Edible Christmas gifts you can make with ingredients you already have
Christmas shopping can be stressful and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be – there are lots of edible Christmas gifts that you can make using ingredients you already have.
From crackers and nut clusters to chutney and chai tea, there is bound to be some unused item sitting in your pantry that you can turn into a gift.
Everyone loves to receive an edible gift, and homemade ones are extra special.
You don’t need fancy packaging either to make these treats look special. Save your empty jars, soak them to remove the label then fill them with your treats. Otherwise, you can make little parcels using baking or wax paper which can be tied with ribbon (the baking paper can be used by the recipient).
Berries:
- Berry roll-ups: Make these using whatever berries you have – and frozen ones work just as well.
- Berry gummies: Adapt this recipe to use berries and make them in fun ice moulds for a healthy sweet treat.
- Jam: Jam makes a wonderful gift because it has a long shelf life meaning it can be enjoyed long after Christmas is over.
Cereal:
We’re sure every pantry in the country has at least one half eaten packet of cereal. If it’s gone stale, toast it in the oven briefly to crisp it up before using it for these recipes.
- Christmas crackle tree: Turn the last of your cereal into an impressive Christmas Crackle Tree. These make a great centerpiece which you can eat and enjoy after the meal.
- Peanut crunch slice: This slice which uses rice bubbles is so good you will want to make it all year long.
- Christmas muesli: Substitute some of the oats in this muesli recipe with the cereal you already have.
- Balls of energy: Use cornflakes in these peanut butter and chocolate chip bliss balls.
Citrus:
- Microwave citrus curd: You can use any sort of citrus to make this curd, just adjust the sugar quantity depending on the type of citrus you use.
- Preserved lemons: Expensive at the supermarket, but cheap to make at home, these preserved lemons will be welcomed by anyone who likes to cook.
- Chocolate dipped candied citrus: For the jaffa-lover in your life.
Couscous:
- Spiced couscous mix: This Jamie Oliver recipe turns plain couscous into something special.
Dried fruit:
- Grape and apple chutney: Whip up a batch of this chutney to give to cheese lovers
- Panforte: This is a dense Italian festive fruit cake that is crammed with nuts and bound together with a toffee mixture.
- Fruit mince filo triangles: These are a twist on the traditional Christmas mince pie. The best thing is you’re not required to make your own pastry.
Nuts:
If you have a bag of nuts taking up space in your pantry, use it for one of these recipes. It is wise to check to see if the nuts have gone rancid before you use them.
Tip: Storing your nuts in the freezer will keep them fresh and stop them from going rancid. You can use them straight from frozen.
- Candied nut clusters: You can use any sorts of nuts to make these.
- Snowballs: This Nadia Lim recipe is quick, easy and healthy.
- Spiced roast nuts: Jazz up plain nuts by roasting them in spices.
- Nut butter or homemade chocolate hazelnut spread: You will need a good food processor or blender to make these.
- Holiday nut and fruit brittle: Yum.
Seeds:
Seeds can be used in most recipes that call for nuts – which are great substitute for people who have nut allergies. Like nuts, seeds can be stored in the freezer to keep them fresh.
- Seed Crackers: Crackers are easier to make than you may think and you can use whatever combination of seeds that you have.
Spices:
Most of us have pantries that are full of spices that have only been used once or twice. A great way to use them up is to mix them all together to make spice mixes that can be used for a range of things.
- Savoury spice rub
- Sweet spicy sugar
- Ras el hanout: This North African spice mix will jazz up meals over the coming months.
- Dukkah: Give a jar of dukkah for a different sort of gift. This is perfect for topping bread, roast vegetables or adding to a salad.
- Gingerbread reindeer biscuits: If you have lots of ginger, make these adorable reindeer biscuits.
- Chai tea mix: Depending on what spices you have, you may be able to make this spiced tea.
