A 30-person shower needs 33 favors, not 30. The hostess, the cake lady and the surprise plus-one all go home with something too. That small bit of math changes how you shop for winter wonderland baby shower favors.
Below are eight favors, each priced per guest. Each one has the tag wording to print and a note on packaging. After the list you will find a pink variation, a printable-tag shortcut and a simple order timeline.
1. Hot Cocoa Jars: Warm Wishes for Baby
This is the favor I would pick first. It looks like a snow globe in a jar, and you can assemble all of it at your kitchen counter. Expect to spend $1.50 to $2.50 per jar when you buy in bulk.
Here is what you need for 30 jars:
- 30 mason jars, 4 oz, about $0.60 to $1 each in cases
- Cocoa mix, about 5 lbs, roughly $15 to $20
- Mini marshmallows, 3 large bags, about $9
- Peppermint candies or candy canes to crush, about $4
- Kraft tags and twine, about $6
Now build them:
- Spoon in about 3 tablespoons of cocoa mix. Tap the jar on the counter so it settles flat.
- Add a thin layer of crushed peppermint.
- Fill the rest with mini marshmallows, leaving a little room at the top.
- Screw on the lid and tie the tag with twine.
One mistake to avoid: do not put marshmallows at the bottom. They soak up moisture from the cocoa and clump. Keep them on top and the jars stay fresh for weeks.
Tag wording: Warm wishes for baby. Thank you for showering us with love. Tuck a mini whisk or a candy cane under the twine for about $0.50 more. If you add candy, check labels for nuts first.
2. Personalized Soy Candle Tins
Candles are the favor guests keep. They last, they smell good, and they sit on a nightstand and remind someone of your day. Sets of 10 usually run $30 to $60, depending on tin size.
Tins come in 2 oz, 4 oz and 8 oz. The 4 oz size feels generous without wrecking the budget. Gold, silver and white tins keep the palette wintry.
Good scents for the season are white tea and orange, amber woodlands, warm vanilla sugar, and sea salt and orchid. Avoid heavy florals, since a whole table of strong candles will crowd the room.
Custom labels usually need 5 to 7 business days plus a proof approval. Order three to four weeks ahead. Tag wording: Thank you for warming our hearts.
3. Snowflake Sugar Cookies (and the Day I Cracked 12 of Them)
Here is a cautionary tale. For a friend’s shower, I stacked bagged cookies in a flat bakery box and drove them across town. Twelve of them arrived with cracked icing. I spent an hour decorating replacements the night before.
What went wrong: the cookies were still soft underneath, and the bags had nothing behind them. Here is what I do now:
- Let the icing dry a full 8 to 12 hours before bagging.
- Slide a piece of cardstock behind each cookie inside the bag.
- Lay the bags in a single layer, never stacked.
A local baker charges about $2 to $4 per cookie. Homemade runs under $1 each. Tag wording: Thanks for showering our little snowflake with love. If you bake, make them two to three days ahead and store them in a cool, dry spot.
4. Snowflake Bath Salts or Handmade Soap
Mix Epsom salt with a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil and spoon it into 4 oz jars. That comes to about $1 per favor. For soap, melt goat milk soap base and pour it into a snowflake silicone mold. Wrap it with a kraft band.
Label: From our shower to yours. Enjoy a little winter calm. No food means no allergy worry.
5. Cozy Sock Favors
Roll each pair tightly, tie it with twine and add a snowflake tag. Multi-packs of 3 to 6 pairs bring the cost to $2 to $4 per pair. Tag: Baby, it’s cold outside. Thanks for keeping us cozy.
They also work as game prizes and as a gift for the grandma-to-be.
6. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Lip Balm
Lip balm costs $1 to $3 per guest, and it fits in a coat pocket. Use a custom wrap or label in blue, silver or blush. Tag: Baby it’s cold outside. Thanks for warming our hearts. It is also the best non-food favor if your due date falls in summer but the theme is winter.
7. S’mores Kits for a Cozy Send-Off
Stack two graham cracker squares, two marshmallows and a mini chocolate bar in a clear bag. Each kit costs $1.25 to $2. Staple a tag at the top.
Tag wording: We want s’more time with you. Thank you for celebrating baby.
Not everyone has a fire pit in winter. Print small microwave directions on the back of the tag: about 10 seconds on a plate, watching closely. If you know your guest list, look for gelatin-free marshmallows and dairy-free chocolate.
8. Two-Macaron Boxes
This is the splurge. Pre-made boxes from a local patisserie run $3 to $5 per guest. Ask for white, pale blue, blush pink or silver luster shells to match your palette.
Order about two weeks out and pick them up the day before. Ask the baker about almond-flour labeling, since nut allergies are common. Tag: A little sweet on the way. Thank you for celebrating with us.
Quick Picks If You Want More Options
Two more favors cost less than $1.50. Tea or coffee packets, such as chamomile citron or peppermint, come in bulk boxes of 50 to 100. Pair one with a honey stick for $0.30 more, and use the tag Warmest thanks for celebrating with us.
White chocolate pretzels with edible silver glitter run $0.75 to $1.25 per bag when you make 50 at home. Tie clear bags with ribbon and use the tag Thanks for celebrating with us. Let it snow.
Pink Winter Wonderland Variations
Swap ice blue and silver for blush, rose gold and white. You keep the snowy feel and signal a girl.
- Use pink cocoa mix or pink-tinted marshmallows in the jars.
- Order blush macarons and blush cookie icing.
- Choose pink-wrapped candle labels.
- Tie everything with rose gold ribbon or a loop of pink tulle instead of twine.
For the tag, try A little snowflake is on the way in a script font on blush cardstock.
Tag Wording and Printable Shortcuts
The tag is what makes a jar of cocoa look like a favor. Keep it to two lines so it reads at a glance. These lines work with almost any item above:
- Thank you for showering our little snowflake with love
- Warmest wishes for baby
- Baby, it’s cold outside. Thanks for warming our hearts
- Thanks a latte for showering baby with love
- Let it snow. Baby is on the way
Design 2-inch or 2.5-inch tags in Canva, or use Avery printable tag sheets if you want pre-cut edges. A Cricut or Silhouette cuts snowflake shapes. Punch a hole, add twine or thin ribbon, and print 10% extra because tags tear.
Cost Per Guest and a Bulk-Buy Timeline
Sort your favors by price before you shop:
- Under $2: cocoa jars, tea packets, pretzel bags, s’mores kits, bath salts
- $2 to $5: candles, cookies, socks, lip balm, macarons
- $5 and up: mini snow globes or curated gift boxes
Multiply your guest count by 1.1 to get the favor count. For 30 guests, that is 33.
Here is the schedule I follow:
- Four weeks out: order custom candles, labels and printed wraps.
- Two weeks out: buy bulk consumables and order macarons.
- Three to five days out: assemble jars, kits and tags.
- Two to three days out: bake cookies.
Many shops sell personalized items in sets of 10, so check your shop’s minimum order and round up to the next set if needed.
FAQ
How many favors should I make for a winter wonderland baby shower?
Make one per guest plus about 10%. That covers the hostess, vendors and surprise plus-ones. For 30 guests, make 33 to 35.
What is a good budget per guest for baby shower favors?
A budget of $2 to $5 per guest works well. Cocoa jars, tea packets and pretzel bags come in under $2. Candles, macarons and snow globes can reach $3 to $7.
What should the favor tag say for a winter wonderland shower?
Try “Thanks for showering our little snowflake with love” or “Baby, it’s cold outside. Thanks for warming our hearts.” Keep it to two lines. “Warmest wishes for baby” also works on nearly any favor.