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For the Season: A Sweet Surprise – Homemade Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen
By DeDee Birdsall
There’s no better gift to give this holiday season than a heartfelt batch of homemade baked goods or treats. Everybody loves a sweet surprise, so what more unique way is there to send a message of warmth and caring than with sweet confections wrapped in pretty packages. From cookies and quick breads to delicious candies and more, you can impress your friends and loved ones with a personal, special gift that can be ready in a few simple steps and help brighten anyone’s season.
Cakes, Cookies and Quick Breads
Cookies and bars always make for a tasty and traditional holiday treat. It’s that one time of year when we seem to abandon the old standby of chocolate chips and break out more inspired, elaborately decorated delights. For a festive presentation, arrange your cookies in specialty boxes available at your local craft and hobby stores and adorn them with ribbon, tissue paper, and gift tags. You can also fill a vintage jar with cookies and tuck the recipe in with a little ribbon so your friends and relatives can make their own once your supply has been devoured. Either way, you’ve got a unique gift with plenty of flair that will catch anyone’s eye – and sweet tooth!
Some of the most well-loved edible gifts include cakes and quick breads, which you can bake in almost no time at all. With a few supplies and some creativity, quick breads can live up to their name and be ready in a flash, perfect with a cup of coffee on Christmas morning. Wrap them in grease and moisture resistant glassine paper tied up with waxed twine for a cute packaging idea, or purchase small decorative loaf pans that you can cover with cellophane, ribbon or other adornments. Finish it all off by cutting up an old Christmas card to make a festive gift tag.
Specialty Drinks, Sauces and Infused Libations
Tasty libations always help to make any holiday more relaxing – but they also make perfect gifts! And they’re even better when they’re homemade. Crank out some Limoncello, a wonderful Italian after dinner drink, by steeping strips of lemon in vodka or grain alcohol. Package in sealable bottles with the recipe attached. Simple yet elegant. With gifts such as these, it’s a good idea to plan far ahead as the steeping period required can take time. On the plus side, this should give you ample opportunity to jazz up your packaging with fancy decorations and instructions. Barbecue sauce, homemade fudge, carmel sauce and homemade vanilla extract also make great gifts for the foodie in your life with easy to find recipes available on the Internet.
If you’re short on time and can’t seem to come up with any cute bottles and jars for your special drinks or sauces, visit www.save-on-crafts.com, where you’ll find a wide selection of inexpensive options. From chalk board tags to wax seals and burlap bags with holiday tin tags, this website is a must for discovering the perfect holiday packaging. You’ll be amazed at what you find, including plenty of small vessels with sealable lids that work perfect for sauces. Just tie a small serving spoon onto the side, add some holiday embellishments and you’re all set to go.
Sweet Treats and Trail Mix
Everyone loves peanut brittle around the holidays, and with easy recipes designed for the microwave, it’s a cinch to put together. Just make sure you don’t break it up before you gift it; leave the fun stuff to your friends! Place the solid block of brittle on a cookie sheet, wrapped in cellophane, and include a small hammer with the gift so your loved ones can work out a little holiday stress. Trail mix makes another perfect gift with hundreds of possible recipe concoctions. Store inside a pretty jar or cellophane treat bag and attach a catchy seasonal name to the outside.
Don’t have time to make your own candy? Fill up a vintage mason jar with red and white holiday treats for a beautiful gift or display. Cardboard boxes and metal containers or canisters can also be turned into gift holders for homemade candy and are also ideal for hot chocolate mix or homemade marshmallows. Decorate by gluing holiday scrapbook paper, festive Christmas wrap or even old wallpaper samples to the outside. Cover the lid with fabric and ribbon and you’ve got a gorgeous gift container. You can even store individually wrapped confections in Christmas stockings or mittens! Attach a gift tag and hang on the door for a delicious holiday surprise.
Homemade gifts show a lot of heart and add a personal touch to the holidays, so why not think outside the box this season and create something special for the ones you love. Help satisfy a sweet tooth and bring friends and family together for a holiday everyone is sure to remember!
