On Purim, we make Mishloach Manot baskets to send as gifts to friends, family, and acquaintances. These baskets are given as gifts within the Jewish community as a symbol of friendship and the strength of the Jewish community. To give a Mishloach Manot is considered a mitzvah – a commandment and good deed. It is also customary to give Mishloach Manot, along with other gifts of food and money, as charitable offerings to the poor. The charity is given in order to ensure that the recipient has enough food during the Purim celebration. The Mishloach Manot custom originated in the Book of Esther, as part of the story of Purim:
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. (Esther 9:22)
I thought it would be fun to put together a few Mishloach Manot baskets for Purim, to give you some examples of the types of items that might be included. Obviously these are just ideas; with Mishloach Manot, you can really get creative and have fun putting together all kinds of baskets, from simple to spectacular. The only “rule,” really, is to have at least two items that can be eaten in the basket. If you’re making a basket for a family who keeps kosher, you’ll want to make sure that all food items you include are kosher or kosher-certified. Most baskets will also contain some sort of hamantaschen, a traditional cookie for the holiday. Beyond that, the possibilities are endless!
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TEA AND CHALLAH PURIM BASKET
This basket would be a great gift for a tea lover, or for somebody who loves to bake. I’ve included some delicious kosher herbal teas, a pretty mug with a tea strainer, homemade hamantaschen with nuts and dates, and a fun book called “The Great Latke Hamantash Debate.” I’ve also included one of our popular Royal Challah silicone baking pans in a small size. They will help the recipient create beautifully shaped challot without the need for braiding, and are particularly helpful for those who wish to make gluten free challah (the dough is often difficult to braid). Links to the products appear below.
Tea and Challah Basket Product Links
The Great Latke Hamantash Debate
KID FUN PURIM BASKET
This basket is perfect for that special kid in your life. It’s filled with all kinds of fun stuff… a colorful book, a traditional noisemaker called a gragger, and a cool FunBites sandwich cutter for making mini sandwich bites for school lunches. I’ve filled it out with grape juice, cookies, and candy treats from the local kosher market. You can also stick in some healthier treats like dried fruit and nuts, as long as the recipient doesn’t have a nut allergy.
To make the pretty bag you see with my home-baked hamantaschen, download my free printable “Happy Purim!” and “Chag Purim Sameach!” treat bag toppers and instructions. They can be found at the following link: Homemade Mishloach Manot Baskets for Purim
Kid Fun Purim Basket Product Links
The Queen Who Saved Her People
MINI MISHLOACH MANOT
These Mini Mishloach Manot baskets are perfect for bringing to Hebrew school, for kids to give to their friends, and for larger groups where you want to send a small token for Purim. They’ll fit a few hamantaschen and another treat, like candy or dried fruit, in a cute little “basket” package just right for gift giving. Supplies can be found below, including ribbon and tags so you can write a little message to the recipient. Free printable “Happy Purim!” and “Chag Purim Sameach!” treat bag toppers and instructions can be found at the following link: Homemade Mishloach Manot Baskets for Purim.
Mini Mishloach Manot Product Links
L’CHAIM PURIM BASKET
This Mishloach Manot is designed for giving to “grown up” friends. Drinking is a part of the Purim celebration; the requirement in the Talmud goes so far as to instruct that one should get so drunk that they can’t tell the difference between the phrases Arur Haman (“cursed is Haman”) and Baruch Mordechai (“blessed is Mordecai”). While not everybody participates in this custom, those that do will appreciate the sentiment of this basket. It includes homemade Flavor Infused Vodka and Herb Infused Simple Syrup (follow the links for instructions to make your own). Here I’ve put homemade hamantaschen in a silver Chinese takeout box (you can buy them at the link below). I’ve also added a funny book, “The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals” (I reviewed the book here), some cookies, a Jewish ice mold, a jigger for measuring liquor into cocktails, and a mask to celebrate the costumed festivities of Purim.
L’Chaim Purim Basket Product Links
The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals
FAMILY FUN PURIM BASKET
This basket is a beautiful way to show a family that you care. Included are homemade hamantaschen, dates and nuts, herbal tea and kosher coffee, grape juice and kosher treats. It also includes two lovely masks to help the recipient celebrate the costumed Purim festivities.
Family Fun Purim Basket Product Links
Click here to learn how to make your own paper Mishloach Manot baskets – a great craft for getting kids involved in the holiday fun!
felicia says
the tea and challah! i love to bake and would have a ton of fun with that pan.
