Home made presents it’s not too late for..?

[UntamedShrew]

Any ideas?

I’m making my friend some Christmas pudding vodka and it’s made me think I wish I had made more rather than buying last-minute panic presents. Would like to make some things for my mum and mum in law but I am possibly running out of time. Any thoughts much appreciated - thank you.

Honestly just buy it.

You’ve still got time for chutneys/jams/mince pies then you can add cheese/nice savoury biscuits etc

Fudge or chocolate truffles?

Jams

Anything sewn.

Plenty of time.

I'm making sloe gin but it has been maturing for about a month.

A macrame tree decoration?

I make Earl grey fudge in about a week for presents.

Some jars with ingredients for oatmeal cookies or whatever in them, decorated with a ribbon and the instructions.

My brother made some lovely miso caramels from an ottolenghi book. They were incredibly sweet and you wouldn’t want more than one at a time (maybe 2) but were delicious one by one!

Chocolate truffles. There’s lots of versions and they are really easy to make.

Candied peel.

I make brownies, candied nuts, chocolate truffles/choc covered marzipan. The nuts in particular are a big hit and I send big kilner jars full out to extended family.

I made nine jars of marmalade yesterday. Used a kit so it only took an hour. I’m going to make Christmassy labels and paper lid covers.

Hot chocolate truffel melts. Just make a massive gnash ball, stab with wooden fork and dip in chocolate. They melt nicely into hot milk, much better then the hollow balls with marshmallows imo.

If you want to add a homemade touch to presents you could make the gift tags or a little bobble hat for the lids of bottles? Really easy to make. I’ve made some to add a bit of a personal touch

My husband has spent this weekend making spicy ketchup for our family gifts. I've made some lovely chocolates as well. Oh and pickled onions!

@Luckydog7 would you share your candied nut method please.

I make biscotti. They don't go off...

Really??? Just checking in that you really have the time and energy for that.

Thank you. I want to make (and eat half of) all of these! I’ve got time - I’m nearly done with shopping, we won’t have a really busy Christmas run up this year and I’d rather spend time making these than buying anything they could just buy for themselves I guess. Some lovely ideas here thanks again.

@Luckydog7

Hot chocolate truffel melts. Just make a massive gnash ball, stab with wooden fork and dip in chocolate. They melt nicely into hot milk, much better then the hollow balls with marshmallows imo.

What's a gnash ball please?

@ImFree2doasiwant

Of course. I've used almonds (skin on or off) macadamia and hazelnuts.

Proportion 4.2.1 nuts, sugar, water by volume. So I usually do 2 mugs of nuts, 1 mug sugar, half mug water. In a medium pan on medium heat. Throw it all in together.

Keep an eye on it, stiring occasionally until most of the water is gone then you will need to be stiring every few seconds. The sugar will crystallize and appear to seize but thats supposed to happen just keep stiring. The sugar will slowly start to melt into caramel. You want to stir the nuts so you keep bringing up the caramel and mixing with the powdery sugar and nuts.

Now I like to stir until about half the sugar melts so it semi crusty sugar, semi shiny caramel you get more sugar on the nut that way. If you go too far you will get nut brittle, fine but not the plan.

The moment its to your desired consistency,
pour it out onto a heatproof surface with silicone/Greeceproof paper. It's very very hot which is the only thing stopping you eating them. They are dang moreish!
Store in a sealable container at room temp.

I've used plastic bags tied shut but I imagine they will go sticky if exposed to air too long.

@ilovepixie

Gnash is truffle filling made from chocolate and cream. Mine is 50/50 dark choc and double cream. Just bung it into the microwave for short bursts of 20 seconds until all melted together then refrigerate. It should firm to a mouldable consistency.

Take golfball size chunks and roll in your hands (very messy) to form a ball. Stab the ball firmly with a wooden fork or similar (imo fork works best) and stand them upright on greeceproof paper. I would prob refrigerate for a few minutes again at this point.

Melt chocolate(any) I use a microwave in short bursts. To temper you want to stop heating it while there are still solid chunks and stir it until all melted. Then dip you ball to completely cover the gnash, sitting them back down on the paper. I usually chuck some edible glitter on them at this point, quickly before they harden.

I wrap them in celephane once set, upright with the handle sticking out the top.

Also. Homemade marzipan is ridiculously easy to make. Only three ingredients mixed together, but it's a bit special.

I’m planning to make marzipan for the first time to ice my cake. Have you got a recipe Lucky?

Some lovely ideas on here, thanks OP.

@Woeismethischristmas would you mind sharing your Early Grey Fudge recipe? It combines two of my favourite things.

We're doing hampers this year and as well as food we're popping in some home-made candles. They've been great fun to make and my son has designed labels for them.

Omg I love this thread and I’m shamelessly placemarking 😍