One thing I do love to do at christmas (and birthdays, celebrations or simply just because) is to gift edible gifts. I personally prefer to spend an hour or two in the kitchen chopping, mixing and rolling, than trawl through gift shops looking for that perfect gift.  It gives me such satisfaction to be in the kitchen making christmas gifts with love, for the ones I love.

Last year I wrote this post on simple things like homemade peanut butter, choc mint balls, white chocolate bark, a batch of muesli & a not so simple gingerbread house. This year, I have even more tried & tested ideas which may help reduce present related stress this christmas.

1. Muesli (again)

 

Most recently I opted to make a batch of muesli for my work Kris Kringle. It’s pretty much this recipe with a slight alteration. I like my muesli really nutty and really seedy. Basically I combined ~200g rolled oats with ~100g roughly chopped almonds, ~100g chopped macadamias, ~100g chopped hazelnuts, ~50g pumpkin seeds (pepitas) and ~50g sunflower seeds. I added about 1 tbsp cinnamon, 2-3 tbsp runny honey & the zest of one orange (this is really good). I toasted the mixture in an oven at about 120°C (250°F/Gas 1/2) for 45 minutes until nice and toasty. Once cooled, I added some chopped apricots & toasted coconut chips. 

 

2. Gingerbread granola.

If you want the smell of christmas in the air = this recipe + a real christmas tree. Heck yes. This Gingerbread Granola from the Minimalist baker is indulgently delicious. I suggest you enjoy with yoghurt or banana soft serve, like below. Cherries optional for extra christmas-ness.

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(Pouring milk on it is a bit like one of those post nutri-grain super sweet milk situations.)

3. Choc chip cookies in a jar. 

These ones were all over Pinterest last year. I organised this for my younger cousin, along with her own mixing bowl & spatulas. I’m all about getting people back into the kitchen & teaching them how food is made. Reports back were that the cookies were delicious.

I layered the dry ingredients from this recipe & hand wrote the instructions.

Easy.

4. Cranberry & white chocolate cookies. 

This recipe I came across in the Taste Christmas Favourites magazine last year. They are delicious. Much more delicious than that tin of biscuits you will quickly pick up in the supermarket just in case you forget  to buy for someone, I assure you that.

They are basically anzac biscuits with cranberries & smothered in white chocolate.

Put a couple in plastic gift bags, add some beautiful ribbon/rope/ and a gift tag, and voila, happy aunty you forgot.

5. Chilli & salted caramel truffles.

 

Put that box of favourites down, and get a load of this fiddly-but-totally-worth-it recipe I found in last year’s Christmas taste magazine. I can’t find a link for the exact recipe on the internet so here it is.

Place 200g chopped dark chocolate (I personally like nestle chunks) in a heatproof bowl. Combine 1/4 cup caster sugar and 1 red bird’s eye chilli, halved, in a frying pan over high heat. 

Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar caramelises. Add 125ml (1/2) cup pouring cream, 1 tbsp liquid glucose and 1 pinch sea salt flakes. Cook for 5 minutes or until toffee dissolves. Discard chilli. Pour hot syrup over chocolate. Stir until melted. Place in fridge for 1 hour or until set. Roll into small balls. Dip into 200g melted dark chocolate to coat. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes & allow to set. 

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Yay for edible gifts!

Do you have any go to home made gifts?

Merry Christmas

Emma xo