8 Homemade (and Heartfelt) Gift Recipes
Spoil your loved ones with Christmas gifts overflowing with a generous helping of your own efforts
Janet Dunn
23 December 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
Hurried last-minute gift shopping in the lead-up to Christmas Day often means grabbing blindly for ‘that’ll do’ items, waving a credit card and saying ‘yes’ to free gift wrapping. But just how meaningful is buying gifts that way? I’d argue that friends and family deserve more, so head to the kitchen with a few creative ideas in mind. We’re not talking cooking up a time-consuming storm, but putting a warm-hearted personal touch on some food-related goodies. Home-grown gifts are not only easy on your Christmas budget, but are also so satisfying to give.
Here are a few to get you started.
Here are a few to get you started.
1. Fabulous fudge
You may not be up to producing perfect raspberry and pine nut macarons with basil ganache, but anyone can make fudge.
Seventh Heaven Fudge
Ingredients
500 grams sugar
500 millilitres cream
3 tablespoons liquid glucose
Method
1. Put everything in a large, heavy-based pan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
2. Cook briskly for 15-20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and golden. Test by dropping a blob into cold water – it should form a soft mass when rolled in the fingers.
3. Off heat, beat with a wooden spoon until very thick and spread quickly on oiled foil.
4. Leave to set, break into chunks and tuck into a cellophane-lined box with the hand-written recipe tucked inside.
Give to … someone with a serious sweet tooth
You may not be up to producing perfect raspberry and pine nut macarons with basil ganache, but anyone can make fudge.
Seventh Heaven Fudge
Ingredients
500 grams sugar
500 millilitres cream
3 tablespoons liquid glucose
Method
1. Put everything in a large, heavy-based pan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
2. Cook briskly for 15-20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and golden. Test by dropping a blob into cold water – it should form a soft mass when rolled in the fingers.
3. Off heat, beat with a wooden spoon until very thick and spread quickly on oiled foil.
4. Leave to set, break into chunks and tuck into a cellophane-lined box with the hand-written recipe tucked inside.
Give to … someone with a serious sweet tooth
2. Crunchy breakfast treat
Make a batch of power-packed breakfast cereal free from unwanted extras.
Toasted Maple Muesli
Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup each pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, spelt flakes or rolled quinoa flakes
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4-5 tablespoons maple syrup
Method
1. Mix well and spread thinly on a baking sheet.
2. Bake 1 hour at 120°C, stirring after 30 minutes.
3. Cool and store in an airtight jar. Tie a pretty spoon to the jar with a ribbon.
Give to … health-conscious friends
Make a batch of power-packed breakfast cereal free from unwanted extras.
Toasted Maple Muesli
Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup each pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, spelt flakes or rolled quinoa flakes
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4-5 tablespoons maple syrup
Method
1. Mix well and spread thinly on a baking sheet.
2. Bake 1 hour at 120°C, stirring after 30 minutes.
3. Cool and store in an airtight jar. Tie a pretty spoon to the jar with a ribbon.
Give to … health-conscious friends
3. Sweet surprise sugars
Subtly flavoured sugars are a lovely addition to a cook’s pantry, for batters, biscuits and cakes, summer beverages, in whipped cream and desserts. Create your own sugar mix – try rosemary, cinnamon, candied violets, scented rose petals, dried citrus peel, chilli …
Lavender-Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
1 tablespoon edible dried lavender (use fresh lavender if you know it’s chemical-free)
2 cups sugar
1 vanilla pod
Fresh lavender and purple ribbon to garnish
Method
1. Whiz lavender in a spice grinder or mince very finely. Mix with sugar.
2. Split vanilla pod and scrape seeds into sugar, sifting with fingers to distribute.
3. Tuck in split pod, pour into a clean jar and decorate with a fresh sprig of lavender and ribbon.
Give to … friends who love to bake
Subtly flavoured sugars are a lovely addition to a cook’s pantry, for batters, biscuits and cakes, summer beverages, in whipped cream and desserts. Create your own sugar mix – try rosemary, cinnamon, candied violets, scented rose petals, dried citrus peel, chilli …
Lavender-Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
1 tablespoon edible dried lavender (use fresh lavender if you know it’s chemical-free)
2 cups sugar
1 vanilla pod
Fresh lavender and purple ribbon to garnish
Method
1. Whiz lavender in a spice grinder or mince very finely. Mix with sugar.
2. Split vanilla pod and scrape seeds into sugar, sifting with fingers to distribute.
3. Tuck in split pod, pour into a clean jar and decorate with a fresh sprig of lavender and ribbon.
Give to … friends who love to bake
4. Dry spice rubs
Dry spice rubs add piquancy to roasted and barbecued meats and vegetables. If possible, buy whole spices and grind them yourself. Label the jar with the recipe.
