50+ holiday goodie bag ideas to bring joy to their world

Four holiday goodie bags, each adorned with ribbon and an embellishment like a jingle bell, monogrammed tag, poinsettia flower and evergreen sprig, sit on a red tabletop.

Giving gifts is one of my favorite things to do. And during the holidays, there are lots of opportunities to give! This may sound like fun to you, or you might feel busier than all the elves—and either way is okay! I understand the daunting task of shopping for others.

Buying bespoke presents for everyone is great, but when everyone’s on the nice list, that can get pricey and sometimes feel impossible. One solution: holiday goodie bags!

And who do you think has lots of holiday goodie bag ideas? 👀😂 Whether you’re gifting your besties, work group or entire dance troupe, there are many affordable ways to make holiday goodie bags delightful and unique. So grab some hot cocoa and maybe a cookie, then settle in for our Santa-approved holiday goodie bag ideas!

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.

Holiday Goodie Bag Ideas for Adults  

Holiday goodie bag ideas including a baking goodie bag with a small bundle of cinnamon sticks tied with baking twine, a little bottle of vanilla extract, a tiny glass bottle of sprinkles, a bar of expensive baking chocolate, and a gift bag tied with a ribbon and a star-shaped cookie cutter; another gift bag idea for a girlfriend includes a lip balm, bottle of nail polish, mini candle, cute hair clip, botanical spray, and instant camera photos, all presented in a bag tied with a ribbon and a red jingle bell.

You want to get something for Jennifer, but if you get something for Jennifer, you’ve got to get something for Laura. And then if Laura gets something, there’s Kendall…

Besties, coworkers, classmates and church friends are just a few folks we think of during the holidays. If you’re in a social situation where it makes sense to gift everyone in your circle, this is the list for you! Like I always say, it’s best to over-include than accidentally leave someone out.

Goodie Bag Ideas for Holiday Party Guests:

  • Baking knickknacks: Fill flour sack gift bags with a cookie cutter, measuring spoons, cute tea towel, sprinkles and a cookie recipe card!
  • Fancy teas: Present guests with a festive mug filled with tea bags and a cute strainer.
  • Pasta set: Fill a green or red mini colander with a bag of bowtie pasta, a little jar of your favorite pasta sauce and a colorful stirring spoon.
  • Candles: Use a lantern to hold mini candles or one single flameless candle. Garnish with a bow, ribbon or faux poinsettia bloom.
  • Planting kit: Gift a merry planter filled with a spade, seed packet, garden gloves and pruning shears. These little DIY plant markers and pins would be a cute addition!
  • Festive snacks: With a red tin bucket or sandcastle pail, add any combo of sweets, pretzels, popcorn, crackers, cheese, cookies, jams, candy canes and small panettone cakes.
  • Winter car kit: Fill a drawstring bag with an ice scraper, tiny first aid kit, portable emergency light, glass break device and flashlight. Write a sweet holiday wish on an old-school roadmap.
  • Cozy stuff: Bundle up a pair of gloves, fuzzy socks, hand warmers, leg warmers and a scarf. Add a meaningful touch with a seasonal card.
  • More cozy stuff: In a cute hamper bag, combine slippers, a wearable blanket and/or lounge pants, an oversize sweatshirt and an eye mask.

 

Goodie Bag Ideas for Friends: 

  • Beauty haul: Fill a cosmetic bag with lip balm, hand lotion, travel hand sanitizer, mini perfume, a compact mirror, makeup or other beauty samples, headband, stick-on nail strips and a cute nail buffer.
  • Library set: Fill a soft tote bag with a decorative classic novel or tiny book, unique bookmark, journal, holiday pen, book light and vintage-style magnifying glass.
  • Holiday spirits: Tuck stemware and a mini bottle of champagne into a wine gift bag or a shot glass with a tiny whiskey sampler. Bonus points for adding these awesome dachshund wine markers. Or tie a burlap bow around a single seasonal beer bottle. Attach a card with a toasty warm message and…done!
Holiday goodie bags for groups of friends could include things like vintage-inspired tree ornaments, treat bags filled with chocolates and Christmas cookies, little to-do list sets with a pen and pencil that have been wrapped up with a ribbon, bottle-brush trees, and peppermint sticks tied in a little bundle with a ribbon.

