Being a Good Neighbor

featuring a completely doable Christmas cookie box

Having just moved into a LOT of newness—a new country, a new city, a new neighborhood—getting to know my neighbors has been a topic I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.

Historically, I’ve always taken the passive role in being a friendly neighbor. In my previous neighborhood, I’ll admit that I was probably the cookie-cutter “hustling young adult” who could barely spare time to give a quick nod or smile to say hello, let alone initiate small talk. Somehow this behavior didn’t deter my neighbors though, and I still had the pleasure of developing relationships with the people in my building. There’s a unique joy that only comes from the shared experience of living locationally close—borrowing the same HOA-approved paint color to patch your door, retrieving mail and packages when someone’s away, and just simply having each others’ contacts in times of need.

Since moving to this new neighborhood, I’ve noticed that our neighbors are quite insular and don’t frequently spend time in the common areas where we could naturally bump into them. That, combined with my dislike for soliciting door-to-door, created some hurdles I knew would require some intentionality on my part if I wanted to pursue community with these people I shared walls with. There wasn’t room at the table for Passivity, and I could feel the Lord nudging me to put my comfort aside.

With the holiday season in full swing, gifting a homemade box of cookies felt like the perfect reason to knock on strangers’ doors, offer unsolicited introductions, and break the ice. Cue this article, where I write to you in the midst of many firsts: my first time curating a Christmas cookie box, my first time knocking on neighbors’ doors to introduce myself, and my first time taking the proactive steps of pursuing community in my neighborhood.

If you’re familiar with the Bible, you know that there are a number of verses where the Lord calls us to love our neighbors—both the literal and the symbolic—as ourselves (Matthew 7:12¹, Mark 12:31², James 2:8³, etc.). We can’t love people we don’t know, and while a simple introduction doesn’t promise lifelong friends, it’s a feasible step in the right direction of being more like Jesus. If you find yourself in the same situation, I invite you to join me—it can be challenging to get out of the comfort zone of familiarity, it can feel like you’re being bothersome, but let your intentions root you. This can look like a cookie box, a smile, an invitation to get a meal together, pick something small and doable and just do it (as Nike would say!).

how to make your cookie box

Now, don’t let me fool you—just because I made the decision to gift cookie boxes doesn’t mean I didn’t have any nerves around the whole thing! A quick Google search on “how to make a cookie box” gave me dozens of picture-perfect cookie tins all coordinated and thematic and aesthetically magazine-worthy, how-to guides instructing me to use a minimum of 6-8 different cookie recipes, and blogs advising me to decorate with lace and bows and sparkles. One glance at these results and I could already feel stress levels skyrocketing… 😅

Since this was my first time making a Christmas cookie box, the very thought of creating something Pinterest/Instagram-like was overwhelming, so I boiled it down to the basics. Here’s my no-frills, approachable version of “How to Create a Cookie Box”!

the steps

1. Choose your recipes—pick 2-4 cookie recipes** that are easy to execute or prep ahead, that are easily lovable by most (classics, crowd favorites, etc.), that are structurally hardy (so they don’t crumble in transit), and that have a decently long shelf life (no one likes cookies that go stale in 2 days). It’s also a great idea to include/think about having allergen-friendly options to ensure inclusivity and add additional variety.

   **heck, or just bake one recipe or supplement with cookies from the store! No shame here!

   

2. Spread the work over multiple days—I found it most helpful to pick a day to shop for all of the ingredients and packaging, mix all of the cookies’ doughs another day, and bake and assemble the bag/box on a third day. This breaks up the work into bite-sized chunks so (1) you have wiggle room for mishaps and (2) it doesn’t feel like a big ordeal looming over you.

   

3. Plan ahead—we all have constraints, whether that looks like a small kitchen, limited equipment, busy schedules, tight budgets, etc.! Make sure to embrace your constraints and adjust your cookie box scope to fit your current life circumstance. For example, I have a small fridge and no electric mixer, so I chose cookies that could last awhile without going stale (i.e., biscotti, shortbread) and took the gamble of not creaming the butter and sugar even though the recipe instructed to do so (blasphemous, I know 😂 don’t call the cookie police!).

   

4. Time your gift—I’ve found the last week of November/first week of December an ideal time to give Christmas cookie boxes since many people will be traveling out of town early/mid-December to spend time with family for the holidays (or even the second-to-last week of November works, especially if you’re gifting to students who have finals week looming!). But also, don’t gift these too early (i.e., the first week of November) and have people not be in the mood for Christmas yet…

the materials & cost

Sharing all of the materials that went into my cookie boxes, in case you need some ideas for your budget or for where to go for what!

