It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas – Edible Christmas gifts

Christmas and New Year holidays bring with them full tables, family gatherings and gifts!

And with the last one, most over the age of twenty roll their eyes. What to gift, not to repeat last year’s gift, not to be too expensive and at the same time to be original and possibly useful? In addition, many fear that they will receive the gift themselves because what if they don’t like the gift and if they fail to hide their disappointment?

Everybody in the basement or pantry has a vase that they got but don’t like, sweaters that aren’t ours, caps that look badly on us, calendars that are too big for our kitchen wall. It all upsets us, but we have no heart to throw it away.

I am convinced that gifts do not have to be expensive or big, and I am especially weak to those in which somebody put a little love and effort … If they are food related, I love them even more!

Here are some ideas for edible gifts that can cheer a loved one this holiday season, but also on other occasions.

1. Gingerbread spread

I like Nutella the most on pancakes, but since we’re all in the holiday mood, I think we need something with cinnamon, cloves and similar scents and flavors.

I’ve got you a simple Christmas spread recipe you can make at home – you just need a blender and a few ingredients that we all have at home.

Have you heard of Spekulatius cookies? It will be our main ingredient for the spread. 🙂 Now they are already in all stores, and I bought a package of 500 grams in Lidl, at a price of about 15 kunas (around 2,5$ or 2 euros). They have them on Amazon also. Just type Spekulatius spiced cookies in Amazon search box.  They also have them in Aldi.

Ingredients:

• 300 grams of Spekulatius spiced cookies (10,58oz)
• 100 grams of butter (3.527oz)
• 20 grams of honey (0.7055oz)
• teaspoon vanilla aroma
• 100 ml of milk (3,381oz)

Preparation:

• Coarsely crush the biscuits with your hands and insert into a blender and mix well until they are crumbly. It is necessary to obtain a fine mass.
• When all is well mixed, melt butter, honey, vanilla aroma and milk over low heat and cook until all ingredients are combined.
• When done, pour the mixture into a blender and mix with the biscuits. The texture of the spread should be fine, like Nutella or peanut butter.
• If it is too thick, add milk, and if it is too liquid, add some more cookies, there are no strict rules.
• Pour the spread into the jars, and close well. Store at room temperature for a maximum of 5 days. If you put it in the fridge, the mixture will harden and will not have such a fine texture.

2. DIY chocolate

• 

• 

The easiest sweets you will ever make.

You need:

• chocolate of choice (300 grams)
• pretzels
• M&M candy or something
• almond leaves
• nuts of any kind
• dried fruits
• sprinkle’s
• foil
• crumbs to decorate
• coconut oil if desired
• tray

Preparation:

• Prepare a tray and cover it with foil. Melt the chocolate on steam, add coconut oil if desired, but this is optional.
• Pour the melted chocolate into a tray over a folded sheet of foil and smooth the mixture nicely.
• Arrange the decorations as desired with chocolate and gently emboss. Like little deer – maple the horns with pretzels, the eyes are made of almond leaves with a small dot of chocolate in the middle, and the nose is chocolate covered peanuts, in red. You can also stack some abstract shapes; in any case it will be great. Play with it.
• Leave it in the refrigerator overnight and you can put it in the freezer. Break it in to smaller pieces, wrap it in clear gift wrap and watch the face of the person you give it.

3. Homemade hot chocolate mix

The weather is ideal for a cup of hot sweet chocolate, but not any. Replace your coffee or tea with a cup of hot chocolate that your saliva will start when you just think about it!

Aside from being a delicious treat, a warm chocolate drink will keep you warm at the end of a busy day. Adding a little spice to the cup, such as ginger or chili, will stimulate circulation and you will feel a pleasant warmth spreading throughout your body. The taste of the hot beverage will also be enriched by finely chopped nuts, chestnuts or fruits such as cherries, oranges or raspberries. But you can also add a little favorite liqueur, rum or cognac to your hot drink.

This is a perfect homemade instant hot chocolate mix in a jar that you can keep for yourself or gift it to somebody.  

You need:

• Jar
• 100g of grated chocolate
• 200g of cocoa
• 100g of tapioca or corn starch
• 120g of coconut sugar or powdered sugar
• 200g coconut, soy or rice milk powder
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of cayenne pepper
• A pinch of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of gingerbread spice (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of coffee (optional)

Preparation:

• Add all ingredients to a jar and shake well and stir to combine. Store in a cool and dry place can take several months.
• When you want to make hot chocolate, take one tablespoon of mix per 200ml of hot milk.
• On a card write the steps and hang in on the jar “Warm the milk on a low hear. Add all the ingredients into the milk. Stir gently and wait until the chocolate is melted. Pour into your favored mug/cup. Decorate with whipping cream and marshmallows.”