It’s always a nice touch at Christmas when you receive something that’s handmade in your stocking or under the tree, especially when it’s edible! Here are a few ideas if you have some time to get in the kitchen and whip up something delicious to wrap up and gift this Christmas –
Vegan chocolate freezer fudge
Perfect to wrap up and gift to loved ones, a little bag of this fudge would be a lovely thing to open and enjoy on Christmas Day after lunch in front of the telly!
Mum’s chilli jam (makes ~5 jars)
The perfect accompaniment to your cheese board or leftover sandwiches, give these festive filled jars to your loved ones and see how long they can make it last!
Ingredients
8 red peppers, de-seeded and roughly chopped
10 red chillies
a finger-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
8 garlic cloves, peeled
400 g can chopped tomatoes
750 g golden caster sugar (or white granulated)
250 ml white wine vinegar (or distilled malt vinegar)
Method
- Add the peppers, chillies, ginger and garlic to a food processor and whizz until finely chopped.
- Scrape into a heavy-bottomed pan with the tomatoes, sugar and vinegar and bring to a boil.
- Skim off any scum that floats to the surface, then turn down the heat and simmer for ~50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the jam becomes sticky, continue to cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently to stop it catching and burning (“it should look like thick, bubbling lava!” Mum says)
- Cool slightly before transferring to sterilised jars, then leave to cool completely.
- Label and decorate your jars before gifting! (always keeping a jar or two for the cook)
The jam will last for 3 months in a cool, dark cupboard, but refrigerate once opened.
Easy peasy avocado chocolate truffles (makes ~20)
Another little treat to wrap up and gift, you can get creative rolling these simple chocolate truffles in whatever you fancy – some chopped hazelnuts or cocoa, or go all out with edible glitter.
Ingredients
1 avocado
160 g dark chocolate chips
a pinch of sea salt
cocoa powder/ pearl sugar/ chopped nuts/ maca powder to roll and decorate your truffles in
Method
- Add the avocado and sea salt to a food processor and pulse a few times to combine.
- Melt the chocolate chips by either placing them in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwaving for 30 seconds, stirring and microwaving for another 20 seconds or until all the chocolate chips have melted, or use a double boiler.
- Pour the melted chocolate into the food processor with the avocado and pulse until mixture is completely combined and avocado is no longer visible.
- Place truffle mixture in the fridge to set for 30 minutes.
- Once the mixture has firmed up a bit, remove from fridge and make the truffles by rolling a tablespoon at a time into a 1-inch ball.
- Fill a shallow bowl with the cocoa powder/sugar and roll each truffle until coated. Place on a plate.
German Lebkuchen cookies
Another Christmas classic, get baking and go wild with cookie shapes and decorating styles to create these fun, delicious biscuits.
