Homemade liquer for christmas presents?

Hard_Up_Hester

Apple brandy or Clementine vodka.
All similar quantities, one bottle of spirit, 500gm fruit, 340 gms sugar

Wraithlady

To be honest, steeps (to give them their proper name) are dead easy - fruit doesn't have to be perfect, you'll be sieving it out anyway, and vodka is a fairly neutral base. 
My 'recipe' is spirit (1 bottle), fruit (I don't actually measure it, minimum about 6 oz upwards for smaller fruit like raspberries), 1-2 tbsp sugar. Put all the ingredients in a glass jar. Leave for about 4 weeks, shaking every day for the first 3 days then about once a week afterwards. (I write the date I started on the bottle in sharpie, because I have a memory like a sieve).
Strain through a sieve then through a coffee filter paper, taste and add more sugar - start off with about 2 oz? then taste after a day or so - too much and it tastes like syrup - and add more sugar if you think it needs it. Leave to mature for another month, sieve again if the bottom gets 'hazy' then bottle into pretty labelled  bottles.

You can also make hm vanilla extract by pretty much the same method (only you don't need to put more sugar in after 4 weeks), basically, bottle of vodka, vanilla pods, tbsp sugar in a jar, seal and leave it on a daylight-facing windowsill until it is a deep brown, then bottle. It may take a while, it's quicker during summer, but just shake every so often and bottle it when it's suitable infused.
(and it works out cheaper than those tiny bottles of real vanilla essence you can get, even factoring in the cost of buying the bottles to put it in!)

es5595

How about some homemade Scottish tablet? It keeps a lot longer than bread, and unless someone is diabetic, would go down a treat. There’s a recipe I’ve used before here - https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/jan/22/how-to-make-perfect-tablet-recipe
I also like a previous posters suggestion of sausage rolls or mince pies. I’d prefer to receive those than fresh bread. 

determined_new_ms

blackberry whiskey is really good

minimad1970

I make my brother a bottle of flavoured vodka every year. I'm lucky enough to have an old fashioned sweet shop nearby, the favourites so far have been cherry drops, pineapple chunks, mango, peaches and cream and Fox's Galcier Mints. The Acid Drops one was a bit of an acquired taste 
My mum loved the Werthers one, she's partial to a glass of Baileys. They're so easy to make as well.

JGB1955

Too late for this year but...how about bramble jelly?  My daughter-in-law makes Limincello for Christmas presents.  Home made Christmas pud is another possibility - it keeps for years!  Giingerbread men.... sorry 'Gingerbread persons'?

Rosa_Damascena

I'd make mini Christmas cakes and feed them until you need them. Or HM chocolates, easy peasy but look impressive.

GreenQueen

A bit like the gingerbread man suggestion - gingerbread or other biscuit dough, cut out as stars or Christmas trees with a small circular hole (can make it with a straw) before baking. after baking and cooling, thread a thin red ribbon through, to make a hanging biscuit. 

jinty54

goldfinches said:

I remember reading somewhere on here about someone making Christmas Pudding Vodka last year and I think it might have been this recipe which seems doable if a little pricy https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vodka-recipes/christmas-pudding-vodka/
Alternatively if you look on the bbc good food site there are a lot of infused drinks on there that you might like such as toffee vodka or turkish delight vodka both of which sound very like the werther's drink above.
Something I'm thinking of doing is making crystallised orange and lemon slices which is cheap but very effective and I'm also going to try making chocolate dipped orange and lemon peels as well so that nothing is wasted.
I'm keeping my eyes peeled for really nice chocolate that's on offer between now and the last week before Christmas too and if I find enough to make a chocolate salami or florentines that will be a bonus.
There's also making peppermint creams that can be chilled and then chocolate dipped for your own home made bittermints.
Then there are all the things like bottling peaches in brandy or soaking cherries in alcohol and then chilling and dipping them in chocolate for after dinner treats or as a pudding filling or topping.
There's also making your own spiced nuts which tastes heavenly when fresh and means you just get the nuts and flavourings you like.
Another thing you could do is make some spice pastes or dry spice blends for specific dishes like the roast potato magic sprinkles sort of thing you get in supermarkets that you mix with oil and drizzle over your spuds. For instance this recipe https://www.nigella.com/recipes/moonblush-tomatoes
is great  and you could copy the salt, sugar and dried thyme combination quite easily and cheaply especially if you have your own thyme in the garden.
Sorry for going on a bit, I'm sure your family will love whatever you give them, goodnight and sweet dreams, goldfinches.

goldfinches said:

I remember reading somewhere on here about someone making Christmas Pudding Vodka last year and I think it might have been this recipe which seems doable if a little pricy https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vodka-recipes/christmas-pudding-vodka/
Alternatively if you look on the bbc good food site there are a lot of infused drinks on there that you might like such as toffee vodka or turkish delight vodka both of which sound very like the werther's drink above.
Something I'm thinking of doing is making crystallised orange and lemon slices which is cheap but very effective and I'm also going to try making chocolate dipped orange and lemon peels as well so that nothing is wasted.
I'm keeping my eyes peeled for really nice chocolate that's on offer between now and the last week before Christmas too and if I find enough to make a chocolate salami or florentines that will be a bonus.
There's also making peppermint creams that can be chilled and then chocolate dipped for your own home made bittermints.
Then there are all the things like bottling peaches in brandy or soaking cherries in alcohol and then chilling and dipping them in chocolate for after dinner treats or as a pudding filling or topping.
There's also making your own spiced nuts which tastes heavenly when fresh and means you just get the nuts and flavourings you like.
Another thing you could do is make some spice pastes or dry spice blends for specific dishes like the roast potato magic sprinkles sort of thing you get in supermarkets that you mix with oil and drizzle over your spuds. For instance this recipe https://www.nigella.com/recipes/moonblush-tomatoes
is great  and you could copy the salt, sugar and dried thyme combination quite easily and cheaply especially if you have your own thyme in the garden.
Sorry for going on a bit, I'm sure your family will love whatever you give them, goodnight and sweet dreams, goldfinches.

. 

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for really nice chocolate that's on offer between now and the last week before Christmas too and if I find enough to make a chocolate salami or florentines that will be a bonus.
There's also making peppermint creams that can be chilled and then chocolate dipped for your own home made bittermints.

Lidl have their premium chocolate at half price 69p this weekend. I get some for hampers as they get reviews Can comment personally as I dont like the stuff 
Lovely thread So many good ideas  Thanks

jinty54

Oops not posted on MSE for ages Cant find the delete/edit button to repost 
Have a nice day