Homemade Christmas Gifts
Nothing says Merry Christmas quite like Homemade Christmas gifts!
If you are looking for ways to impress everyone this Christmas, from your bestest friends to your future in-laws, or you’ve just left your Christmas shopping too late this year, we can absolutely guarantee you will be everyones favourite with one (or all) of these Homemade Christmas Gift recipes.
(HINT: You’ll want to make extra so you have some left for you to enjoy)
Not only do they make beautiful gifts, but they are lovely for the wallet – a nice affordable option. The personal touch also shows that you have put in the time, effort and thought to create something special for your friends and family. Plus, who doesn’t love a food gift!?
Christmas Bark
Makes about 3 blocks of chocolate (1 regular sized baking tray)
You Will Need:
- 1 – 2 blocks of Dark chocolate (depending on how much you would like to make)
- 1 block of White chocolate
- 250g Pistachios, shell removed
- 2 cups Cherries, cut in half, pip removed
- 1 cup Dried cranberries
How to Make:
- On medium to high heat, heat up a small amount of water (about 1 cup) in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and turn down the temperature to simmer. Place a bowl on top of this saucepan and place the dark chocolate inside. Stir regularly with a spatula until evenly melted.
2. Once the chocolate has completely melted, pour onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and even it out using the spatula.
3. Generously sprinkle over the pistachios, cranberries and cherries. Gently press down on the add ins with clean hands or a spatula.
4. Using a different bowl, melt the white chocolate in the same way you did the dark chocolate.
5. Pour the white chocolate over the dark choc mixture, and using a knife, gently mix it through to create whirls.
6. Let this refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Once its set you can chop it up! Keep refrigerated at all times to prevent melting.
Wholemeal Gingerbread People
Makes about 30 cookies (this will vary depending on the size of your moulds)
You Will Need:
- 50g butter
- 100g (1/2 cup) brown sugar
- ½ cup of honey
- 1 egg, lightly whisked
- 3 cups of wholemeal flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp ginger
- 2 tsp clove
- 1 tsp bicarb soda
- Cookie moulds
How to make:
- Combine the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan on low heat. Mix gently with a spatula or wooden spoon, and once they have all combined, take off the heat and allow to cool.
2. Once cooled, place into a large mixing bowl and add the lightly whisked egg
3. Sift in the flour, spices and bicarb soda and mix to combine
4. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until it becomes shiny and well incorporated.
5. Cut the dough in half, wrap each half in glad wrap and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours. You can leave it overnight also.
6. Once the dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 150 degrees Celsius. Lightly flour a surface and place dough in the middle. Using a rolling pin or something of a similar shape and weight, roll the dough out until it’s about 1 cm thick. Get your Christmas moulds and cut out shapes of your liking. Place these on a lined baking tray evenly spread apart.
Note: If you find your dough is becoming soft, place it back in the fridge for 20 minutes or so; the cooler the dough the easier it will be to handle.
7. Place in the oven to cook for about 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before icing.
8. Create your icing according to packet instructions and get creative!
DIY Festive Muffins
Makes about 4 regular sized muffins
You Will Need:
- Glass jars, ribbon, decorations of your liking
- 300g self-raising flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 100g walnuts
- 140g dried fruit
- 100g sugar
How to make:
- In your chosen glass jar, add in the above ingredients in that order.
- On the card, make sure to add instructions! “In a large mixing bowl, add the contents of the jar and make a well in the middle. In this well, add 2 whisked eggs, 300ml of milk and 75g of softened butter or ½ cup of olive oil. Mix to combine and place into lined cupcake tins. Bake in the oven at 190 degrees Celsius for 15 – 20 minutes”
- Decorate your jar using upcycled pieces of paper, cardboard, old ribbon and dried fruit.
Find more Homemade Christmas Gift ideas here
Recipes by Charlotte @TheNuttyGritty
