Easy DIY Food & Beverage Gifts

There are few things I like more than baking, followed by eating the baked goods. Although I do like combining that with hot chocolate time. The point of this, though, is planting the seed for ideas that you can easily put together to gift that will look beautiful and impress your recipient, such as making a hot chocolate mix or a cookie mix.

The first bit of advice for these gifts is to start collecting glass jars with lids if you would like to skip the expense of purchasing gifting jars or gift bags. I suggest collecting jars such as those that house your salsa, jam, or olives – just ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned prior to reuse!

1. Hot Chocolate Mix – This is one of my favorite gift ideas. Simply search hot chocolate mix recipes and pick your favorite, or use my favorite from the Brown Eyed Baker. Stir together a batch of mix, print or hand-write cute “how-to make” directions, and then go one of two ways: a) place mix in a jar, close it up, and attach the directions with ribbon around the neck of the glass or b) place mix in a small gift bag made for food, close it up, attach directions, and place the bag in a mug. Easy additions to the mix – a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne pepper, or crushed candy canes or other chopped candy bits (3 Musketeers hot chocolate, anybody?). Easy additions to the gift – mini marshmallows or whole candy canes.

2. Homemade Marshmallows – Marshmallows do take time as they must set up, but they are relatively easy to make, and most people are impressed that you can even make marshmallows at home. Make them a little more gourmet by adding cinnamon or cocoa to the recipe, or dip cut marshmallows into chocolate and roll in nuts or toasted coconut. Want to take it a step further? Cut the marshmallows into large stars or snowflakes, put them on lollipop sticks, dip in chocolate, sprinkle with favorite toppings, and make a marshmallow bouquet!

3. Brownie or Cookie Mix – Similar to putting together a hot chocolate mix, gifting a brownie or cookie mix means using your favorite recipe, maybe a time-honored family recipe, and gathering together all of the dry ingredients. This may be made pretty by layering all of the ingredients in a jar, and then you simply make directions, with the ingredients they must supply listed, and your gift is done. Easy additions to the gift – a wooden spoon or a potholder. If you’re looking to be more generous, start with a mixing bowl (glass from Pyrex or the like, or a melamine one you pick up at Target), lay down a dish towel, then layer in your baking mix, a mixing spoon and/or spatula, a pot holder, and a mini cook book focusing on the type of item you mixed.

Have fun with your gifts and enjoy passing along the food and drink things you appreciate in your life!


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *