Christmas Gift Treats

[Roseythorn]

Hi,

I am thinking of giving some edible gifts for christmas. Does anyone have any ideas what I could make.
I need something that can withstand Brisbanes heat.
The only idea I have is peanut brittle.

Tia

[mum_I'm_hungry]

How about shortbread cut out in Christmas shapes (star, tree etc.)? Or small fruit cakes, or Christmas muffins (mixed fruit, mixed spice etc.)? Or you could do something in a bottle, like make cordial, or jam... :xmastree:

[MamaKoala]

These were a huge hit for my family last year. They are delicious!


Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars

Prep Time:20 minInactive Prep Time:8 hr 0 minCook Time:45 min Level:Easy Serves:about 16 (2-inch) squares
http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2006/12/11/12Days_Chocolate_Cheesecake_med.jpg
Crust:
20 chocolate wafer cookies
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground coffee beans
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Filling:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
2 large eggs, room temperature
Glaze:
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon light or dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature
1/2 cup crushed candy canes (see Cooks Note)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil. For the crust: Process the chocolate wafers in a food processor with the butter, sugar, coffee, and salt until fine. Evenly press the crust into the prepared dish covering the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
Blend the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides, as needed. Add the eggs and pulse until just incorporated. With the food processor running, pour the chocolate into the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.
Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake until filling puffs slightly around the edges, but is still a bit wobbly in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.
For the Glaze: Put the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in microwave safe bowl. Heat glaze in the microwave at 75 percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir the ingredients together until smooth; add the sour cream. Spread glaze evenly over the warm cake and scatter the crushed candy canes over top. Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.
Cut into small bars or squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.
Store cookies covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Cook's Note: To crush the candy canes, remove wrappers and place in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to roll and break the candy up into small pieces, about 1/4 inch or so.

[MummaFug]

I am doing the same thing this year for the first time so have chosen some VERY VERY easy things to do. (I posted a thread few days ago)

I am making

White chocolate with crushed candy canes (simply melt white choc, crush candy canes and add, re-set in bottom of glass dish and chop when set)
Dark choc with cranberries and pistachios
Mini Xmas puddings (use fruit cake, add whisky, condensed milk and orange juice) roll into balls and top with white icing - they then look like little xmas puddings
Shortbread Xmas trees


I will be watching this thread for soem more ideas :)

[dreamtobeamummy]

We have decided to make edible gifts for the adults this year :yelclap: so will be keeping an eye out for this thread!!

We are going to do little home made chocolates with Christmas woulds, shortbread biscuits using Christmas cutters.. and maybe dip half of them in chocolate too.. I think the hardest thing is to try not to eat them :p

[m0nal1sa]

we always give food gifts... some of our past gifts include:



flavoured oils - carrot oil, herb oil, chilli oil
marinated feta - a huge hit, everyone wants them every year
mango curd - a twist on lemon curd
fudge - white chocolate & pistachio, chocolate & coffee beans
rocky road
shortbread
ginger spice cookies

Not sure what we're doing this year... haven't discussed it yet. Might start looking around for something new to do.

m0na

[mum_I'm_hungry]

marinated feta - a huge hit, everyone wants them every year
Oh, yum. How do you do that? Is it easy?

I was thinking of making Delia Smith's lemon cordial/lemonade this year, but marinated feta sounds yum!

[bronny-jane]

coles have a free xmas mag, it has biscuits and easy chocolate recipes.. plus lots of other ideas.. and well its free... wonder if woolies does it too?

[pepstar]

i'm planning on doing that too!! Cant really afford to go out by individual presents for everyone this year.
So far i have thought of:
Rum balls
rocky road
gingerbread trees

and thats it!! some great ideas here too that i could work with!!:-)

[Jess24]

i'm doing rumballs and shortbread xmas shaped bickies too.

[m0nal1sa]

marinated feta -

I buy jars from reject shop
buy feta from deli counter at supermarket
some fresh chillies, garlic, thyme, basil - any herb you like really, but not sage or dill as they don't taste as nice in this
and lots of light olive oil (cheap storebrand is ok for this)

sterilise jars - i soak them in boiling water for 10 minutes, then put in hot oven to dry, don't dry with a towel
chop feta into cubes, slice chillis and garlic, make smallish sprigs of thyme and other herb/s
layer feta in jars interspersed with the flavourings
fill jar to neck with olive oil
put lid on jar

make a couple weeks ahead to let it mature

we make this almost every year as family get vocal if they don't get their jar of feta

[2s'nuff]

I often make flavoured BBQ oil as pressies. I buy a bottle of oil (soak off the label). Pour some out into a cup.

Add to the bottle, quartered garlic cloves, black peppercorns (whole and ground), mustard seeds, chili (sliced and halved).

Top bottle back up with oil in cup.
Every few days shake bottle gently and release lid.

The earlier you make it before giving as a gift the better

Lisa

[Briannabear]

I am doing the same thing this year for the first time so have chosen some VERY VERY easy things to do. (I posted a thread few days ago)

I am making

White chocolate with crushed candy canes (simply melt white choc, crush candy canes and add, re-set in bottom of glass dish and chop when set)


oooh what a good idea!!

I was going to make truffles and fudge (I have a super easy fudge recipe that I'll post when I find it!)

[Littlemisslinda]

We are making layered jars of hot/iced chocolate mix - there are heaps of recipies around on the net. Its just layers of yummy stuff you can mix up to make drinks with - cocoa, choc buds or chips, marshmallows, spices etc. Hopefully we can find one that wont melt - heat is an issue here too!

[beaniebabez]

I just did a search online and found this good good site..There are gifts and treats for everybody..Have fun everybody!:xmastree::noel:

[MumsieMel]

I just did a search online and found this good good site..There are gifts and treats for everybody..Have fun everybody!:xmastree::noel:


Ohhh whats the site??

[beaniebabez]

Ohhh whats the site??


Here is the site...Such a preggy brain sorry..

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/specialfeature/holiday_cookies_ms/