Ideas for Homemade Christmas Food Gifts

Lollipops can be a fun addition to your Christmas food gift.

Christmas is a special time of year, so it's a perfect opportunity to show you care by giving a homemade gift. There are many factors to consider when choosing a food gift, however. Are you shipping the item or hand delivering it? How much do you want to spend on the gift? What resources do you have available? You should also take into consideration how comfortable you are with various cooking techniques. For example, candies and jams can be tricky, and if you have never made an item such as pickles, you may not want to experiment at Christmas time.

Once you determine what types of gifts you want to create, don't forget to include a note to the recipient regarding the item's shelf life, along with any directions or special instructions.

Candied or Spiced Nuts

Candied nuts are a delicious and nutritious Christmas treat.

Sugared or spiced nuts are a delicious and nutritious treat to give family and friends. Most recipes include tossing nuts with melted butter and sugar or spices. Once they are completely cool, you can store them in a disposable, airtight container wrapped in Christmas paper for a special treat. You can also form cones out of colorful paper and fill them with nuts. Let the recipient know that the shelf life for nuts is only a few weeks when stored in the refrigerator so they eat their treat while it's fresh.

Candies

Chocolate mint fudge is a festive gift.

Cinnamon lollipops, chocolate fudge, buttery toffees and dipped pretzels are just a few easy-to-make Christmas goodies that deliver delectable joy to the recipient. To dress up these items, purchase decorative cellophane bags at most grocery stores. Add a festive touch by tying them shut with Christmas ribbon.

Baked Goods

Impress your friends with a variety of cookies nestled in a tin can.

Zucchini, banana or pumpkin breads are always a welcome addition to your gift basket of holiday goodies. Other baked options that are sure to be a hit are decorated sugar cookies, Italian wedding cookies or chocolate-dipped macaroons.

Jams and Jellies

Jellies are a sweet Christmas gift.

If your cooking talents include the creation of jams, jellies, marmalades or syrups, then by all means put your gifts to work for the holidays. Those who remember making preserves with their mothers or grandmothers will especially appreciate your efforts. Tie a piece of gingham fabric to the top of gift jars, and folks will be reminiscing about grandma's kitchen.

Pickles, Relishes, Salsas and Chutneys

Nothing is quite like Grandma's recipe for sweet pickles.

You may create some future gift requests when you put your cooking talents on display by offering up spicy salsas, savory sweet pickles, unique relishes and flavorful chutneys. Along with looking up recipes on your own, also ask friends or family if they have have a favorite salsa or chutney recipe to share. Consider unique offerings, such as cranberry chutney or roasted red pepper relish.

Jarred Hot Chocolate, Cookies, Brownies or Bars

Toffee hot chocolate is just one of the delicious mixes you can give in a jar.

Many books offer recipes for jarred gifts, along with sites on the Internet. To create them, you simply layer a few ingredients in a canning jar, add a lid, print the recipes and affix them to the jar with some ribbon. You can assemble a variety of hot chocolates, cookies, brownies and bars in the festive jars. A bonus: Many of these have a shelf life that can last up to several months.

References

• Martha Stewart: Edible Gifts
• Amazon.com: Gifts in a Jar