This year I decided I’d spoil friends by giving edible Christmas gifts, because I think handmade anything are the best kind of gifts! Much more than a small gesture – it’s a personal one, showing the best sentiments of the season and loaded with love.
Have you got Christmas in the bag this year? Fruit cake baked, menu’s written and presents bought, wrapped and under the tree? Not me…. if Doona diving was an option, I’d be all over that! But Santa will be in here in just a few days and my edible Christmas gifts needed to be completed. If like me, you are looking for some delicious (last minute) stocking stuffers and super easy gift ideas, then these recipes are for you. They are all simple to make, take around 10 minutes each to prepare and are cost effective too.
Curried Lentil Soup
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1 cup green lentils
- 1 cup risoni
- salt & pepper
- 6 tbsp dried onion
- 2 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup dried apple rings
- 2 tbsp dried parsley leaves
- Layer ingredients as you wish. Seal jars and store at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Write or print out these instructions on a thick piece of paper and attach to gift jar: “Place lentil soup mix in a pot with 8 cups of water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.”
Hot Chocolate
This jar comes with plenty of hot chocolate powder and marshmallows, and has that little extra something, something. They call this a naughty but oh so nice cuppa, and it’s super simple to make.
I secretly love the Cadbury chocolate mix — but when the doc said… No more sugar, I decided to quit buying the prepackaged stuff and start making my own. The fabulous thing about making your own hot choccie mix is that you have free control over what goes into it (and what stays out of it). You like it super chocolatey? No problem. Want to take down the sugar and add a bit of cayenne spice and cinnamon? Do it!
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 1/4 cups cocoa
- 1 tablespoon table salt
- Mini bottle of Patron, Kahlúa or Baileys
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Pour the mixture into the jar, layer with chocolate buttons and marshmallows. Any remaining mixture, store in an airtight container and use within 3 months.
Cajun Dirty Rice
Do you have friends or family who are vegan or vegetarian? If you answered yes, this is the perfect vegetarian friendly, homemade edible Christmas gift! This Cajun dirty rice mix in a jar takes just minutes to put together, and is very affordable too!
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice. (You can also use white rice, but reduce cooking time to 10-15 mins in the instructions)
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 large stock cube with its wrapping
- 1 chipotle chili
- Cut a rectangle piece of paper. Place the paper in the mouth of the jar to form a funnel, this will make pouring the ingredients through the funnel into the jar easier and a lot less messy.
- Layer the ingredients one at a time into the jar in this order – half the rice, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, remaining half of rice, wrapped stock cube. Fit the lid on the jar and screw it on tight.
Write or print out these instructions on a thick piece of paper and attach to gift jar: “Bring 2 cups of water, the chipotle chili and stock cube to a boil in a large sauce pan. Stir so the stock cube dissolves. When the water boils, add remaining contents of the jar. Stir. Reduce heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 30 minutes or till the rice is cooked, but not mushy. Serves 4 as a side dish.”
Coconut Curry Popcorn
Talk about easy, all this recipe requires is adding the coconut curry spice mix to the popcorn once it is cooked.
- 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut, can be toasted or raw
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 2 teaspoons ginger powder
- In a small bowl, combine the desiccated coconut, curry & ginger powder. You can lightly toast the spice mix, even cook the spice mix in coconut oil if you like a more traditional buttery popped corn.
Christmas time calls for gingerbread, make the kick butt version with ninja cookie cutters.
- 2 ½ cups plain flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 125g softened butter
- ½ cup Golden Syrup
- 1 egg yolk
- Layer all the dry ingredients in a 500ml decorative glass jar. Tie a gingerbread cookie cutter to the jar with a special note and instruction tag.
Write or print out these instructions on a thick piece of paper and attach to gift jar:“Simply beat 125g soft butter with ½ cup golden syrup and 1 egg yolk until creamy and smooth then add the contents of the jar and mix until a soft dough forms. Knead into a ball, wrap and chill for 20 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 170c and line two baking trays with cooking paper. Roll out gingerbread dough to about 3mm (if its sticky roll between two sheets of baking paper or cling film) and use the cookie cutter to make little people shapes. Transfer to baking trays and cook for 10-15 minutes until golden and set. Ice and decorate when cold.” Tweet the world (and ME) about what you hope Santa gives you for Christmas!