• cookie tins or boxes—I got one 20 cm diameter tin at Flying Tiger Copenhagen for £5 and five 15 cm diameter tins from Søstrene Grene for £2.75 each. Alternatively, you could use plastic baggies or wrap cookies in parchment paper, depending on the vibe you’re going for

  

• memo cards—I got mine at Søstrene Grene for £1.34 per package of 4 mini cards; you could also use plain white copy paper/card stock (which I would’ve normally done but just didn’t already have)

• ingredients for my chosen cookie recipes—I shopped at my local Sainsbury’s, totaling ~£30 for 4 cookie recipes

  

• ribbon/bows/packaging—I opted out of ribbons/bows since my cookie tins were already decently embellished and wouldn’t have enough grip to hold any string in place. I found just using parchment paper to line the tins worked well enough!

  

the cookies I included

Since I’m gifting these to my neighbors and friends who come from non-American backgrounds, I opted for cookies that would pair well with tea and coffee (plus a very American no-bake cookie for kicks). Here’s the line up!

(1) almond biscotti

When I first had biscotti it was one of the most underwhelming things 😆 little did I know I needed to dunk it in a beverage! Now I always have the appetite for a cozy drink + biscotti moment, it’s as delicious as an Oreo dipped in milk to me. The cookie just gets this melty texture after it hits the liquid. So dreamy! The recipe I chose is by Italian Kitchen Confessions and ideally makes 25 cookies (actual number of cookies: 19). note added post-gifting: to my surprise, the Italians I gave these to ended up eating them (and loving them!) without any tea or coffee at all.

(2) jam thumbprint cookies

For me, jam thumbprint cookies are such staples in almost every holiday cookie party, cookie tin, dessert spread, you name it…and they’re also one of my favorites! I’m a sucker for anything that has the flavor profile of Jammy Dodgers, and jam thumbprint cookies are exactly that—just lower maintenance since you don’t need to own cookie cutters 😝 (again, we’re trying to keep it simple over here). This recipe is by Silverspoon and ideally makes 30 cookies (actual: 24).

(3) salted butter chocolate chunk shortbread cookies

I made these once when I had just discovered Alison Roman and her empire of recipes, and they’re unique and tasty enough that I still think about them from time to time! These cookies are a perfect blend of the easy-to-love chocolate chip cookie flavor profile in the hardier format of a longer-lasting shortbread cookie. Technically, these are a little fussy because Alison Roman requests cold butter creamed with the sugar, but I took a risk here and made these cookies with melted butter instead. This recipe ideally makes 24 cookies (actual number of cookies: 40)

(4) chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies

Super simple yet unbelievably delicious, these cookies are a favorite of mine (and a classic in American households) but I somehow always forget about them until the holiday season rolls around! The recipe advises that you keep them refrigerated, but I’m taking a bet that these will be so quickly eaten that storage won’t be necessary. The recipe is by Sally’s Baking Addiction and ideally makes 24 cookies (actual number: 18).

the finished cookie box

now to put it all together ❤️

(1) use parchment paper to line the tins and divide the cookies

(2) write a personalized note explaining the cookies & allergens

(3) arrange in a way where sturdier cookies can support the more fragile ones/they can lean on each other :)

ending notes

It’s easy to think I did it: I’ve made the cookie box, knocked on the doors, made the introductions, broken the ice, gifted the treats. But we are but those who plant and water seeds, and it’s the Lord who makes things grow⁴…we are His hands and feet⁵, we are His co-workers⁶, but it is Him who has the power to increase⁷.

I’m fully aware that the giving of a cookie box is just a simple thing. But, so much warmth came from this simple thing, and I’m looking forward to continuing to walk the steps the Lord is giving me—steadily, consistently, and faithfully⁸. If you’re feeling a tug on your heart to do something similar, I encourage you to lean into it. Sow those relationship seeds, and let God grow them in His timing 😊

If you’re wondering, how did it go gifting the finished cookie tins? It was better than I could’ve imagined. This one small step in faith has truly broken the ice—we were able to have conversations with a number of our neighbors, and there is so much more warmth in the atmosphere. And yes—even though I melted the butter instead of creaming, even though the cookies weren’t all uniform in shape, the amount of positive feedback I received was so unexpected…I thought I was “just baking cookies” but people seemed really touched. And the cookies were evidently delicious, even though they didn’t look as gorgeous as the ones you’ll find on Pinterest!

1. Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

¹²So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

2. Mark 12:31 (NIV)

³¹The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

3. James 2:8 (NIV)

⁸If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

4. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV)

⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

5. Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV)

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b]

6. 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

7. 1 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV)

⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.