DIY Gifts from the Kitchen
Before I share some DIY gift ideas, I am thrilled to announce that I was invited by The Golden Door to be a guest chef during the week of January 21, 2024!!! The Golden Door is magical. It’s my happy place and very special. I’ve been fortunate to stay there a few times both alone and with a friend and I could not be more excited for this incredible opportunity. I will be teaching a cooking class and cooking dinner with the kitchen staff one night, but I’ll also be enjoying the classes and hikes and meeting whoever is there, so if you are interested, don’t hesitate to sign up!
GRANOLA - This has always been my favorite homemade food to gift. I used to make several batches and give it to all the teachers in wide mouth mason jars. Or you can use disposable bakery bags. I have several recipes on my site and even a grain-free granola in my cookbook, but my three favorites are the Big Cluster Granola, Original Granola, and the Salted Dark Chocolate Granola.
COOKIES - I know many of you do cookie swaps or just like to bake for your people. I have quite a few favorite cookie recipes on my website like:
Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Salted Flourless Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (fun to swap in red & green chocolate candies for the chocolate chips)
Vegan Whole Wheat-Almond Thumbprint Cookies
To make the gift a little extra, pack the cookies in something like:
Disposable Bakery-style Boxes or this wood tray. Cookie tins are always popular and easy to find. You can always head over to Target and find simple white platters and plates.
CHOCOLATE BARK - I love chocolate and I especially love it with nuts and dried fruit and other flavors added. Chocolate bark is easy to make and can be made in advance. You can truly add so many different ingredients and have fun with it. Here’s my favorite at the moment:
Chocolate-Hazelnut Bark
1 cup roasted and skinned hazelnuts
1 pound dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher), chopped
½ cup diced dates (about 6)
1 ½ teaspoons flaky sea salt (such as fleur de sel)
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until smooth. Do not allow the water to boil or to touch the bowl.
Meanwhile, line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a ruler and a pencil, draw a 9-by-10-inch rectangle on the paper. Turn the paper face-down on the baking sheet.
Once the chocolate is melted, place half the dates and half the chopped hazelnuts into the bowl with the chocolate and stir to combine.
Pour the chocolate mixture onto the parchment, into the middle of the rectangle you drew, and spread out to the edges of the rectangle using a spatula.
Sprinkle the remaining hazelnuts and dates evenly over the chocolate, followed by the sea salt.
Let sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or in the fridge for 1 hour to harden, then chop into desired shapes.
Serve at room temperature and store in a tightly sealed container for up to a week.
These are cute boxes for cookies or candy.
CUSTOM NUT BUTTER - You can make your own nut butter or buy good nut butter and flavor it. Check out my Nut Butter Tutorial. I like taking almond butter and adding finely chopped crystalized ginger and chia seeds or ground cinnamon and maple syrup.
INFUSED OLIVE OILS AND VINEGARS - I use so much olive oil and vinegar and I really love adding a new dimension to simple ingredients with a fun flavored oil or vinegar. These are best packaged in clear bottles with corks.
Rosemary-Infused Oil from Giada de Laurentiis
Herb-infused Olive oil from Martha Stewart
Cranberry-infused Vinegar from Michael Chiarello (by the way, he has a great book on infusing oils and vinegars)
PIE - Pies are my favorite things to bake! Some of my favorites are:
You can gift it in a 9-inch Pie Dish or bakery pie boxes .
QUICK BREADS - A nice quick bread makes a lovely snack with a cup of tea or for breakfast.
Pull the bread out of the loaf to cool completely. Wash the pan. Then put it back in to gift it!
This one is so pretty.
Or go the cake route!
Apple Cider Pumpkin Bundt Cake gifted in a 9-inch Bundt Pan
APPLESAUCE - Everyone loves my applesauce! It just needs refrigeration.
Unsweetened Slowcooker Applesauce (oven version too)
These wide mouth Weck jars would be great.
HERBAL SALTS - Homemade herbal salts make an excellent gift for cooking enthusiasts, combining the best of herbs and salt to easily season various dishes. Ideal for seasoning in baking breads, crafting compound butters, enhancing marinades and rubs, or adding that final touch to elevate any dish. Check out this guide on how to make your own at home. Also this recipe from Umami Girl. Gift the salts in Mini jars like these.
My assistant Grace had a lovely idea: a handwritten and decorated recipe book. Crafting a personalized recipe book is an ideal way to share treasured flavors and memories. Write down recipes that hold significance or are beloved by the recipient, and enhance the book with festive drawings and stickers for an added touch of uniqueness. It's the perfect gift that combines thoughtfulness with creativity!
And last but not least, my cookbooks make great gifts!
Kitchen Matters and Quicker Than Quick
Happy Holidays!! xxPamela