Can you believe that Christmas is almost here? It seems like yesterday I was writing about 12 Weeks Till Christmas on a balmy September afternoon. And now, here we are.
The gift buying frenzy is hyping up, and hopefully you’ve made most of your purchases. But there are still those people in your life that need a gift from you, but you’re short on ideas. Or you’re short on cash. Or both.
Food gifts are great because they please almost everybody, they can be done inexpensively, and they’re fun to make. From your boss to your children’s teacher, who wouldn’t love a batch of homemade cookies?
This week’s holiday task in our 12 Weeks to a Peaceful Christmas series is to plan — or make — your edible gifts.
Here are a few recipes for holiday baking.
Cookies, Candies, and other Sweet Snacks
Photo by Aimee
- Basic Shortbread, and Many Variations :: Under the Highchair
- Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies :: Joy the Baker
- Coffee Toffee :: Smitten Kitchen
- Lemon Meltaways and Meringues :: Cannelle et Vanille
- Pepparkakor :: Delicious Days
- Muddy Buddies :: Tasty Kitchen
- Christmassy Chocolate Bark :: Tasty Kitchen
- Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies :: The Pioneer Woman Cooks
- Butterscotch Cookies :: Orangette
- Honeybuns :: Cook and Eat
- Panettone :: Cooking Breads
Savory Snacks
Photo from Jamie Oliver
- Peanut Butter Popcorn :: Tammy’s Recipes
- Peanut Brittle :: FoodTV (Alton Brown)
- Pineapple and Red Chile Salsa :: Food and Wine
- Wonderful Salsa :: Recipezaar
- Sugar and Spice Candied Nuts :: Smitten Kitchen
- Olive and Artichoke Tapenade :: Epicurious
- Cheeky Chili Pepper Chutney :: Jamie Oliver
- Homemade Pretzels :: Frantic Home Cooks
- Simplest Brioche :: La Tartine Gourmande
Gifts in a Jar
Photo by Patrick Q
If you’re not up for cooking, you can even make simple gifts in a jar — layer the ingredients in a jar, attached with the recipe to make what’s inside. You can’t get much easier.
- Butterscotch Cookie Mix :: All Free Crafts
- Texas Cornbread Mix :: Organized Christmas
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix :: Recipe Goldmine
- Italian Pasta and Bean Soup Mix :: Heart 4 Home
- Gingerbread Pancake Mix :: Mr. Breakfast
Tip Nut also has some helpful links for creating your jar gifts, such as gift tags and jar lids.
What are your go-to recipes for edible gifts? Feel free to share your recipe links in the comments section.
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Thank you for the wonderful ideas. Cookies are always a good thing to share with friends and take as a present. I think I’ll start with my bakery next week.
Micha´s last blog ..Socken stopfen / darn socks
Wow, thanks for doing all that work for us and attaching the links! Makes our lives much easier…
I am SO excited about Christmas this year. Ours is going to be so simple, and so wonderful. Can’t wait!
Jamie
This is lovely I am going to link it in my foodie gift post next week… Thanks so much!!!
se7en´s last blog ..Se7en Make Buttermilk Rusks in Se7en Steps…
YUM! Thanks for sharing all the great links!
Christi {Jealous Hands}´s last blog ..Cade
Love all the ideas for shortbread variations. I make an old family recipe for shortbread every year and my friends around here call it “white fudge”. I love all the variations like lavendar that “Under the Highchair” mentioned!
Homemaker, MD´s last blog ..The results of a slight case of insomnia
I wanted to share my “baking” plan for gift giving this year – homemade marshmallows! I did an experimental batch last week and it was SO easy, only 20 minutes and I didn’t have to buy a candy thermometer! I’m making a batch of cinnamon and peppermint this weekend and buying a big box of hot chocolate mix from Costco. Pour packages of cocoa into a small cellophane bag, top with homemade ‘mallows, tie and add a tag and voila! Easy schmeezy gift that every will love – who doesn’t like hot chocolate?!
Please share your marshmallow recipe!
Bridgette´s last blog ..New Baby News
Thanks for sharing these ideas, I really like the jar idea. It had been forgotton.
a_usman´s last blog ..How to Install Windows 7 from a USB drive
great ideas and yummy! My sister in law always makes food as little gifts. I can’t bake very well, but it defiantly makes a great gift!
Samantha @ Mama Notes´s last blog ..Our Favorite Christmas/Winter Books ( & Giveaway!)
Lots of new recipes to try! I don’t have any recipes to add, but I did write about creative ways to wrap food gifts here:
http://homegrownmom.com/newsletter/a-sneak-peek-at-my-monthly-newsletter/994
Angela @ Homegrown Mom´s last blog ..Shop With Me: Gifts for the Modern Homegrown Mom
Instead of cookies that go stale quickly I prefer to make fudge and my friend usually makes spiced nuts to give away! They both last a considerably longer time than cookies.
Bridgette´s last blog ..Aunt Linda’s Ambrosia
What a great collection of recipes and ideas for consumable gifts. Thanks so much! I can’t wait to try the Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies recipe. I linked to this post on my blog today: http://lelahwithanh.blogspot.com/2009/12/organizers-blog-digest-christmas.html
Happy holidays!
Lelah Baker-Rabe´s last blog ..Organizer’s blog digest: Christmas
Thanks for sharing. These are all wonderful ideas. I especially like the Mexican Hot Chocolate. I think I am going to try a batch out and see it turns out.
I can’t wait to try some of these recipes! I love your packaging ideas that look so simple but beautiful – your photos are always so lovely. Thank you!
Susan´s last blog ..Is Your Energy Drained at 7 PM? Yeah, Me Too!
Thanks for providing some fantastic links. I wanted to do a post on all the different edible gifts you can make but felt the need to do all the recipes myself. I got three done (in the chocolate genre) and decided that was enough for me. I’ve saved my savory recipes for next year I guess. Your idea was much better!
Melodie´s last blog ..Easy Handmade Gifts: Chocolate Lover’s Sampler
Wow, a great roundup of links!! This is just what I need this week! Thanks Tsh!
xo
blessings,
melissa
Wow, a great roundup of links! This is just what I need this week! Thanks Tsh!
xo
blessings,
melissa
melissa @ the inspired room´s last blog ..My House Tour: I’ll Be Home for Christmas
This is so helpful! Thank you for these great ideas. I am planning to have my son help with some foody gifts to give his teachers, aunts, uncles, etc. This is great!
Emily´s last blog ..Shortbread
Every year around this time we have “Goodie Baking Day” at our house. It is filled with flour and icing and is always fun : ) Most of my recipes are ones I’ve acquired from family, but I did find this fabulous Sugar Cookie recipe last year after much searching and MANY batches of cookies : ) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gale-gand/chewy-sugar-cookies-recipe/index.html
We make goodie tins to give to our neighbors every year. Happy baking!
Paula@Motherhood Out Loud´s last blog ..Forty Years of Marriage
Love, love, love this article! Yes, two weeks until Christmas and no matter how many times I say…”next year, I will be more prepared.” I NEVER am! Money is pretty tight for us this year, but I do have the time to make yummy, edible gifts. And the best gifts are the homemade ones!
Thanks so much again!
Kelly
Kelly´s last blog ..Read how this Mompreneur turned Writing Love Letters into a Successful Business!