DIY Christmas - Five Easy Edible Gifts

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Then the question arrives. What in heaven do we give everyone? Instead of another scented candle, what about something that’s deceptively easy, delicious and made from the heart? These five DIY Christmas presents will help you get in the holiday spirit while celebrating the best of the season. Sling on some carols, corral a few friends and bring some good cheer into the kitchen. From a lively barbecue sauce, to artful chocolate bark, these recipes guarantee a fun day of edible crafting. Think of these as the gifts that keep on giving.

DIY Gift #1 - Chocolate Bark

Let your sweet tooth and inner artist run wild with some home-made chocolate bark. Choose whatever toppings draw your eye, from dried fruits and nuts, to crushed up cookies, pretzels, coconut shards, chopped chilli or candy canes and scatter them over the top of a thin layer of melted and reset dark chocolate. Leave to harden, cleave the bark into shards and gift the pieces in cellophane bags, or bring out a slab as an alternative to dessert so everyone can break off a little bit for themselves.

See recipe here.

Or if you run out of time, you can always buy our Dark Chocolate Chilli Bark.

DIY Gift #2 - Stone Fruit Cordial (the perfect Bellini base)

This vibrant cordial highlights the best of summer’s stone fruit with a delightful tipple for teetotallers and cocktail enthusiasts alike. It takes its lead from the white peach puree that’s key to a classic bellini – except here you can use any stone fruit; from nectarines to peaches, to apricots to plums – or a combination of all. Try adding a splash to a glass of prosecco for a colourful kick-off cocktail at your next party, or mix it with soda water or ginger ale for a refreshing mocktail. It also works beautifully as a drizzling sauce for fruit salad, yoghurt, panna cottas or ice cream.

See recipe here.

Or if you run out of time, you can always buy our Santa Vittoria Fruit Nectars 6 pack.

DIY Gift #3 - Coffee Barbecue Sauce

This barbecue sauce is the perfect side kick for barbecues. It’s also an ideal present for the coffee-loving carnivore in your life (Dad?). The coffee in this sauce is optional, but it does add a fun depth of flavour. It’s also thrifty – you can use freshly ground espresso, or find a happy second home for this morning’s used grounds. Try using it to baste pork ribs or chicken wings, serve with rib eye steak or gloss it on your Boxing Day brunch bacon and egg (or ham and egg) roll.

See recipe here.

Or if you run out of time, you can always buy our Sweet n Spicy BBQ Sauce.

DIY Gift #4 - Edible Ornaments

These sweetly spiced cookies make terrific edible ornaments. They also multi task as a snack for Santa, an afternoon pick-me-up with a cup of tea, place cards for the holiday table or sturdy base for ice cream sandwiches. Use whatever cookie cutters float your boat, or go off piste and cut your own free-form shapes. These are perfectly lovable plain, but if you really feel like pushing the boat out you can ice these with royal icing or a drizzle of melted chocolate. This dough is robust enough to stand up to little fingers and makes for a joyful afternoon of cooking and crafting with kids (presents for the teachers and friends – sorted).

See recipe here. 

Or if you run out of time, you can always buy this our Gingerbread Folk.

DIY Gift #5 - Dukkah 

This Egyptian blend of nuts and spices are a breeze to put together, requiring little more than a quick blitz in a food processor and toast in a hot pan. It’s a work-horse in the kitchen and a great present for arm chair travellers. Try using it as an appetiser; toast some Turkish bread and dunk fingers of it first into good quality olive oil and then into a bowl of dukkah. You can use it to dip hard boiled eggs, or boiled quail eggs for a gluten free appetiser. When it comes to main courses sprinkle some over orange juice glazed carrots with labna, quinoa and fresh coriander, or use it as a crust for lamb cutlets. The only tip or trick when making it is if you lean on a food processor be sure to blitz the nuts in short bursts – you want rustic little pebbles, not a spiced nut butter (though that would also be pretty tasty).

See recipe here.

Or if you run out of time, you can always buy our Dukkah.

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