[3plusme]

Calling all betty home-makers...


After making butter and jam in recent days, I thought I could make some christmas gifts this year for my aunts and grandmas. But what?


I saw a few good things on Nigella Christmas special, but that's it.


So what's your go-to for home made Christmas gifts which are relatively easy to put together?


Thanks.

[niggles]

Afghan biscuits in a jar are my go-to food gift but I've always wanted to try those 'cake in a jar' mixes where you layer the dry ingredients and pop the rest of the instructions on a little label so people can make them fresh. I've seen them on lots of blogs and magazines and they look like a cute idea.

Lemon butter is pretty popular around here.

[feliz6]

This year I'm making cinnamon cookies using a Donna hay recipe. Last year it was chocolate truffles with a women's weekly recipe.

[Flaxen]

I made this not long ago, to test for christmas gifts, and it was wonderful!
Easiest fudge ever and tastes so so good. The glucose syrup is found in the baking section, near the food colourings and sprinkles.

Liqueur Fudge

Melted butter, to grease
1 x 395g can sweetened condensed milk
100g butter, cubed
255g (1 1/4 cups) brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tbs glucose syrup
150g good-quality dark/milk chocolate, finely chopped
60ml (1/4 cup) Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur (I used Kahlua, im sure you could use lots of other flavors too like butterscotch, frangelico, strawberry ect....)

Method

Step 1
Brush a 20cm (base measurement) square cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.

Step 2
Combine the condensed milk, butter, sugar and glucose syrup in a medium heavy-based saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat for 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, for 10-15 minutes or until mixture thickens, turns a caramel colour and leaves the side of pan. Remove from heat.

Step 3
Add the chocolate and liqueur, and stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Set aside for 1 hour to cool. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.

Step 4
Remove fudge from pan, using the paper to help lift the fudge. Use a sharp knife to cut fudge into 24-30 equal portions.

[AmberNut]

So far I have made some blackberry jam, dried apricot jam and some Christmas cakes. Next week I will make some tomato relish. The days before Christmas some chocolate fudge and some little chocolate biscuits.

I found a nice brownie-in-a-jar recipe here.....
http://www.magnoliarouge.com/2011/11/brownie-in-jar.html

[JackiOT]

I have done fudge, truffles, caramels, shortbread and gingerbread biscuits. They are great for neighbours etc and seem to be appreciated.

I was a bit interested in a hot chocolate mixture recipe I saw on pinterest http://penniesonaplatter.com/2011/12/22/sa...-chocolate-mix/
and also caramel popcorn was another thought (but I did think I might end up eating it ) http://www.twirlandtaste.com/2012/11/caram...oh-so-good.html

I would love someone to make me some interesting jam or lemon butter!

[3plusme]

I am so impressed with what everyone is making!


Keep the suggestions coming!

[aussierach]

i make for us rum balls, xmas balls for the kids, rocky road etc

this year I saw a recipe for lime macadamia fudge from 4 ingredients book thats I plan on trying

[butterflydreamin...]

So far I have made christmas cakes, strawberry/rhubarb jam, tomato sauce and mango chutney.

Still to make for this christmas are

Cherry Chutney
Peach jam
Shortbread
Rum balls
Chocolate truffles

All the food goods will be packaged up into gift hampers for the family, as well a foods I have made

Sugar scrub
Soap
Liquid soap
Lip gloss
Bath Salts

These will be packaged into little bathroom gift baskets for my females friends.

[WithSprinkles]

butterflydreaming, do you mind sharing the recipe for cherry chutney? That sounds good!

Anyone got any suggestions for places to buy cheap jars?