This is the time of year to give. And to gain ten pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years.
So as long as everyone’s in the cooking, baking, and eating spirit, why not skip the mall and give that someone special on your list the gift of food.
I’m pretty sure everyone I know would rather have a dozen cookies than a pair or socks.
Here are a few food gift ideas:
Cookies
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (combines my three fave kinds of cookies into one. Super soft ‘n chewy. Tied for First Place as my fave cookie on my blog)
Dark Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies Stuffed with Chocolate Covered Strawberries (Try TJ’s for a large selection of chocolate-covered dried fruit; or just omit if you can’t find it. The cookies are great without them. Very dark and not overly sweet. A chocaholic’s cookie.)
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies (naturally Gluten Free, with Vegan option. One of the easiest cookies to make – one bowl and five minutes- and always a hit with folks)
Peanut Butter Oatmeal White Chocolate Chip Cookies (Tied with the first cookie in the post as My Fave Cookie. Soft, chewy, a hint of peanut butter, white chocolate in abundance. Love these)
Fudge
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge (microwave friendly, 5 minutes but no one will guess it was that easy)
White Chocolate Cookies & Cream Fudge (Oreo cookies and chocolate, no bake, easy; and the creamy combined with the Oreo crunch is perfect)
White Chocolate Peanut, Pretzel, & Chocolate Chip Fudge (no bake, microwave friendly; a white chocolate lovers dream)
Puppy Chow
Peanut Butter Chex Mix, aka “Puppy Chow” (vegan, GF. No-bake, easy, always a party hit)
White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow (GF, no-bake, easy, addictive! A fun white twist on the dark chocolate original, above)
Nut Butters & Sauces
Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter (homemade nut butter is such a treat. Get your earplugs out and get ready to blend. Vegan, GF, chocolatey, creamy, wonderful)
Dark Rum Caramel Sauce (rum is optional but adds such a wonderful flavor. Use homemade caramel sauce on ice cream, in a pumpkin spice latte, in these Caramel Apple Bars, or on top of most anything)
Nuts
Coconut Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Almonds (vegan, GF. Omit the coconut oil and roast without if you’re not a ‘coconut person’. Cinnamon and sugar roasted nuts are always a hit. Or add a little honey for honey roasted)
Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds (vegan, GF, slight kick from the chipotle; savory, herby, and addictive)
All these ideas and recipes are shelf or refrigerator stable for a very long time. Or, colder storage in the freezer always works for long-term storage if for some reason you don’t expect the recipient to gobble up what you give her fairly quickly.
The winner of the $75 SpaFinder Giftcard Stress Relief Giveaway is:
Amanda December 9, 2011 at 5:49 am
“All of the family obligations stress me out a little. Don’t get me wrong – I love my family – but sometimes it doesn’t leave me with enough “me” time to just unwind. Getting in a morning workout helps to get rid of a lot of that stress and sets a positive tone for the day. “
Congrats, Amanda!
Questions:
Have you ever made someone a gift of food? What was it? Did he or she love it?
Are you giving any homemade goodies this year? And if so, what?
If you’re looking for store-bought gifts that won’t break the bank, also see my 10 Gifts Under $10 Dollars post
While I’m grateful for the thought, I wish people would NOT give me food gifts. I’m a celiac as well as a vegan and someone who has numerous food allergies including nuts and chocolate, and I can NEVER eat the cookies and food that people who don’t know me well enough to know my food issues give me. I haveno immediate family to eat this stuff, either. There’s one neighbor I told several years ago about all this, and still she shows up with containers of Xmas cookies containing wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts, etc. I thank her and find someone else to give it to, but I’m running out of people to whom I can “regift.” I hate to throw away the things people take the time to make, but I have no other choice. Count me as one of those people who would love a pair of cute sox instead, or a little plant … or really just a greeting card would be fine. I don’t think people should assume that others can eat what they eat, or whatever happens to be traditional. Sorry If I sound like a Grinch.
I’m baking for Christmas this year! I love giving/receiving baked goods as gifts :)
Oh my, these are all look far too good. For the last few christmases I have made chocolate food gifts for people. I might try making chutney or jam this year though.
Loving your holiday pics, it looks amazing! How I wish I was relaxing on a beach right now :)
it’s been fabulous being on the beach indeed and happy holidays to you! :)