $18, and you use 12 bags from a $5 pack of 20 plus $2 worth of ribbon from a $4 roll. The supplies used total $23, or about $1.92 per gift. If you have to buy the full bag pack and ribbon roll, your checkout is at least $27, before any extra cost from full ingredient packs, tax, or delivery.
That difference matters when you are working to a firm budget. Simple treat bags can be a better fit than jars, especially when the container would cost more than the contents.
Set up a simple gift-making production line
- Make one sample. Check the finished portion, bag size, and presentation before repeating it 11 times.
- Prepare the space. Clear enough counter or table space for all 12 gifts. For baked or coated treats, set up cooling space too.
- Do one job at a time. Cut all felt pieces, fill all jars with the first ingredient, or put the first cocoa packet in every bag before moving on.
- Divide before decorating. Portion the whole batch so everyone gets the same amount, then add ribbon or messages.
- Pack for the trip. Use divided boxes for jars and shallow trays for cookies or pretzel rods. Keep scented gifts separate from food.
For homemade food, package only after it is completely cool or set. Give the preparation date and relevant storage directions, and follow the recipe author’s advice rather than assuming every Christmas treat keeps for the same length of time.
Finish the gifts without doubling the work
Choose one bag or box style and one ribbon color for the whole batch. A neat fold, a secure closure, and a short handwritten message are enough.
Use food-safe inner packaging for anything edible; decorative tissue or craft bags alone are not always suitable for direct food contact. Keep wrappers on purchased treats so their ingredients and dates remain accessible.
For more finishing ideas, see these DIY Christmas gift-wrapping ideas. If you would prefer a different edible gift, my homemade fudge recipes offer more options to portion into small presents.
Still deciding what will suit your colleagues? Return to the coworker Christmas gift guide, or find presents for the rest of your list in the Christmas gift guides.
Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.