Making sweets/cakes/biscuits as gifts - any recipes for things that last a while?

[yellowflowers]

If I were to make something as a birthday gift and present it in a nice box (because I am broke so keen to make gifts rather than buy them), what recipes would last a long time so the recipient didn't have to eat them all in one go or it would go stale?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I've made simple Shrewsbury biscuits before now in pretty shapes, dipped half in dark chocolate and then given as a gift. The trick is not to make vast amounts. A dozen freshly hand-made biscuits is plenty for a gift and will be eaten too quickly to worry about shelf-life.

Last Christmas I made Red Onion Marmalade and Cranberry Relish for everyone and they went down very well. The jars were the most expensive bit :)

[4merlyknownasSHD]

As it is "Apple" time of year, what about making herb jellies for use with roast meats over the winter. Rosemary Jelly, Mint jelly, Sage Jelly, Thyme Jelly. Much nice than shop-bought and will last for ages.

[wildfig]

I often give shortbread as a present; if you want to make it extra-special you can dip it in chocolate or use Nice Butter, but generally any old value butter is nice enough. Ginger snaps last a long time too (and actually get a bit better with age, I think).

Waitrose do some pretty clear gift bags that you can tie up with ribbons; if you want to spend a bit more, TK Maxx and John Lewis do reasonably priced sets of 3 biscuit tins that you can split up between different recipients.

[Mmmmcheese]

And you can always suggest freezing half. Cakes and biscuits freeze well.

[Driftwood999]

Peppermint creams. Some plain and some dipped in chocolate. Use a recipe that tells you too use beaten eggwhite and peppermint oil. They really last but seldom need to! Older people really appreiciate them too. Think I'll give them ago myself, it's been a few years since I last made them, they were a favourite of my late darling Dad.