Goodie Bag Ideas for Coworkers:

  • Desk sets: Get them new-year-ready with any combination of these: stationery set or notepad, paperweight, planner, colorful sticky notes, phone stand, mini clipboard, paper clips, The Office calendar, a plant (real or fake!), desktop therapist or travel mug.
  • Homemade cookies: Bake a bunch of batches and package in food-safe baggies. Cut old Christmas cards up into cute gift tags and write a merry wish, or write it in one of the leftover boxed Christmas cards you almost certainly have in a closet somewhere!
  • Vintage ornaments: Antique stores or flea markets have unique and quirky finds that can also be one-of-a-kind ornaments. Add some candy and a $5 coffee gift card—and it’s in the bag! 
  • Mini ornaments: We have so many, you could get a different one for each person’s interests, hobbies or personality. Add them to goodie bags with some tinsel strands, a tiny bottlebrush tree for their desk, a candy cane in a fun or interesting flavor (like sriracha!) or some old-fashioned candies and a mini card.

Holiday Goodie Bag Ideas for Kids  

Holiday goodie bags for kids' classrooms or teammates might include friendship or charm bracelets, candy like gumballs, peppermint sticks or mini-candy canes, bite-sized cookies, mini ornaments, bouncy balls, sticker sheets, coloring pages, markers or small toys like fidget spinners or hand-held puzzles.

Many of us have holidays centered around kids, and there are endless holiday goodie bag ideas for the kiddos. AND, these ideas might not even include—gasp!—gaming.

Goodie Bags for Buddies:

  • Friendship bracelet kit: Include little sets with embroidery floss, beads and accessories like charms or jump rings, or crafting tools to help them make their bracelets.
  • Art supplies: Fill a pencil pouch with markers, pens, cute erasers, stickers, a notepad, crayons and colored pencils! Personalize with a coloring card. 🖍️ We’ve got some free Christmas coloring pages, too!
  • Toy cars: Finger skateboards, roller skate keychains, tiny tractors and mini bicycles are all wheely cute, too!
  • Small toys: Finger puppets, bouncy balls…basically all those inexpensive little trinkets they beg for quarters to get outside the grocery store. Any of those are great!

Goodie Bags for Classmates:

  • Fidget toys: Give Christmas- or Hanukkah-themed sets. Handheld puzzles are great, too.
  • Gag gifts: Let kids fill bags with old standbys like Silly Putty, slime, a joke book, Dracula teeth, a fart button, burp machine, fake snot and whoopee cushion.
  • Magic kit: Maybe it’s magician tricks OR your own version of Christmas magic: an ornament, desk string lights, glow-in-the-dark stars, a letter from Santa and a snow globe.
  • Gingerbread house kit: It could be one they can take home and make with a grown-up or a simplified one they can enjoy during the school party.

 

Goodie Bags for Teammates:

  • Wearables: Holiday socks, red and green shoelaces and a funny ball cap might score big!
  • Sporty snacks: Get kids a bag of energy-boosting snacks, including an electrolyte drink to wash it all down! Attach a sports-themed ornament for extra fun.
  • Tabletop minis: Team up mini megaphones, foam fingers, sports stress balls and tabletop games (tennis, hockey, etc.). Decorate the bag with mini pom-poms or a DIY pom-pom keychain like the one we made here!
  • Tiny cookies: Or any bite-sized treat, really.

Holiday Goodie Bag Candy and Snack Ideas  

Satisfy those seasonal cravings with these sweets and treats:

  • Candy cane extravaganza: All kinds of colors and flavors!
  • Candy from around the world
  • Potato chip sampler
  • Flavored popcorns or bottles of popcorn seasoning
  • Or you could mix up packets of seasoning from our flavored popcorn recipes!
  • Sauce samplers: BBQ, marinara, queso, alfredo, salsa, hot sauce, etc.

Holiday Goodie Bag Themes  

If you like things that coordinate, go all out with a theme! 

