It's the most wonderful time of the year! It's also the time of the year when we realise we don't know everyone as well as we thought we did. It can be a struggle to come up with amazing present ideas that will be truly appreciated, and it's even worse when you hit the shops and realise that everyone else has had the same idea. It's all too easy to go for the safe option, but does your dad really want another pair of socks?
Edible gifts may be the way to go. If your family and friends are foodies like we are, a little homemade food hamper, or even just a jar of chutney, will feel like a really thoughtful and personal gift. Some of these recipes take no time, and leave you with plenty of gifts to pass around.
If you love baking, and want to make a simple gift that won't break the bank, then mince pies are definitely the way to go. This healthy version is gluten-free and vegan and they taste as good (or better) than regular mince pies. Mince pies can be made ahead of time and frozen unbaked. If you're planning on giving them as a gift closer to Christmas, this is the ideal, hassle-free way to ensure your mince pies are super fresh and delicious. Just give them a little longer in the oven if you're baking them from frozen. Hot pastry with a chilly filling is not what you're looking for here.
If you're looking for an edible gift idea that will be loved by kids and adults alike, why not give edible Christmas tree decorations a go? These festive biscuits are flavoured with Christmassy ginger and kids will love threading ribbon or twine through the little holes and hanging them on the Christmas tree. (That's if any of these buttery biscuits make it that far!) This healthy version is worth a try too.
If baking is not your thing, there are plenty of other edible gift options. Chocolate truffles couldn't be easier to make, or more delicious. They're the perfect after-dinner treat, so if you're looking for a gift that your host (and the other guests) will really appreciate, try these nutty chocolate truffles. They're filled and rolled in salted peanuts, but they're just as good plain. A splash of whiskey, or your tipple of choice, would be gorgeous if you want to make an elegant, adult-only version. You could even try adding a chocolatey stout to help bring out the flavour of the chocolate even more. It doesn't get much better than that really, does it?
If you have a lot of edible gifts to make, anything you can put in a jar is great. Make up a bit batch of Orange and Pecan Mincemeat recipe and spoon it into little sterilised jars. Add a cute ribbon and a gift tag and you're good to go. Another lovely idea would be to make up a cheese hamper and add a jar of Christmas chutney. It pairs really well with strong, mature cheeses. If you really want to splash out and make it extra special, add a gorgeous cheese slate to create an unforgettable foodie gift.
We'd also recommend healthy Christmas Pudding Truffles, Cacao Bliss Balls, Mulled Wine, Nigella's Chilli Jam and Jamie's Biscotti.
Take a look at this handy how-to to find out more about sterilising jars.
Merry Christmas and Happy Cooking from Recipe Guru.