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!
Jenny says
The mother in me says, “this family basket is awesome!” The other part of me is screaming, “boozy goodness, you fool!!!” Love you blog by the way.
Svetlana says
I love the barnayard purim basket because it looks like so much fun for the kids. I would go for the one that is fastest to make, though 🙂
Dana says
all of them are beautiful but I really love the tea and challah one! thanks for sharing!
Tessa says
The kid fun basket looks great! My kids would be so excited to win that!
Debbie says
Forgot to say I would love the Tea and Challah Purim Basket–thanks!
Mary Ann in Dallas says
I would love the Tea and Challah Purim basket which my husband and I would share with his mother, who is 87 years old and currently hospitalized.
Cya says
I would love the Tea and Challah Purim Basket! It reminds me of Monday morning breakfast in college eating the leftover challah from the weekend with a cup of tea while watching it snow outside.
Robin says
Hi Tori!!!! I would really love to win the ‘Tea and Challah Purim Basket’ because I’ve just started baking my own bread and would love to see if my Challah looks any different if I braid them and put them into the molded Challah pan. But, since SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD LOVE THAT BASKET, I would happily receive either one of the other two!!! We’re trying to have kids so either one of your FUN baskets will be put to good use – and, whatever we don’t use right now we’ll enjoy sharing with all our friends and neighbors’ kids!!! I’ll also take this moment to tell you that I’ve REALLY enjoyed your recipes and how you present them – with your help even ***I*** have impressed my guests!!! THANK YOU!!!! ***KISS!***
Amy Stolp says
I love all of them but the tea and challah is my favorite! This will be our families first year observing Purim. I am also planning a teaching about Esther for the teen girls in our church, it would be great to serve them tea and challah! Thanks!
Amy Stolp says
I love them all but the tea and challah is my favorite! This will be the first year our family will observe Purim. I am planning a teaching, for the teen girls at our church, about Esther, it would be great to make them some challah bread!
E. Feder says
Love, love, love the inspiring ideas. As a new Jew, I appreciate such great ideas to add to my observance…. and I added it to my Pinterest Purim page…. thanks
Liss says
My family would adore the Family Fun basket – I think my two-year-old would love sharing the treats with her friends!
Jessica says
These are all so beautiful! But the tea and challah basket is my favorite – I’m curious to try out that challah mold 🙂
Tracey says
OOoooooooooooo LOVE these baskets( specially the Tea and Challah and the Family) I am thinking I will make some for my kds at school!! Loveyour blogs and your recipes!~ 🙂
Erica says
I would love to win the Tea & Challah Purim Basket. I am a huge fan of tea. It perks me up in the morning and always can make me feel better. All of your ideas are so much fun!
Stacey M says
My daughter would love it if she got the Family Basket in the mail! It would make her Purim!
Allison Page says
That Tea and Challah basket looks divine!
Whitney Decker says
The tea and challah basket is is my favorite. I cannot make a good looking braid! I love the L’CHAIM basket as well with the homemade touches and mask.
Michelle says
I would love the tea and challah basket. My daughter, age 14, is going through a period of self-doubt and a sense of disconnect. She and I live in a non-Jewish community (we commute an hour each way for her to attend a confirmation class once per week at the nearest synagogue, 60 miles away). In addition, I am an elementary special education teacher, with spring testing on its way… just a lot going on. The basket would make our next Shabbat even more relaxing, and help her feel the presence of a bigger world beyond our own backyard as we explore special products related to our Jewish faith and culture, that may not be available in our rural middle-of-nowhere. She and I both love tea… and the challah would make a nice substitute for the on-the-go Wal-Mart French bread we usually use.
Nicola says
Hag Sameach Tori.
I would be a very happy girl if the family basket found it’s way to my doorstep. I spied my hubby’s fave Elite chocolate bar (we used to call it Red Cow) – he has not had that since we left Israel 10 years ago! There were some things in there that I miss too starting with Te nana….sigh.