  • Tropical Escape: Fill a beach bag with a towel, mini sunscreen and lip balm, sandy snow globe, flip-flops and a travel mug.
  • Hallmark Channel Movie Binge: Include a cozy blanket, a tissue pack, toasty socks and holiday-themed candy.
  • Pet Parents: A picture frame ornament with photo of giftee’s fur baby, personalized socks with pet’s face, T-shirt with cute quote about dogs or cats or other pet-themed apparel.
  • Eco-friendly: Fill a reusable shopping tote or biodegradable bag with a metal straw, seed packets, shampoo bar and a pack of bamboo tissues!

Nochebuena Goodie Bag Ideas  

Fun Nochebuena goodie bags could include a nativity mini ornament, churro sticks wrapped in paper and ribbon, a photo in a small decorative frame, a clementine or tangerine, fun lollipops or candy, and tiny matchstick-shaped cookies presented in a matchbox; the goodie bag is then tied up with a ribbon and a poinsettia, known as the Flor Nochebuena.

On December 24th, families and friends share in the wonder of Christmas. Exchanging gifts is a big part of the fun! 

  • Maracas and a Pandereta (tambourine): Add a playlist of favorite Christmas songs!
  • Nativity scenes: There are lots of miniatures online, including nesting dolls.
  • Mini nativity ornament: Maybe we’re a little biased but this one (coming soon!) is the sweetest.
  • Memory books: Make photo albums of times together. Write in special memories or stories you’ve shared.

My sister-in-law celebrated Nochebuena while growing up in Medellin, Colombia. Now in the States, she continues the festivities with those she loves.

 

She says, “It’s my favorite holiday because we get together with family and, in Colombia, we also do a novena, which is a very warm time. For the nine days before Nochebuena, we all gather to pray and read about the birth of Jesus. Then we sing Christmas carols and share some traditional dishes like buñuelos colombianos, natilla and pandebonos y empanadas.”

Hanukkah Goodie Bag Ideas  

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a little extra glow. Here are some ways to make your Hanukkah even more special.

  • Dreidel-making kit: Include clay, paint and handwritten instructions to personalize your gift. Or for a less messy option, try paper! With plenty of dreidel templates, stencils, silhouettes and colorable sheets online, this is a fun activity for all ages to enjoy together. Decorate, tape and play!
  • Hanukkah traditions: Collect your favorite Hanukkah recipes that have been passed down from family members. Write them on pretty paper card stock.
  • Hanukkah sugar cookies: Find some cute Hanukkah cookie cutters and make these sweet treats! Tie one or two to the bag to gift them when you’re done (after you’ve washed them, of course).
  • Chocolate gelt coins: Wrap in blue fabric and attach a Happy Hanukkah card.

Kwanzaa Goodie Bag Ideas  

Bring your community together for the best Kwanzaa ever! Anything handmade will be beautiful, but here are some ideas for everyone:

  • Curated art: Make a collection of poems and quotes by Black writers throughout history. Include crayons or tiny musical instruments to celebrate multiple genres.
  • Handsewn headwraps: Create a wrap for each person, then attach a personal note. Here are some things to write in a Kwanzaa card.
  • Red velvet cake pops: Individually wrap your pops in compostable cellophane. Tie with African kente-print ribbons.

Cheap Goodie Bag Ideas  

  • Purchase an inexpensive scarf or tea towel, flatten it out, then top with wrapped candies. Pull in the corners and tie with a ribbon.
  • Get a holiday mug for cheap, fill with cocoa packets, mini marshmallows and a few candy canes.
  • Find a vintage bell at an antique shop. Attach a note that says, “Every time this bell rings, I’m thinking of you.” Place in a pretty mesh bag and add a bow and mini candy cane.
  • Buy a book at a used bookstore. Make a bookmark out of found materials, write a note on it, then place in one of your favorite chapters. Use a festive ski cap as your gift bag and tuck book inside.

 

When making your holiday goodie bags, remember that it’s all about creativity and fun. Think of the ones you’re gifting and what brings them joy AND what’s possible for you to accomplish during the busy season. It’s always nice to throw a little peace into the mix, too.

Merry goodie-bag-making to you!

 

 

Need some more holiday gifting inspiration? We’ve got you covered like a snowy sledding hill: