Best home-made Christmas food gifts ideas are thoughtful gifts for cooking enthusiasts. Christmas is just round the corner and the preparations have started which can be seen in the malls, markets and also our homes. A globally celebrated festival in which people meet, greet and treat each other with tasty food and unique gifts. The earliest way to a foodie’s heart is through their stomach. It means food gifts for Christmas are expressing obligation and token of appreciation.
It is rightly said that the way to someone’s heart is through his or her stomach. If we keep this phrase in mind, Christmas homemade food gifts are the ones which no one can resist. Whether a sweet Christmas cookie or a food gift basket, the edible and stylishly packed gift will make the holiday season very delicious.
Here we bring you the list of the few best home made food gifts which can make the day of your loved one special and delicious on this Christmas.
BEST HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS FOOD GIFTS IDEAS
PEPPERMINT BLONDIES:
Peppermint and white chocolate combine for a divine home made Christmas gift that is delightful and can surely satisfy the tastes of dessert lovers.
YIELDS: 18
PREPARATION TIME: 25 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 3 HOURS.
INGREDIENTS:
Unsalted butter, Melted: ¾ Cups.
Granulated Sugar: ¾ Cups.
Packed Light Brown Sugar: 2/3 Cups.
Eggs: 3 Large.
Pure Vanilla Extract: 2 Tsp.
Pure Peppermint Extract: ¼ Tsp.
All Purpose Flour: 2 2/3 Cups.
Baking Powder: ¾ Tsp.
Kosher Salt: ¼ Tsp.
Coarsely Chopped White Chocolate: 1 ½ Cups.
Cream Cheese: 16 Oz.
Confectioner’s Sugar: 1 Cup.
Peppermints: Crushed ¾ Cups.
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degree F. With parchment paper butter and line up a baking Pan leaving a 2 inch overhang on the long sides.
Until combined, whisk together in a bowl granulated sugar, butter, brown sugar, eggs, peppermint extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Whisk together, in a separate bowl, baking powder, salt and flour. Stir butter mixture in the flour mixture until combined. Stir in chocolate and spread the batter in the prepared pan.
Bake until it turns Golden Brown till 30 – 35 minutes and let it cool down completely.
With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar for 2 minutes till it gets fluffy. Beat in remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spread frosting on the blondies and sprinkle peppermints. Freeze until frosting for almost 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
RED VELVET SNOWBALLS FOOD GIFT:
Let it snow on your guests this season with sugary snowballs. The desserts fit perfectly inside egg cartons for inexpensive gift packaging. You can fill a six egg cartons with mini lotus cup cake liners. Add cookies and tie it up with a plain tag with a bottle brush wreath.
YIELDS: 2 Dozens.
PREPARATION TIME: 20 MINUTES.
TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES.
INGREDIENTS:
All Purpose Flour: 2 ½ Cups.
Cocoa Powder: ¼ Cup.
Baking Powder: 2 Tsp.
Kosher Salt: ¼ Tsp.
Unsalted Butter: ¾ Cups.
Confectioner’s Sugar: 3 Cups.
Red Food Coloring: 1 Tbsp.
Pure Vanilla Extract: 1 Tsp.
White Vinegar: 1 Tsp.
DIRECTIONS:
With racks in the upper and lower thirds, pre heat oven to 350 degrees F. With parchment paper, line two baking sheets. Whisk together, in a bowl, flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa.
Until smooth, beat 1 ½ cup Confectioner’s sugar and butter on medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer’s speed and add flour and continue beating for 2 minutes. Add vanilla, vinegar and food coloring, increase the mixer’s speed to medium and beat until the mixture is crumbly and holds up when squeezed for 20 seconds.
Squeeze dough in to balls. On a prepared baking sheet, place the balls 1 inch apart and freeze it for 10 minutes. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until dry around the edges for 15 – 18 minutes. Cool the baking sheets on wire racks.
In a bowl, place the remaining 1 ½ cups of confectioner’s sugar. One at a time, gently toss the warm cookies in sugar to coat. Return cookies to the baking sheets and let it cool completely and reserve remaining sugar. Once cool, in batches; toss again, in remaining sugar.
You are ready to serve.
SAVORY CRACKER SAMPLER:
The trio of slice and bake crisps with its cheesy richness from Cheddar, Gouda and Parmesan is sure to serve a lifetime of experience. You can use a divided wooden box for ready to serve ease. The easiest holiday snacks incorporate our favorite cheese. Share it with your guests for an amazing treat.
YIELDS: 60.
PREPARATION TIME: 30 MINUTES.
TOTAL TIME: 40 MINUTES.
INGREDIENTS:
All Purpose Flour: 1 ½ Cup.
Non Fat Dry Milk: 2 Tbsp.
Fine Salt: 1 Tsp.
Unsalted Butter: 1 Stick.
Coarsely Grated Cheese: 1 ½ Cup
Walnut Parmesan Crackers: ½ Cup finely chopped Walnuts.
Gouda Crackers with Poppy and Sesame Seeds:
Poppy Seeds: 2 Tbsp.
Sesame Seeds: 1 Tbsp.
Kosher Salt: 1 Tbsp.
Garlic Powder: ½ Tbsp.
Onion Powder: ½ Tbsp.
Chili Cheddar Cornmeal Crackers:
White Cornmeal: ¼ Cups.
Chili Powder: 2 Tsp.
DIRECTIONS:
In a food processor bowl, pulse flour, salt, dry milk and butter until the mixture gets like wet sand. Add cheese and pulse until combined. Mix 4 to 6 tbsp ice water and keep pulsing until dough begins to come together.
In an 8 inch log, roll the dough and divide in 2 equal size logs. Wrap both tightly in a plastic wrap and freeze for 3 hours.
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F, meanwhile, remove and unwrap 1 log and slice it into 30 1/8 inch thick rounds. Transfer to 2 parchment lined baking pans, spacing rounds about 1 inch apart.
Bake until it turns golden brown for 10 minutes, rotating pans half way. Transfer crackers to a wire rack to cool.
With the remaining log, repeat steps 3 and 4. Line the compartments of 4 boxes with parchment for package. Divide 1 batch among the boxes, placing 15 crackers in 2 compartment of each box. Repeat with batches of other variations.
Assemble ingredients for basic cracker recipe: In step 1: select parmesan for cheese. Follow it above. After step 2: place the chopped walnuts in a shallow bowl. IN step 3: press 1 side of each round into walnuts before transferring, nut side up, to baking pans.
Assemble ingredients again: step1: select smoked Gouda for cheese. Follow steps above. After step 2: combine sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic powder, onion powder and kosher salt. In step 3: press 1 side of each round into seed spice mixture before transferring, seed side up, to baking pans.
Add White cornmeal and powder to dry ingredients and select Cheddar for cheese.
Ready to serve.
INFUSED VODKA:
The basic infusion recipe will boost the spirits of your Guests by steeping in the vodka with tangy hibiscus, lime and refreshing cucumber. Load your handiwork in colored bottles.
YIELDS: 12.
INGREDIENTS:
VODKA BOTTLES: 12.
Hibiscus Infused Vodka:
Pure Hibiscus Tea Bags:
Cucumber Lime Infused Vodka:
Seedless English Cucumber: 1.
Peel of Lime.
Horseradish Infused Vodka:
Fresh Horseradish Root: 8 Oz.
Whole Black Peppercorns: 2 Tsp.
Fresh Horseradish Root: 1 Oz.
DIRECTIONS:
Use a 2 gallon pitcher to combine four 750 ml bottles of Vodka and flavorings, steep as directed, for all the infused Vodka.
Decant it in four 750 ml bottles through a funnel and seal with corks.
Hibiscus Infused Vodka: Steep hibiscus tea bags in Vodka for 4 to 5 hours; strain then decant.
Cucumber Lime Infused Vodka: Peel Cucumber and refrigerate the peel and slice the cucumber in ¼ inch thick rounds. Cut the lime peel in strips. Add lime peel and cucumber rounds to vodka and steep for 24 hours. Strain, then decant. Before corking, add 3 to 4 pieces of cucumber peel to each bottle.
Horseradish Infused Vodka: Slice 8 ounces horseradish root in to ¼ inch thick rounds. Add 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns and horseradish rounds to vodka. Steep for 24 hours, strain then decant. Slice remaining 1 ounce horseradish into matchsticks. Add 5 to 6 matchsticks and 3 to 4 peppercorns before corking to each bottle.
Ready to be gifted.
CALMING HERBAL TEA:
Homemade tea involves nothing more than mixing some dry herbs. It is easy and a fast gift idea to prepare. The only difference lies in the presentation.
YIELDS: 12.
INGREDIENTS:
Lemon Balm: ¼ Oz.
Chamomile: ¼ Oz.
Passion Flower: ¼ Oz.
Rose Buds or Rose Petals: ¼ Oz.
DIRECTIONS:
Combine Rose Buds or Rose Petals, Chamomile, Lemon Balm and Passion Flower in a bowl and mix well. Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon in each tea bag of the blend and you are good to go for the ultimate winter gift, this season.
PEPPERMINT STICKS: The sticks can be bought from a store which not only looks alluring but tastes even better. Dip them in melted chocolate and roll in coconut or other desired toppings. Place in a gift box, once dried. Your perfect companion while you relax by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa.
YIELDS: 12.
INGREDIENTS:
Peppermint Sticks: 12.
White Chocolate: 7 Oz.
White Nonpareils: ¼ Cup.
DIRECTIONS:
In melted chocolate, one at a time, dip peppermint sticks. Lined with parchment paper in a baking pan, transfer.
For about 5 minutes, allow chocolate to set. Roll chocolate end of peppermint sticks in nonpareils. Return to lined pan and let it stand until chocolate hardens.
Once done, you can gift wrap it.
SUGAR COOKIE NAME TAGS:
Simple cookie but at the same time, a more versatile version of it. Go glamorous and trendy with ornament shaped cutters and colorful icing with a thoughtful note with food safe markers. Customize the cookies by piping names and decorative edging with icing.
YIELDS: 16.
PREPARATION TIME: 35 MINUTES.
TOTAL TIME: 2 HOURS 45 MINUTES.
INGREDIENTS:
Softened Unsalted Butter: 2 Sticks.
Sugar: 1 Cup.
Eggs: 3 Large.
Vanilla Extract: 1 ½ Tsp.
Salt: ½ Tsp.
All Purpose Flour: 3 ¼ Cups.
DIRECTIONS:
Using a mixer on medium high speed beat butter and sugar until it gets fluffy in a bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, followed by salt and vanilla extract. Reduce mixer speed to low and add all purpose flour. Beat until all ingredients combine.
Divide dough in 4 portions equally and cover in a plastic wrap. Pat in to half inch thick square and chill until it gets firm, for about 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll one square of dough at a time on a floured surface. Cut the cookies using an ornament or a tag shaped cutter. Transfer cookies to baking sheet lined with parchment and chill for 10 minutes.
Bake until it turns light golden for about 15 minutes. Cool completely before decorating.
Ready to gift wrap.
TIP: Royal icing is perfect for writing with food safe markers. To make a marker, simply blend 2 cups confectioner’s sugar, 3 tbsp water and 2 tbsp meringue powder using a mixer on a low speed for 10 minutes.
HOME MADE MIXED BERRY JAM:
A perfect alternative to store bought Jams. Packed in a trendy glass bottle which can later be used as a shelf display or to store future goodies.
YIELDS: 7.
PREPARATION TIME: 20 MINUTES.
TOTAL TIME: 20 MINUTES.
INGREDIENTS:
Fresh Strawberries: 1 Lb.
Fresh Raspberries: 12 Oz.
Fresh Blackberries: 12 Oz.
Lemon Zest: 2 Tsp.
Lemon Juice: 1 Tbsp.
Fresh Thyme Leaves: 1 Tbsp.
Superfine Sugar: 2 Cups.
Ball Real Fruit Instant Pectin: 3 Tbsp.
DIRECTIONS:
Toss together the fruit, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, thyme leaves and lemon zest juice, in a large bowl.
Whisk together, pectin and sugar, in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the fruit, fold and stir for 2 minutes. Crush the fruit mixture lightly for a minute using a potato masher.
Leaving a half inch space at the top of the jar, transfer the contents to 8 ounce freezer safe jars.
Refrigerate for 3 days before serving. If frozen, keep in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Once open, consume within a week.
Here are some of the latest gift ideas which you can gift to your friends, family member and relatives. They are easy to make and takes less time to prepare. Go, try them out and show off your upgraded cooking and baking skills and win hearts.
