Whether you’ve been invited to friends for dinner or you’re putting together a holiday treat tin for colleagues and neighbors, these quick and easy ideas are the perfect food gift. Other ideas include using these suggestions as favors for a dinner party, a hostess gift and teacher gifts. With this difficult economy, take a little time to make an inexpensive, delicious gift that will surely be a welcomed change from the norm.
Fudge is always an easy and welcomed gift. Plus it doesn’t melt. There are so many varieties to choose from that it’s easy to personalize it for your recipients. You can make swirled fudge with white chocolate or peanut butter. You can add nuts or leave them out. Stud chocolate fudge with crushed peppermints for an extra-special holiday treat. A great basic fudge recipe, along with other fudge recipes, is on the Marshmallow Fluff website.
A small bag filled with chocolate dipped pretzels is perfect for sweet-salty lovers. These really couldn’t be easier to make. To get started you will need a package of pretzel rods, milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips, shortening such as Crisco and white chocolate chips, if desired for drizzling. Sprinkles and/or colored sugars are an option for decorating too. You can choose to make the pretzel sticks either whole or break them in half. If you break them in half, dip the broken end so the end result has a finished look. Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon shortening over low heat in a heavy saucepan. Once chocolate chips begin to melt, stir constantly until mixture is smooth and completely melted. Remove from heat and begin dipping pretzel rods. If you are decorating with sprinkles or colored sugars, sprinkle decorations on pretzels before chocolate sets. Place dipped and decorated pretzel rods on a wax paper covered baking sheet to set up. Continue until pretzels or chocolate is gone. Drizzle with melted white chocolate if desired. To set chocolate more quickly, place baking sheet in refrigerator briefly. You can wrap in individual bags tied with a pretty ribbon or include in a tin of goodies.
Chocolate spoons are another easy gift to make. Using plastic spoons or real spoons from a thrift store melt some chocolate chips and shortening as described above for the pretzel rods. If you are making both, melt only once and dip the spoons first. Dip spoons so the entire bowl of the spoon is covered. For a thicker coating dip two or three times letting chocolate set between dipping’s. Drizzle with white chocolate for some flair. Bundle in a small basket with a selection of cocoas or coffees.
Depending on the time of year or season you are planning a food gift, consider what you are giving. If it’s fall, pumpkin bread or pumpkin pie would be nice. At Easter make some bird’s nests filled with jelly beans. For Christmas, gingerbread cookies or gingerbread are a comforting gift. Cut-out sugar cookies are fun and are easily adapted to any occasion. With the abundance of cookie cutters you can easily find shapes suited to holidays, birthdays, seasons and more.
Food gifts aren’t regaled to the holidays but you can get a number of gifts from making just a few items. Whip up a batch or two of cookies, some fudge, chocolate dipped pretzels and easy truffles for distribution to neighbors, folks at your bank, doctor’s office and co-workers. Package them in pretty tins or arrange on a dollar store tray for giving. They will appreciate having some yummy treats to share with their families.