Quickie Spice Rub
Ingredients
1 tablespoon each ground black pepper, dried oregano, cumin powder, onion powder and sea salt flakes
1/2 cup each paprika and brown sugar
Chilli powder or cayenne to taste, for a cook who likes it hot
Method
Shake in a jar.
Give to … your favourite barbecue chef
Dry spice rubs add piquancy to roasted and barbecued meats and vegetables. If possible, buy whole spices and grind them yourself. Label the jar with the recipe.
Quickie Spice Rub
Ingredients
1 tablespoon each ground black pepper, dried oregano, cumin powder, onion powder and sea salt flakes
1/2 cup each paprika and brown sugar
Chilli powder or cayenne to taste, for a cook who likes it hot
Method
Shake in a jar.
Give to … your favourite barbecue chef
5. Tailor-made tea
Tea is a beautiful gift that encourages the recipient to take time for themselves to enjoy it, or share a cup with their favourite people. This chai mix is aromatic and ridiculously easy to blend.
Masala Chai Mix
Ingredients
2 teaspoons each black peppercorns and coriander seeds
6 cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons each fennel seeds and chopped candied ginger
1 cinnamon stick
12-15 cardamom pods
1 cup black tea leaves
Method
1. Spread spices on a baking tray and toast at 160°C until fragrant.
2. Crush or grind coarsely, mix with tea leaves.
3. Pack loosely in a jar. Alternatively, you could stuff empty fillable teabags and pop them in an pretty cup or teapot.
Give to … someone who likes their tea warm, sweet and spicy
Tea is a beautiful gift that encourages the recipient to take time for themselves to enjoy it, or share a cup with their favourite people. This chai mix is aromatic and ridiculously easy to blend.
Masala Chai Mix
Ingredients
2 teaspoons each black peppercorns and coriander seeds
6 cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons each fennel seeds and chopped candied ginger
1 cinnamon stick
12-15 cardamom pods
1 cup black tea leaves
Method
1. Spread spices on a baking tray and toast at 160°C until fragrant.
2. Crush or grind coarsely, mix with tea leaves.
3. Pack loosely in a jar. Alternatively, you could stuff empty fillable teabags and pop them in an pretty cup or teapot.
Give to … someone who likes their tea warm, sweet and spicy
6. A treat for hands
A grainy scrub to whisk away cooking odours and grime and make skin baby-soft is a great gift. The oil moisturises, the coconut buffs and the lemon adds fresh fragrance.
Heavenly Hand Scrub
Ingredients
1/2 cup organic coconut oil
4 heaped tablespoons desiccated coconut, or sugar for a coarser scrub
Finely grated rind of 1 large lemon
Method
1. Stir to combine and pack into a wide-mouthed jar.
2. Label: ‘Massage a teaspoonful into hands for a few minutes, rinse and pat dry.’ Wrap jar in a soft guest towel.
Give to … a garlic-loving cook or someone who suffers from ‘gardener’s hands’
A grainy scrub to whisk away cooking odours and grime and make skin baby-soft is a great gift. The oil moisturises, the coconut buffs and the lemon adds fresh fragrance.
Heavenly Hand Scrub
Ingredients
1/2 cup organic coconut oil
4 heaped tablespoons desiccated coconut, or sugar for a coarser scrub
Finely grated rind of 1 large lemon
Method
1. Stir to combine and pack into a wide-mouthed jar.
2. Label: ‘Massage a teaspoonful into hands for a few minutes, rinse and pat dry.’ Wrap jar in a soft guest towel.
Give to … a garlic-loving cook or someone who suffers from ‘gardener’s hands’
7. Doggy delights
My canine pal loves these satisfyingly crunchy healthy treats. The dough can be frozen.
