6 edible gifts that make lovely Christmas presents
Fiona Logan
It can be a challenge finding Christmas presents you know the recipients will love, so why not have a go at making your own?
We’ve got a batch of fruity-infused booze for your gin-loving friends or some lovely, crumbly Christmas shortbread that you know your granny will adore.
Don your aprons and get some Michael Bublé classics blasting in the kitchen, our homemade Christmas gifts are so much fun to make and will have you feeling festive in no time!
Say it with homemade gin this Christmas! We’ve used flavoursome apples and pears to infuse this decadent Christmas gin. Decorate Kilner bottles with strips of paper doily and patterned ribbon or tape. You can use the off-cuts of the doilies to stick onto luggage labels for a special gift tag.
A simple festive preserve with a tangy flavour, this spiced cranberry jam makes a lovely homemade gift and goes brilliantly with Christmas turkey or ham. You can even decant it into miniature jam jars and gift them inside a used egg carton. Why not try making a few different flavours of jam? We’ve got plenty for you to try.
3. Christmas spiced shortbread
One of our spiced orange Christmas biscuits makes a wonderful treat to dunk in a cup of tea. Each one is packed full of festive flavours. Stack your homemade shortbread high and tie with a thin ribbon or string before packing into tins for a thoughtful Christmas present.
4. Green tea and peppermint creams
Peppermint creams are a Christmas classic. We’ve given our favourite festive sweets a posh upgrade with the addition of green tea. Make our luxury peppermint creams for a special homemade gift and proudly hand them over in a decadent tin.
If you’re short on time, why not give our easy vanilla fudge recipe a go? It takes less than an hour to make 20 squares – perfect for a homemade Christmas gift. You can add in chunks of dried fruit or chocolate chips, to vary the flavour.
Everyone will love scoffing these dairy-free Christmas treats – and we bet your non-vegan guests wouldn’t be able to tell the difference! Our homemade vegan Christmas truffles are made with cacao powder, dates and Brazil nuts and are seriously moreish.
Decorating tips
It’s not just what’s inside the boxes and jars that counts, it’s important for the gifts you give to look good. You’ll find an abundance of beautiful ribbon in the shops, and if you save things carefully you can recycle wrapping paper and ribbon from things you’ve been given in the past, too. Taking care over the presentation makes the gifts all the more personal.
Put festive bakes such as fudge or truffles into wax paper or brown paper bags secured with decorated clothes pegs. Attach simple Christmas decorations, then label the bags. Playing cards also make unusual gift tags – and are relatively cheap to come by.
Where to buy your finishing touches
From tins to string, labels to paper, here’s where to find the essential kit for those all-important finishing touches:
Decorative tape and stripy string: Papermash or Ginger Ray
Kilner bottles and jars: The Range
Mini muffin cases, waxed paper bags and doilies: Lakeland
Patterned papers, gift bags and boxes: Flying Tiger
Mini wooden pegs and luggage labels: Not On The High Street or Hobbycraft
Paper napkins: John Lewis or Talking Tables
Ribbon and gift tags: Hobbycraft
Vintage tea and biscuit tins: eBay
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