Easy, Edible DIY Holiday Gifts
You don’t have to be a modern-day Martha Stewart to show off your crafty side when it comes to DIY holiday gifts. This festive season, you can avoid the crowds and the traffic by creating heartfelt gifts from the comfort of your own kitchen! No glue guns, sewing machines or paints are required in this list of easy, do-it-yourself edible holiday gifts, that you can make in no time at all!
For a few bucks, you can create charming gifts for friends, family, coworkers or any special person you want to say Merry Christmas to! Save that cash for summer vacation! In the meantime, stay in your jammies, start the Christmas music and let’s get kitchen crafting!
In a Jar
Mixes — Everyone loves a cute jar layered with ingredients for making cookies, quick breads, tea and cocoa blends, and even soup! Grab a sturdy mason jar that is the right size to fit the ingredients and carefully layer from the biggest ingredient to the smallest. Tighten the lid securely and add a handwritten card with the instructions on how to make it. Then, punch a hole in the card and tie it to the rim of the lid with colorful ribbon, twine or jute.
Hot Mocha Mix Recipe
Perfect for those colder than cold days! Add a little serving spoon with a pretty ribbon!
Ingredients:
- 6 1/2 cups powdered milk
- 1 oz package regular chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup powdered chocolate drink mix
- 1/2 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine powdered milk, chocolate pudding mix, chocolate drink mix powder, creamer, powdered sugar and cocoa.
- Scoop the mixture into jar size of your choice.
- Add a tag with directions.
Rubs — Use short, wide 4oz jars for this one so they fit nicely in everyone’s cupboards with the rest of the spices. Cajun, Tex-Mex, Cinnamon Sugar and BBQ blends are perfect for the gourmet enthusiast who likes to experiment with different flavor profiles. Take a stack of three signature rubs and tie them together with wide ribbon. Add a bow on the top and a small wooden scoop for serving! The men in your life will be thrilled!
In a Jar for the Guys
Easy Rub Recipe — Combine a base of salt with a variety of other powdered spices like: pepper, granulated onion, powdered garlic, paprika, oregano, chili powder, etc. Create your own blends for beef, poultry, fish or even vegetarian dishes! Be sure to label that the rub can be used on beef, chicken, fish and vegetables. A good rub blend can easily be tossed into a soup or a meatloaf or a roast; they are universal!
In a Bottle
Vinegars — Just drop a clean sprig of rosemary, thyme or sage into a vinegar like white, red wine or balsamic in a small glass bottle and seal tightly. Steep for a week or two on a dark shelf, and you’ve got a specialty salad dressing that your friends will only use for their best occasions! Keep the sprig intact with the vinegar as a visual garnish. Once it’s opened, however, make sure it’s safely refrigerated. Be sure to include that information if you are going to make tags for your DIY holiday gifts.
Syrups — Did you know that you can make your own coffee and tea syrups? Make a “simple syrup” by melting one-part sugar to one-part water. Then, add any flavored extract you like. Banana? Vanilla? Rum? Check out “edible essential oils” such as lavender, peppermint, orange and cinnamon for a truly unique edible gift! Lavender Lattes? Rose Petal Ice Cream Syrup? Mandarin Orange Sugar Cookies? The sky is the limit on your imagination when it comes to creating specialty flavors.
In a Box
For a budding baker, create a Baker’s Box with food coloring, cookie cutters, a small whisk, an apron and some of your favorite recipes to share! Or a small box for cake decorating, including: some piping tips, pastry bags, a small bottle of non-pareils and a little how-to book on making frosting roses and leaves. How fun would that be?
Things to Keep In Mind When Making DIY Holiday Gifts
The last thing to remember here is that ANY homemade gift is a gift from the heart. Think about the recipient; what would make them light up? What would put a smile on their face? Use that as your guide and put together something unique, fun and memorable!