Charlie’s Carob Crunch
Ingredients
2 cups wholemeal flour
1 cup wheatgerm
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 eggs, shell and all
2 tablespoons carob powder
1 ripe banana
2 tablespoons honey
Method
1. Process all ingredients on high speed to form a ball.
2. Knead lightly and roll into a 3-centimetre-wide tube. Wrap and chill.
3. Cut into 1-centimetre-thick discs, bake at 160°C for 25 minutes.
Give to … the dog in your life
My canine pal loves these satisfyingly crunchy healthy treats. The dough can be frozen.
Charlie’s Carob Crunch
Ingredients
2 cups wholemeal flour
1 cup wheatgerm
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 eggs, shell and all
2 tablespoons carob powder
1 ripe banana
2 tablespoons honey
Method
1. Process all ingredients on high speed to form a ball.
2. Knead lightly and roll into a 3-centimetre-wide tube. Wrap and chill.
3. Cut into 1-centimetre-thick discs, bake at 160°C for 25 minutes.
Give to … the dog in your life
8. A gift that grows
I’m definitely doing this cute idea this year. Buy a stack of cheap-as-chips Chinese bamboo steamers and line the top one with foil. Fill with a trio of tiny succulents. Pop a small bottle of this spicy-hot oil in the next steamer and a set of ceramic Chinese soup spoons in the bottom one. Poke a pair of bamboo chopsticks through the handle.
Chilli-Sesame Oil
Ingredients
3/4 cup peanut oil
4 small dried red chillies
2 teaspoons chilli flakes
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Method
1. Heat 3 tablespoons peanut oil in a small heavy-based frying pan
2. Add chillies and chilli flakes and stir until just sizzling
3. Add remaining peanut oil and heat until just warm
4. Add sesame oil and remove from heat. Cool and bottle. (Note: this is a concentrated seasoning oil, not a cooking oil)
Give to … a gardener who’s also a wonder with a wok
TELL US
Will you be trying any of these homemade gift ideas this year? If so, share photos of your efforts in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more fun DIY projects
I’m definitely doing this cute idea this year. Buy a stack of cheap-as-chips Chinese bamboo steamers and line the top one with foil. Fill with a trio of tiny succulents. Pop a small bottle of this spicy-hot oil in the next steamer and a set of ceramic Chinese soup spoons in the bottom one. Poke a pair of bamboo chopsticks through the handle.
Chilli-Sesame Oil
Ingredients
3/4 cup peanut oil
4 small dried red chillies
2 teaspoons chilli flakes
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Method
1. Heat 3 tablespoons peanut oil in a small heavy-based frying pan
2. Add chillies and chilli flakes and stir until just sizzling
3. Add remaining peanut oil and heat until just warm
4. Add sesame oil and remove from heat. Cool and bottle. (Note: this is a concentrated seasoning oil, not a cooking oil)
Give to … a gardener who’s also a wonder with a wok
TELL US
Will you be trying any of these homemade gift ideas this year? If so, share photos of your efforts in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more fun DIY projects
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Thanks for your story. I always love best the gifts that were handmade by my children and grandchildren. This year, for them, I made fudge!
I enjoy making small gifts for colleagues and friends.
Christmas gifts include small jars (IKEA spice jars are the perfect size and look cute, too) of either strawberry, blackberry or raspberry jam. Frozen raspberries or blackberries work well. Fresh strawberries are best. I put a pretty paper cover on the jars and use matching coloured elastic hair ties to keep the paper cover in place. If you want to buy them, you can buy sets of the paper covers and elastic from online stockists. Cath Kidston has a great kit that also comes with a recipe leaflet. I don't know how good her recipes are as I haven't used them.
Other Christmas gifts for both colleagues, friends and my students include homemade fizzy bath salts and bath bombs. I buy my ingredients in bulks and some interesting moulds online (Aussie Soap Company) dinosaurs, hearts, flowers and Celtic symbols that can be used for both soap and bath bombs. I also bought some individual plastic jelly moulds in Cheap and Chips. To make them special, put some dried flowers (also available from Aussie Soap Supplies) in the bottom before putting in the mixture.
I also did a soap-making course at WEA, but this is more time consuming and takes months to cure (unless you just do the melt and pour soap).
I taught myself how to do some simple sewing - and I mean 'simple' and I can now do basic baby gifts like bibs, burp cloths, nappy clutch bags and pram blankets. I also make pencil cases , glasses cases and make-up bags. They are surprisingly simple. Good old YouTUbe and other websites are great for ideas.