10 DIY Food Gifts for the Holidays
In a season of over-consumption, the nicest thing that we can give is our time, which is why DIY projects are the perfect gift. What’s even better? If they’re edible. These ten DIY food gifts are simple projects and sure to please anyone that loves food or just a personal touch on a gift.
1. Tea
Making your own tea is a simple way to create a unique gift as all it takes it putting together a blend of herbs and spices. You can either bottle up your blend in a glass jar, or even make your own tea bags, which gives an additional personal touch. It’s as easy as cutting shapes out of coffee filters, placing the tea inside, and stitching them together.
2. Chocolate Bark
Who is going to say no to a present of chocolate? The concept of chocolate bark is easy: melt chocolate and add delicious ingredients. From dried fruit to nuts to spices, you can get creative with what you add in, essentially making your own chocolate bar. Need inspiration? How about Salted Cherry Cardamom Chocolate Bark or a Honey Walnut Butter Chocolate Bark?
3. Infused Spirits
There’s no one recipe for infusing spirits, it’s up to you to come up with combinations that you and your friends will love. An easy combination is fruit and vodka, but you can also play around with rum, tequila or brandy, as well as infusing with fresh herbs and spices. Or what about figs and bourbon?
4. Flavored Salts
You know all those expensive flavored salts you find at an upscale market? You can make those yourself. The basic formula is about one teaspoon flavorings to 1/4 cup salt. From vanilla salt to wild mushroom salt to Meyer Lemon salt, the options are literally endless.
5. Baking Mixes in a Jar
Layer the dry ingredients for a tasty baking recipe in a jar, write out the full recipe on a tag (so the recipient knows what wet ingredients to add) and you have a present. Perfect for those people who want to bake more, and those looking to try a new recipe.
6. Spiced Nuts
Perhaps the simplest of food gifts, it’s also one of the most delicious and appreciated. Start with a basic recipe and tweak it as you see fit, adding in your own mix of spices.
7. Homemade Vanilla Extract
Making your own vanilla extract is as simple as placing vanilla beans in alcohol and letting it infuse for a few weeks. Choose a nice bottle, the alcohol of your choice (like vodka or bourbon) and high quality vanilla beans.
8. Foodie Kits
Have a cocktail lover who needs a present? Box up all they need for the at-home bar: a shaker, a zester and maybe a few bitters. The outdoor lover? Homemade marshmallows, dark chocolate and graham crackers for a s’mores kit. The person who loves seasonal gifts? A bottle of wine and all the spices for mulled wine. Put it all into a nice box or creative packaging and you’re ready to give it away.
9. Ginger Beer
Bring over a few bottles of homemade ginger beer to your next holiday dinner party and you are sure to make some friends.
10. Infused vinegars and oils
Just like you can infuse spirits, you can infuse oils and vinegars, with everything from berries to chiles to garlic. Find a simple bottle that you can cap or cork. For taller bottles, pop in a sprig of rosemary or thyme.
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Images: Pretty Handy Girl/Songbird, Aylin Erman, atomicjeep, Terry, Renee Suen, Nomadic Lass, Kate Dugas
