Throwing a party to bring in the new year? We’ve got just the perfect ideas for goodie bags that will win your guests over and make you win the hosting game.
NYE is almost upon us, and we’re sure you’re throwing an excellent bash that's going to be memorable and fulfilling.
While you may have thought about the dress code, theme, food, music, and everything else, one thing that often gets left for the last minute is goodie bags to give to guests on their way out. It’s a way of showing appreciation to them for coming and bringing in the new year with you. It’s also a way of communicating to them that they're a loved and valued member of your life.
Here at CDC, we’re clearly all for goodie bags. And putting a special twist on it, we recommend you have a dessert or two as part of your goodie bag. Here are our best ideas.
One rather cheeky idea for your party favor is to make a hangover kit. Essentially, everything one would need the morning after when you're hungover. Include a pack full of instant coffee sachets, a strip of painkillers like crocin, mints or chewing gum and calming balms like vicks. Also, put in a small bottle of water encouraging your guests to stay hydrated. And finally, add a bar or two of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Eating some chocolate can be comforting when your head is throbbing and you're in pain. The little energy that comes from the chocolate is going to help you to get moving and do what needs to be done.
Make a kit of items that will be useful during the party itself. Decorate the bottom of the bag with confetti and paper decoration. Place a mini cake packed in foil in the middle. Around it, add a mini champagne bottle and on the other side, put some spark crackers that guests can light up on the rooftop as they count down to zero. Add a mini bell they can ring to ‘ring in’ the new year. For the cake, make chocolate and vanilla swirl cakes beforehand, but don't add frosting or icing. Simply bake the cake, let it cool and then wrap it up in transparent cellophane paper. Tie it up with colorful strings and make a bow on top. Put in a Happy NYE card and you’re good to go.
Ingredients
Party favors are different from party kits, in that they’re simply a collection of items as a return gift, not necessarily things you can use at the party. So make this one generic and broad to suit more tastes. Add a bar or two of Cadbury Bournville in each bag. Then put in a pack of assorted teas and instant coffees. Put empty journals, in which guests can record their new year resolutions. And a small jar with a note rolled into it. In that note, add a handwritten note for each person, fill the jar with a bit of glitter as well, and make sure you hand each bag to the right person!
Make a goodie bag with assorted customized goodies. For instance, a mug with 2024 printed on it. Or a tshirt with a funny inside joke you share with that person. Another great idea is handing out shot glasses with each person’s name printed on it. Add these items to a bag or box and present them as thank you gifts. Also add a dessert to the bag, perhaps something like a few fortune cookies or a pack of Cadbury Nutties. Remember, adding a dessert makes the bag a sweet deal and you can also make them a way to add a more personal touch, by making something yourself. Consider a few freshly baked brownies and pack them in a box with a ribbon on top.
Ingredients for dense and fudgy brownies: