Gifts of the edible sort are some of our favorites to give or receive! A little packet of cookies or a jar of cocoa mix can is the perfect way of saying "from my kitchen to yours." Here are our top choices for treats that can be made ahead, wrapped up, and survive a trip through the mail:
TOP ROW
1. Brittles and Barks - We say "peanut" brittle, but really we mean any toasted nut held together with toffee or chocolate - or both! This Chocolate-Orange Hazelnut Bark from Martha Stewart is looking particularly appealing right now!(Image: Martha Stewart)
2. Marshmallows - Make enough of these, and you could use marshmallows to cushion the rest of your holiday packages! Our favorite recipes for right now are these Candied Sweet Potato Marshmallows, Peppermint Marshmallows from Coconut & Lime, and Chocolate Marshmallows from Brownie Points.
3. Fudge - Fudge is one of those supremely decadent treats that doesn't last long in our house. It's really best to send it off to someone else! Here's a recipe for classic chocolate fudge, or you can add a twist with some candied bacon! (Image: Flickr member Flickr username licensed under Creative Commons)
4. Cocoa Mixes - Find a few pretty canning jars and fill them with layers of cocoa mix. We found these DIY mix recipes on Sunset a few years ago and have used them ever since: Peppermint Stick Cocoa, Mocha Cocoa, and Mexican Cocoa. This year we might make hot cocoa on a stick as well! (Images: Sunset)
5. Caramels - We'll never get tired of soft, chewy caramels! If you made us pick, our favorites would be Ginger-Cinnamon Caramels and Salt Caramels.
BOTTOM ROW
6. Soup Mixes - If you're more of a savory cook, think about putting together a package of all the dry ingredients for your favorite soup. You could layer them in a canning jar or wrap each ingredient separately with a little bow. Don't forget the recipe instructions!
7. Spice Blends and Rubs - We love introducing friends and family to the new spices we've discovered by mixing them signature spice blends. We'll include a few recipe cards to get their cooking started! Try Chinese 5-Spice, Garam Masala, or Egyptian Dukkah.
8. Spiced Nuts - We make these all winter long to have as appetizers at parties or in case a neighbor drops by. It didn't occur to us until recently that we could package them up and send them off as gifts! We like these Herbed Almonds, Rosemary-Coated Cashews, or Sweet-Salty Cinnamon Almonds.
9. Buckeyes - Cookies have the unfortunate tendency to crumble while en route, but not these truffle-esque peanut butter and chocolate buckeyes! Try these Milk and Honey Peanut Butter Balls for a non-chocolate version. (Image: Flickr member stevendepolo licensed under Creative Commons)
10. Jams and Preserves - Your friends have probably been eying your jars of strawberry jam for months, just hoping you'll give them some. And not only your jam, but also your secret barbecue sauce, your pickles, and all your other delicious preserves!
What other homemade gifts are you thinking of giving this year?
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i'm planning on making a few different varieties of egg noodles, drying them, and giving it as gifts. i think with proper cushioning it should survive a trip in the mail just fine!
I made a mix of chai spices that I was only going to give to a couple people this year -- but then I innocently posted "my house smells amazing" as my facebook update, and then explained why. And then a number of my other friends and family said, "oh, that sounds wonderful!"....and thus they all made my Christmas gift list much, much easier to complete. (I'm pairing a jar of chai spices with a couple mugs for a "gift set.")
I'm mailing jam to my aunt and uncle and probably giving jam to my grandparents as well. I'll have to try some other recipes next year.
I'm thinking Hot Chocolate on a stick for friends back east, too.
My gingerbread is always incredibly strong so I'm planning on sending that to a friend in the U.S
All I'm gonna say is caramel covered marshmallows. I've never made them myself, but they are just amazing to eat. So, you put a few of these suggestions together and...yum.
I'm making bacon brittle this year for my husband and brother - saw it on the Dean & Deluca site and loved the idea but not the price, so to the kitchen I go!
I made fudge and a couple varieties of cookies for my friends this year. Wrapped them and packaged in sweet red Chinese take-out boxes. They were well received and I loved giving something homemade to the people I love!
I posted recipes for what I made and included pictures of the boxes on my website: http://www.seejencook.blogspot.com
I'm giving Limoncello and Kaffir Limencello. The only downside is that you have to start making them in March! I guess I'd better get on making those labels. Have no idea how they're going to ship though and let's not even talk about customs! erg.
I make fudge every year. I also make hot cocoa and chocolate stirring spoons.