Homemade Xmas Gift baskets

Swans1912

Hello everyone :hello:

This year we are on a budget for Christmas gifts. I've come up with the idea of making food gift baskets/hampers for the adults and was looking for some suggestions as to what I can put in it. Ideas so far based on my (limited) cooking capabilities:

- Victoria Sponge
- Chocolate Chip Cookies (can stack up and wrap in cellophane tied with a ribbon)
- Granola (can put this in a recycled jam jar and print my own label)

That's about as far as I've got... Ideas gratefully received

PasturesNew

Just make sure that whatever you put in has a shelf life of at least a month as they'll have already shopped and over-stocked for Xmas and will be so full they think they'll burst.... and every time they open a cupboard or the fridge an avalanche of food will tumble down.

midnightraven3

home made chutneys, relish, jams, pickles, marmalade, lemon curd
and of course truffles, peppermint creams (we dip ours in chocolate to cover half) i make tablet at christmas for everyone (scottish sweetie VERY sweet) fudge, coconut ice & macaroons go into ours

emslovesmickey

Saw this earlier and thought it was quite a cute idea - i did something similar with a cookie recipe

http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/holidays-occasions/quick-bread-in-a-bottle-00400000015937/

meritaten

home made fudge - EVERYONE loves that! Honeycomb - and you can add luxury by covering some lumps with chocolate.
home made Turkish Delight - if you like making sweets then this is fairly easy (as in, if I can do it you can too).
small jar of pickled quails eggs (I nicked that idea off another poster last year).
some ginger bread men/women
shortbread - I hate the stuff but its one of my most asked for treats! loads of recipes online!

greengoblin

You've still got time to do flavoured gin or vodka. I find they only need 2 weeks before bottleing them on. Favourite flavours being blackcurrant and raspberry (normally have an odd bag of blackcurrants in the freezer!). Key is to use 2:3 suagr to fruit e.g. 200g sugar to 300g fruit.

What about home done herbal teabags? All you need is some squares of thin muslin. Dry some nettle leaves or other herbs then crush them up and tie into a little budle with string

greengoblin

Also putting herbs/chillies/peppercorns etc. in vinegar or oil
And dry lavendar grains in sugar. Lovely flavouring and purple grains in white sugar looks quite stunning. Make sure they're dry though or it will stick all the sugar together!
I'l shut up now!

babyshoes

Coating stuff in chocolate is super duper easy, as long as you don't overheat it!

We like unusual dried fruit, like sour cherries or strawberries.
Coffee beans are good, go for a medium roast so it isn't too bitter.
Any nuts you fancy, whole or chopped are good in chocolate. To make them look a bit fancy, use a little white chocolate drizzled thinly over milk or dark chocolate nut clusters.

A little bagful of each along with some other treats like fudge etc will make a good pressie.

Butterfly_Brain

Have a look on the Christmas thread, there are lots of ideas on there
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=101

Jacksmummy

fudge, coconut ice, peppermint creams
Jars of chutney, Jam or relish
Jars of pickles, eggs, onions
Miniture christmas cakes, gingerbread men
HM lemon/orange squash

bensmith1

Great idea!! You can add items various items. You can add fruits, vegetables, pickles, organic herbs, homemade cookies, brownies, cupcakes etc.