Edible gift ideas: 6 things to try at home

The festive season is the perfect time to spread joy and love through personalised gifts. Why not add a gourmet touch this year, and try your hand at some homemade edible gifts? In this article, we present five delicious ideas for gifts that will delight your loved ones' taste buds this Christmas.

Why make edible gifts?

Who wouldn't want to receive gifts to enjoy at Christmas? That's the question we've been asking ourselves, and the answer is surely no one! Homemade and edible gifts have a lot of advantages: they can be fully personalised, they're suitable for all budgets (even the smallest) and, above all, they don't take up too much space because they always end up at the bottom of our stomachs! They're also fairly simple to make and can even be turned into a fun activity for children. 

We recommend giving your little gourmet gifts in reusable containers (jars, glass bottles, etc.), which are not only sturdier but also prettier and can be used later by the person you're giving them to. You can also upcycle things you already have at home. The pasta sauce jar or your old jam jars will do just fine!

6 edible gift ideas

Get ready to discover these delicious ideas for making your friends and family smile with homemade gourmet gifts.

1. Christmas biscuits

As soon as we start thinking of Christmas, these tasty, decorated biscuits come to mind. Christmas biscuits are part of a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. Making biscuits is also a great way to spend time with family and friends, with a playlist of Christmas songs in the background to get you in the festive mood.

Ingredients:

• 250g soft butter
• 225g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 lemon
• 500g plain white flour
• 1 eff yolk
• 1 teaspoon milk or cream
• 1 pinch of salt 

Recipe:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200°C.
• In a bowl, stir to combine the softened butter, the sugar and the salt. Add one egg at a time and work until the mixture whitens. Grate the lemon zest and fold it into the rest of the mixture.
  Add the flour, bring together into a dough, flatten slightly and chill covered for at least 2 hours.
• Sprinkle a small amount of flour onto a clean surface to prevent sticking, then roll out the dough to a thickness of about 7 mm. Cut out various shapes with a pastry cutter and place on baking sheets lined with baking paper. Chill for approx. 15 mins.
• Mix the egg yolk and milk and brush over the biscuits for a shiny coat.
• Bake for approx. 10 mins in the middle of the oven. Remove and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Alternative: If you're particularly fond of lemon, mix icing sugar and lemon juice for a delicious biscuit icing. 

Once your Christmas biscuits are ready, wrap them in festive tins, cellophane bags or glass jars for a memorable Christmas gift. The biscuits will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight tin.

2. A jar of cookie mix

Cookie mixes in a jar are an interactive and delicious gift. You layer the dry ingredients needed to make cookies, add a label with instructions and it's ready to be given to friends or family.

Ingrédients :

• 250g all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 150g sugar
• 100g chocolate chips
• 50g chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions for the label:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• In a large bowl, mix 125g softened butter, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Add the contents of the jar and mix until smooth.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto a non-stick baking tray and bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Cookie mixes in a jar are fun to make and even more fun to receive. They're perfect for friends who love to bake.

3. Powermeals edible gift

At Powermeals edible gifts are available year round! If you like the idea of giving an edible gift to your loved ones but don't have the time to make one, we've got the solution for you. We deliver ready-to-eat meals, freshly cooked by our chefs. If you know new parents who don't have time to cook for themselves, or a busy colleague who would love to have a ready-made meal waiting for them at home, don't forget to give them one of our food delivery gift vouchers!

4. Homemade jam 

If you thought making jam was just for grandma, you'd be wrong! Make jars of strawberry jam, bitter orange marmalade or spiced apple jelly. All you need to get started is seasonal fruit, sugar and glass jars.

Ingredients:

• 1kg fresh strawberries, hulled and cut into pieces
• 750g sugar (I'm afraid this won't be compatible with a sugar-free diet!)
• 1 lemon

Recette : 

1. In a large saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice.
2. Cook over a medium heat, stirring regularly, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of jam (about 20-30 minutes).
3. Pour the hot jam into sterilised jars and seal tightly.
4. Leave to cool completely before adding personalised labels.

Personalising the labels by adding special messages for each recipient makes these edible gifts a real show of affection.

5. Homemade caramel

Homemade caramels are a delicious sweet that evoke the nostalgia of childhood, a perfect comfort food. Prepared with love, these little pieces of melting caramel are the perfect edible gift for any friends or family with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients: 

• 2.5 dl full cream
• 1 dl milk
• 300g sugar
• 1 tbsp water
• 1/4 tbsp ground vanilla, cinnamon or sea salt

Recette : 

• In a saucepan, melt the sugar, add the milk and cream and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and cook over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture changes colour and thickens slightly.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add either vanilla, cinnamon or sea salt for a personalized touch.
• Pour the mixture onto a baking tray covered with baking paper and leave the caramel to cool for around 30 min.
• Once cool, cut the caramel into small 2cm pieces.

6. Mulled wine kit

Here's the ultimate kit to give your loved ones to cope with freezing temperatures. The perfect remedy for surviving the cold season, one glass at a time!

Ingredients:

In the jar: 

• Orange peel (or you can add orange juice when heating)
• 150g raw sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 cloves
• 1 vanilla pod or vanilla powder
• 1 pinch of nutmeg

To offer with the jar:

• 1 bottle of red wine

Instructions for the label:

• Pour the entire jar into a saucepan, along with a litre of red wine.
• Cook over very low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, with the mixture simmering very gently.
• Strain and enjoy, in moderation of course.

Offer the preparation with the bottle, surrounded by a small bow and the preparation label.

Recettes : BettyBossi

À propos de Powermeals

At Powermeals, our mission is to make healthy eating easy. Our chefs cook fresh meals every week in our Swiss kitchen and deliver them to your door. Our meals are prepared with whole, balanced ingredients to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs. What's more, we change our menu every week to offer plenty of variety. Give it a try!