I have decided to make a Hamper of eatables for In Laws and Dad for Christmas.

[Shoshe]

Give me some ideas.

I can make little handmade boxes (am good at those sort of things) They will hold (if made from A4 pearlised paper)about 4 large truffles sort of size.

I would like to make about 5/6 boxes of candies sort of things.

I can also make some matching bags for cookies/biscuits as well, so what are your favorite recipes for them.

And have some empty small yankee candle jars, so thought of maybe Jams or preserves in them.

In Laws have to be posted from Dorset to Scotland so any ideas on cheap postage will be welcome as well

if they are scottish, kendal mint cake will go down well, also coconut ice is good as are strawberry and peppermint cremes. white chocolate and macademia cookies are yummy

Don't get the Scottish/Kendal mint cake thing?

What about dipped fruit?

Fruit cake would travel well and you could make a big one and split it into 4 before icing?

Christmas cakes made today, in Silicone Yorkshire Pudding trays, so 4x 4in cakes

Will feed them Brandy over the next couple of months

Dad loves Coconut Ice sa well, my Gran used to make it for him every Christmas, so that would be a brilliant idea.

Fab idea, I did a hamper for my grandparents last year (but they like savoury, so it was cheeses, chutneys etc from local farmers' market), and they were thrilled with it. Love the idea of a sweet hamper though.

I really fancy having a go at making truffles/candies. I don't suppose you could recommend a good source of recipes for them please?

Also, when do you make them up? Do they keep reasonably well?

Homemade jam is always lush, someone gave me a delicious strawberry and apple one last year, it's now my favourite ever, but not sure I can really drop hints for another one.

I have been looking here I might try a couple over the next few weeks.

( I am a CM so can always do them with the children )

I do have a brilliant fudge recipe made with soft cheese, so will make that, I usually roll it into balls and dip in whitee choc, then put into petit four cases.

Oh my goodness, that sounds divine!! where can I find this recipe? Or is it a closely guarded secret?

Ta Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Chocolate Cream Cheese Fudge.

75g full fat cream cheese
350g icing sugar
1 level tbls cocoa powder
75g plain chocolate drops
40g butter
100g white chocolate.
36 petit four cases.

Put the cream cheese into bowl, sift icing sugar and cocoa into the bowl. Mix well.
Melt butter and chocolate stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture.
Then pour the chocolate into cream cheese mixture, beat together until they are creamy.
tip out and cut into 36 even pieces, roll into balls.
Melt white chocolate.
Dip balls into white chocolate, then place into petit four cases and put into fridge.

Eat within 10 days.

Thank you so much! That looks fabulous, think I'll be practising that all week waiting for DC1 to arrive! I reckon it'll take at least 3 good batches to make sure I've got it right :o

Tis lovely, you wont stop at three

Never mind fudge, what about Tablet?

sloe gin

blackberry vodka, that kind of thing. have got mahooosive pot of plum brandy on the go

as well as jams, pickles?? chutney??

I made foodie hampers last year. I put in
Christmas cakes
Mincemeat
Lemon curd
Chilli sauce
Onion chutney
White chocolate, orange & cranberry cookies
Chocolate cherry fudge
Truffles

wow, glad I saw this thread title, what a lovely idea. I think I'll steal it do that for my parents.

though I feel rather inadequate now as I will probably buy things (posh jam, interesting chocolates etc) rather than make things...

What a great idea! Might also steal

Any ideas where to pick up cheapish hampers?

Last year I did a few small hampers. I got a cheapish Christmas plate in a department store, with two matching cups (this was for a couple with no kids). In each cup I put a cellophane bag (got them on ebay years ago) with Green and Blacks hot chocolate, into which I mixed some cinnamon and nutmeg for a Christmassy taste.

And then another bag of these marshmallows which took a while but were easy enough to make in the end.

And a bag of cookies I made myself (they turned out a bit crappy, I made them too small and they were crispy)

And also Nigella's puddinis

Then I got a huge piece of cellophane and wrapped the whole thing up with a bow and a tag. They were much appreciated!

Def think I'll try fudge this year, I always thought it's be really hard to make, seemingly not!

lovely baskets www.hampergifts.co.uk.

sorry can`t link computer having hissy fit.

I did some two years ago and used florist cellophane and pull ribbons to give a professional finish.

Ikea has best cheap kilner type
jars.

I did this last Christmas for my Grandma and she loved it. I made:
cranberry and apple chutney
spiced pears
candied citrus peel
roasted peppers in olive oil
cheese straws
mini mince pies
sausage rolls
garlic oil
fresh squeezed lime juice
banana bread
white chocolate and cranberry fudge
and some cheese and bacon dog biscuits for her lovely dog

wrapped packed it in a big variety of things incl. reused jars, waxed paper, a christmas glass, gift boxes and bags