Melissa says
Hello Tori!
Thank you for your many creative, thorough and thoughtful Shiksa In the Kitchen recipes and for offering these creative Purim baskets. Our family of 4 would love to win the Kid Fun Purim basket. My children are ages 2 and 5 and this is the first year we will formally introduce the holiday of Purim in our household. My 5 year old especially is just beginning to take interest in his Jewish heritage, and, living in an area that has very few Jewish families, we really want to show him the fun and festive aspects of our holidays and traditions! I think he would be thrilled to receive a special Purim basket this year.
Thank you again!
Carolyn Mclean says
The Kid Fun basket is so precious! The Barnyard Purim book would be wonderful to read to the children. Thank you so much!
Venessa Leffler says
I love the Kid Fun basket…although all of your mishloach manot are very special. I love your site, and look forward to my weekly “Shiksa check-in!”
Nancy says
I love your website and would love to win the tea and challah basket although they all look scrumptious! Chag samech!
Susan Kerley says
Thank you for your wonderful blog. You give of yourself each time I am able to read it. What a beautiful soul to want to give on top of that. Thank you for the possibility of winning one of these wonderful baskets.
Sara Vail Miedema says
It would be wonderful to win the Kid Fun Basket for my grand-daughter Zoie.
Jessica says
I would love the tea and challah basket! As a former Shiksa (recently converted) it would be my first one!
Joanne says
I would love to win the tea and Challah basket. I am new to Judaism, and I’m in the process of learning more about the religion, community, and culture with the intent to convert. As part of my spiritual process, and as a complement to my unfortunate circumstance of being laid-off from nonprofit work right now, I spend erev Shabbat meditating, baking challah, writing about the experience and how it relates to my current life situation.
More recently, I have started also to give the challot I bake on erev Shabbat to friends and neighbors who are also in need of peace and joy. This act of making and sharing food also brings me peace. I would love the tea and challah basket, so I can continue my work in learning to bake this wonderful bread and sharing the joy of this new journey I’m on.
PS- love your blog 🙂
Karen says
Gorgeous baskets! Would love to win one!
Sammie says
My favorite is the challah basket! I have been making challah for my fundraiser that I call Challah for Haiti since I went there as a nurse after the devastating earthquake in 2010. All money I receive for the bread goes toward medical supplies for our free clinics that we continue to provide. I recently tried to fill a request for 100% whole rye challah that certainly did not rise as well as my traditional bread and I think the challah mold would be perfect!
Mandie says
I would love to win the Tea and Challah Purim Basket!
I bake a LOT, and have wanted a silicone Challah pan for quite some time! I also love hot teas.
Everything in the Tea & Challah basket would be greatly used.
Debbie says
I love the kids basket and would be thrilled to share it with my grandkids! It is the perfect blend of fun and learning . . I especially love the sandwich cutter and Barnyard Purim!
Susan Lyon says
It would be awesome if I received the Tea and Challah Purim basket. I love to bake and every Jewish holiday I bake traditional goodies for my daughter to take to school with her. Her friends all ask her when certain holidays are coming because they count the days until the goodies arrive. The Latke and Hamentashen books looks hysterical and I would love to try some of the recipes (so more people could get a taste). Even though my daughter has one more year of high school, she has already made it known that the “taste of her childhood” needs to come in care packages on a regular basis. It makes me feel loved.
Rachel says
I like the L’Chaim basket, all though they are all beautiful! I would like to win one to share with my daughter, she is going through the classes to convert, and just as I did, has found it rewarding, and oh so right! I would share the basket with her and we will make plans to do this ourselves with help from your wonderful marketplace!
cindi says
THE L’CHAIM PURIM BASKET!
Jordyn says
The tea and challah basket looks great! Some good reading, tea, and a challah mold. It would make me make challah more 🙂
Yael says
I think I would choose the tea and challah basket..what a lovely basket!
Chaseburgmama says
A very tiring but thrilling 6 weeks as I checked off an item of my bucket list, tried out and was 1/6 woman troupe of a Cancer fundraiser play called “Pirates of the Chemotherapy.” Now on March 9th I am donating my curly head of hair for Kids with Cancer at our local St Baldrick’s event. I could ‘really’ use the ‘Tea and Challah’ basket for warmth and comfort for my fellow participants as we will be there all day with newly bald heads.
Benita Elias says
The Kid fun basket is adorable! I am trying to get my 2 1/2 year old son excited about Purim and this looks like such a fun way to do so!!