Homemade Food Gifts

The most useful homemade gift anyone could receive on a special occasion is food! It is always appreciated, inexpensive to make and allows for lots of creativity and personalisation.

There are plenty of different homemade food gifts you can create - you are only limited by the extent of your imagination (with the help of the internet too, of course!) So, here are a couple of slightly out of the ordinary and tasty ideas to start you off with:

     1. Fruit leathers
One of the most unusual but delicious things to make are homemade fruit leathers. These are great for children, or those with allergies and intolerances. All you need is to puree your favorite fruit and spread it over a dehydrating tray. Wrap them with baking paper and pretty twine and ribbons. Lovely!

     2. Edible Buttons
This is such a unique homemade gift idea, and I'm sure anyone would be intensely pleased to recieve these. Edible buttons are basically sugar cookies, which you can then ice, dip in chocolate or sprinkle to your hearts delight! These would look intensly cute with different colours and textures, and you could give them to children and adults on many different occasions...

     3. Homemade Marshmallows
One of the most memorable textures in all the world has to be that of marshmallow, and their fluffy, spongy quality is not that difficult to acheive in your own kitchen. Give this recipe by a go, or try a chocolate dipped, hazelnut sprinkled variety, or change it up with other sprinkles, nuts and chocolate.

     4. Spice Set
This is a great homemade food gift for a boyfriend, husband or man in the family. If you are wondering how to put together a homemade spice set, first try making a few different spice rubs, curry mixes and barbeque dry rubs - combine different flavours for optimum tastebud appreciation - chilli, lemon, peanut, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, allspice, cumin, coriander, turmeric, salt, sugar, paprika, garlic, pepper, etc. Simply find a few small containers, either glass or tin preferably and fill with your favourite blends. Package up nicely, adding a recipe or a few suggestions for creations you could conjure with the set and voila!

     5. Biscotti & Florentines
Biscotti are the perfect double baked biscuit to prepare in advance, which last several days and that also taste amazing. Try chocolate and ginger, white chocolate chip and cranberry, lemon and almond or cappucino biscotti flavourings. Florentines are exotic, jewel-like things that are a beautiful gift to receive, and a pleasure to make for someone.

     6. In a Jar
A pretty jar with layers of ingredients and a short little recipe and instruction note is a great homemade gift for busy people. There are plenty of tutorials out there (see Good Housekeeping and Craft Bits). And the real joy of this sort of gift is that it's incredibly easy and inexpensive to make, as well as versatile.

     7. Lemon Curd & Caramel Sauce
Two things people love but never purchase or make for themselves =  lemon curd and caramel sauce ( Dulce de Leche). With a little practice you can master these recipes, and the ingredients aren't too expensive either!  

     8. Nut Brittle
This is another one for the guys (although really all homemade food gifts will be appreciated by men!) - nut brittle can be made with any type of nuts, but traditional peanuts add to that delectable salty-sweet combination that most people adore.

     9. Cookie Dough
The perfect cure for an unhappy loved one, cookie dough comes to the rescue when people need a little pick-me-up and a childish smile to be brought to their face. Whether eaten raw or baked into cookies, this dough has magical qualities! Great for giving to people as a get well soon gift or for sharing at the holidays as a DIY boxing day treat.

     10. Chocolate Bark & Truffles
Chocolate is the ultimate celebration food, so including it in a gift is a must! Try creating your own chocolate bark with dried fruits, nuts and sweeties in or create a delicious homemade coconut ganache truffle that tastes like it's come out of a chocolaterie!

Of course, if you are feeling in the mood then there is nothing better than a giant homemade food hamper filled with an assortment of tasty goodies all handmade from scratch.  Add in some exciting tea, and perhaps some homemade jam and cookies and there you have a simple, yet professional looking handmade present.

Or try:
 - Homemade Rainbow Coconut Ice