What would you make for gift hampers at christmas?

[WanderingWendy]

I was thinking

Truffles
Cookies
Gingerbread men

Any other ideas?

TIA

peppermints
chutney
fruit loaf
?

Not sure about chutney, although I was thinking of chilli jam. Not sure how far in advance do you make that though, and could you just have it on normal bread/toast?

Peppermints and fruit loaf are fab ideas,
Do you have a fruit loaf recipe display?

Thanks

not sure about chilli jam - have only ever had it as an accompaniment to savoury things and never made it.

Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book has Iced Apricot Fruit Loaf which I've made before (sorry can't find it online anywhere for a link to whole recipe and it would take me ages to type it)

I've also tried this which worked out well.

hth

thanks display

We are making hampers this year and including a mini iced xmas cake, christmas pudding truffles, snowflake truffles, christmas star biscuits, homemade blackberry jam and apple chutney and then a bottle of either sloe gin, whisky or wine. Also putting in a homemade xmas decoration from the dcs.

iwantapinkprincess

• like the sound of the apple chutney - do you have a recipe for that? Nicde idea for dcs to make a homemade decoration.

home bargains has packets of mulled wine spices for 25p at the moment. I'm doing bundles of homemade mince pies, a bottle of red wine with mulled wine spices, and probably some gingerbread hearts.

mulled wine spices is a nice idea too - am going to have to copy OP's idea of hampers this year!

I'd like to do truffles but don't they go off quite quickly, meaning they'd have to be opened before Christmas, or given right at the last moment?

Fantastic thread, well done OP! And some fantastic suggestions .. I do love MN!

I am giving hampers, they are being given on christmas morning.

I need inspiration as well - but most importantly I need recipes.

I want to make biscuits in christmassy shapes but last year the bisuits spread in the oven, meaning they came out as one big fat blob, how do you stop this?

Does the asme thing happen with gingerbread?

How do you make snowfalke and christmas pudding truffles?

cheeky bump for OP (I also need a solution to my bicuit problem

DH has fab family german/american xmas cookie recipe, will look it up & post later - don't spread at all & keep forever.
In his family traditionally iced (royal icing in different colours) & decorated with silver balls, sprinkles etc, but personally I think they taste better un-iced (spectacularly sweet tooth runs in his family). DD loves decorating them though, so we usually compromise on half & half.

Here it is:

8 oz plain flour, 4 oz marge (or butter), rub in together.

Add 4 oz soft dark brown sugar and 1 tsp ground ginger, mix together

Work in 1 tablesp black treacle, 1 tablesp golden syrup and the juice of 1 orange. Mix to make dough.

I find that I need to add quite a lot more flour to make the dough stiff enough to roll - I probably add about another 4 oz or so, but don't measure, just add til it feels right.

Cook in a med/hot oven (180C) till they look done, about 15/20 mins.

You can skip the golden syrup if you want & just use treacle, makes them a bit less sweet.

Sounds delish and I love the idea of decorating them, thanks Takver

I have already posted this in the Christmas section but some of the ideas/recipes I have found for my hampers (and I doubt I will do all of these) are:

Mini Christmas cakes
Blackberry muffins
Cupcakes
Fudge
Hot Indian PIckle
Garlic cheese
Lemon curd
Spicy nuts
Chilli Chutney
Sweet chesnuts (although have no idea where to get find chestnuts)
Mulled wine
Sloe Gin
Toffee Vodka
Chocolate truffles

As I said, I won't make them all but those are the things I have dug out recipes for. I have a really good book which has recipes for edible gifts which has been really helpful.

I would also like to do body scrub and bath bombs too.

I would tailor it to the recipient. Did a hamper for my brother and his family last year, and put in nice verisons of all their fave foods. In this case based on chillis/hot sauces, liquorice, cheese and real ale.

wineonafridaynight that is a fantastic list

I love the idea of Hot Indian Pickle and Spicy nuts for two friends in particular - will have to try and find a recipe

You can get vacum packed chestnuts from the supermarket, not sure if they are what you'd need

Thanks HappyMerrySally - I think that might be what I need. I'll have a look next time I'm there. The recipe I found mentioned picking them. Knowing me I would pick the wrong thing though!