Do you have a game plan yet for making holiday cookies and candies for gifting? I'm trying to put mine together and need suggestions and tips and tricks to make it easy. Every year I feel like I'm scrambling. I'd also love ideas for how to present cookies and candies when gifting.

On my list:
1) home made buckeye balls. They're like home made Reese's and I love that they're easy to make ahead and freeze. They keep really well and don't break when mailed or tossed around in the car. In the past I've stuck them in cupcake liners and them inside cookie tins.

2) Sugar cookies. I hate making them, but they're my husband's favorite. I make it a little easier by making shapes that only need one color of frosting. Last year it was stars and snowflakes with white royal icing and silver sanding sugar. The monochrome look also made it look fancier since there's nothing to mess up when icing.
I haven't found a nice way to package these though aside from on a platter. I'd like to make these ahead of time but am totally confused by how freezing cookies works.

3) one year I made Russian tea cakes to round out the mix. I didn't like how the powdered sugar that they're finished with got over all the other cookies. However, they're delicious.

4)Dark chocolate shortbread cookies with peppermint royal icing. Delicious and pretty. Plus, I think it's a good flavor balance with the other treats. But, I don't know how to present them to their best effect. Last time I made them I made them as roll cookies that I sliced into squares. Then I put them in cupcake liners. Kind of cute but I think it could be nicer. I'm sad that I can't find the recipe I used for these. If it rings a bell for you please help! It was an online recipe with butter and cocoa powder. I can't remember anything else about it or where I stumbled across it though.

What's on your list? How do you present your cookies and how do you pack the ones you mail?

Thanks for any tips or ideas, I think planning is half the fun for the holidays. Or maybe it's the anticipation of happiness while planning.