by Maria C Collins

Created on: October 24, 2010

Edible gifts are traditional at Christmas Whether you are a cook or not, there are edible gifts that you can make and feel proud to give at Christmas to your friends and family. Edible presents need not break the bank either so you can save money at the same time as feeling virtuous. The following are some ideas for edible Christmas gifts.

If you cook, why not make some homemade cakes, biscuits (cookies), sweets, candies, breads, or fancy breads. Do be aware that yeasted goods do not keep for very long, but cookies, biscuits and cakes, especially rich fruit cakes keep much better. 

In the United Kingdom, an iced, rich dark, fruitcake, and Christmas pudding, a rich dark, fruit, steamed pudding, are traditional festive fare. Many people do not make their own any more, especially people who live alone. A nice gift idea is to make some mini Christmas cakes and puddings. You can even make cheat's mini Christmas puddings.

If you make your own jams, pickles, chutneys, marmalade or other preserves, a selection of these in a decorated basket or box would make an acceptable present. Homemade tomato ketchup, mushroom ketchup, brown sauce or other condiment type sauces make acceptable gifts. Jars of salad dressings could be another brilliant idea. A selection of jars of sauces and dressings might be a good gift for students to ladle on late night burgers.

Many people like to use infused vinegars and oils in their cooking. They are very easy to make and you will find recipes on the internet. Use elegantly shaped wine bottles for infused vinegars and oils. Bottled fruit or fruit preserved in alcohol are traditional Christmas gifts.

Gifts in a jar are very popular and very easy to make. You can take any cake or cookie recipe, weigh and measure the dry ingredients. Layer these into a clean dry jar, so that you get a pleasing look to your gift. Write the rest of the recipe including oven temperature and cooking time on a large label and stick the label to the jar. Put the lid on the jar with a decorative cover over the lid, decorate your jar and you have a gift for time pressed people who enjoy home baking.

You can make similar gifts with a jar and a homemade dry soup mix, onion bread mix and various other ideas. You could fill your jar with many things. A selection of jars with different mixes would make a good Christmas present for a student, a busy mum, or a working person. You can get a free e book of recipes for edible gifts in a jar just by registering an e mail address.

A handmade gift shows that you have taken time and effort. It is traditional to give food presents at Christmas and an ideal gift for those difficult to buy for people. Everyone likes to eat and whether your gift is a selection of your jams and marmalades or a selection of gifts in a jar to save a time pressed mum or a hard up student, your effort, thought, and time will be appreciated. Edible homemade Christmas gifts are excellent Christmas gifts for anyone.

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