Update: We added 5 new winners to last year’s ‘7 delectable homemade gift-able treats’. Check them out! Most take only 30 minutes or less to make.
Holidays and special events are a great time to break out the baked goods and treats. They make perfect gifts, particularly for people who don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen but love delicious homemade foods they are not likely to make. And, of course, popular host/hostess gifts and potluck contributions. Package your gift in cellophone (or cellophane gift bags), pretty boxes, wine bags or paper gift bags. Here are 12 delectable gift-able treats from the Two Kooks in the Kitchen collection.
Yes, making a food gift takes a bit more effort than picking up or ordering a gift, but you can be sure it will be well appreciated. Click on the red titles to link to the recipes.
Chocolate Hazelnut Buttercrunch Toffee
I have been obsessed with making Chocolate Hazelnut Buttercrunch Toffee for years. It kills me to pay so much money for a few little pieces wrapped in pretty cellophane or cardboard. Yes, I was intimidated to make it myself. I finally decided to tackle it, researched it to death before I tried it and… success! Easier than you think. Buttery, nutty, chocolate-y, crunchy – scrumptious.
Perfect Lime-Glazed Shortbread Cookies (Shortcut)
These Lime-Glazed Shortbread Cookies are really good! Buttery and melt-in-your-mouth with a bright fresh sweet-tangy burst of citrus flavour. They make a perfect gift but are also great for a tea, shower, potluck, or holiday cookie-exchange.
Nutty Toffee Graham Crave Bars
Nutty Toffee Graham Crave Bars are a take on the hugely popular toffee Graham bars. Buttery and crunchy with chocolate, cranberries and salt. Crave-worthy!
Best Ever Caramel Popcorn
Best Ever Caramel Popcorn is simply not to be missed. We’re not kidding – it’s addictive, it’s mouthwatering and it will satisfy the biggest sweet tooth craving. It starts with plain old popcorn and ends up as a delicious salted caramel-nut popcorn treat that simply can’t be beat.
White Chocolate Bark (two ways)
White Chocolate Bark (or any bark for that matter) is pretty much the easiest candy treat you can possibly make. Two to three ingredients. Five minutes to put together. About 20-30 minutes to chill. Seriously. It’s hard to even call this a recipe. The variations are only limited by your imagination. Mmmmm.
Crispy Buttery Lace Cookies
Many moons ago, our family tried these crispy buttery lace cookies at a brunch hosted by our cousins. We immediately knew the recipe was a keeper. It turns out the recipe was from our aunt/great aunt who had been making them for many previous moons. It’s a great recipe. And so easy and quick – about 22 minutes from start to finish.
Chocolate Cranberry Rice Crispy Squares
My grandmother (Jenna’s great grandmother) made chocolate rice crispy squares for every holiday since I was a little girl. My mother, my two sisters and I followed the tradition, meaning they continue to show up at one or two family events every year. For the holidays, I tweak them to become Chocolate Cranberry Rice Crispy Squares. Our original recipe uses raisins. Rich, chewy, chocolate-y (but not too sweet), textured deliciousness. Super fast and easy.
3 Minute Creamy Chocolate Fudge
3 ingredients. 3 steps. 3 minutes. That’s what is takes to make this incredibly delicious, easy creamy chocolate fudge. Mouth-watering.
Skor Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Skor-Chocolate Chip cookies are essentially trumped up chocolate chip cookies with a little bit of healthiness in them. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but we figure the oatmeal counts for something. In our humble opinion, these crisp, delicate cookies with a caramel-chocolate taste are pretty exceptional.
Homemade Strawberry Jam (No Pectin)
You don’t have to wait for summer local strawberries to make this no fuss 3-ingredient strawberry jam. Your host will love to enjoy it on toast, scones and ice cream any season. Yum!
Citrus Palmier Hearts
5 ingredients, 30 minutes and voila! Elegant citrus Palmier hearts that are buttery and flaky with a hint of orange-lemon zest. Mmm.
All Occasion Sugar Cookies
Jenna and I have been using this Noreen Gilletz recipe for about 20 years – for Christmas, Chanukah, Halloween and, more recently, Jenna’s wedding, We made 150 tulip cookies as gifts for her wedding guests. A big hit! These are Jenna’s husband’s favourite cookies in the whole wide world. Tender, flaky and buttery.
