DIYers: What are some good holiday "food gifts" that you like to make?

Question

I love sugar cookies, but I would really like some more recipes that have been tried and true by you guys.
I'm thinking that a bold, firm cookie will be good because they won't crumble so easily.

Do you have any ideas or recipes that you can share?
Or information on creative ways to pack them?

And like, I know about all of the different recipe sites out there, and a link to them is fine, but I would REALLY like something that you have tried out.

Thanks!

Additional Details

Thanks for all of the great responses so far!
I cannot wait to try those recipes, and the dipped pretzel idea is awesome! Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Never Fail Fudge! I got the recipe off Marshmallow Fluff container. It is always a huge hit and stands up well to travel.

Never-Fail-Fudge:

* 2 1/2 c. sugar
* 3/4 tsp. salt
* 1/2 stick butter or margarine
* 1 5.33 oz. can evaporated milk (3/4 c.)
* 1 Jar (7 1/2oz) Marshmallow Fluff
* 3/4 tsp. vanilla
* 1 12-oz. package semisweet-chocolate pieces
* 1 /2 c. chopped walnuts


Grease a 9-inch square baking pan; set aside. In large saucepan combine first 5 ingredients. Stir over low heat until blended. Heat to a full-rolling boil being careful not to mistake escaping air bubbles for boiling. Boil slowly, stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and chocolate until chocolate is melted. Add nuts. Turn into greased pan and cool. Makes 2 1/2 pounds.

Source(s):

http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/pages/ne…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

That sounds yummy! Thank you!

Answer 2

The best thing I ever bought for the kitchen was a copy of America's Test Kitchen cookbook.
http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Kitchen-C…

It has tons of great recipes, which have literally been tried hundreds of times and been perfected. This yields the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever tasted.

other than that, I'm a fan of dipping pretzel rods in chocolate and putting festive sprinkles on them. Always delicious and easy.

Source(s):

http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Kitchen-C…

Answer 3

Make some "Cookie Mix in a Jar" I give them out every year. There are also brownies too. They are all laered. As for wrapping - make sure you have lots of bubble wrap and wrap each one. I also take colored tissue paper and seperate each one. Also tie ribbons around the lids.

Don't forget to send the "wet" ingredients list and how to bake them. Also you can laminate them too. That's what I do.

(goes for sending all ready baked goodies)

Source(s):

HAPPY COOKING!!!

Answer 4

Cheddar Cheese Cookies w/ Pecans
Pretzels with a drop of fudge on them [let fudge cool and mold to the pretzel]
Fudge brownies
Divinity

I like getting small boxes and putting them in there with a bow on top.

Answer 5

I always make fudge and pralines....it is just halloween(day after) and already this past week I have had people asking if I am going to make them...one couple even offered to make it a Business and bank role me last yr....had to say sorry is done out of love not for profit.

Answer 6

I make fresh cranberry - macadamia nut relish; and I do it ahead (did it this morning, actually), since it just gets stronger, the longer it sits.....It's good as a relish with Holiday dinners, over ice cream, over softened cream cheese (as a spread), or even over a pastry-wrapped Baked Brie.

CRANBERRY MACADAMIA NUT RELISH

1 bag frozen cranberries
1-2 jars macadamia nuts
1 small tangerine or orange
1-2 c. sugar
1/4 - 1/2 c. Brandy or Triple Sec

Pulse the nuts, cranberries and orange in food processor until chunky ground (not big pieces, but not finely ground either). Mix with the sugar & liqueur and put into glass jars (about 2-3). Put the top on tightly! It will be pink, but will turn bright red as it "cooks" itself in the refrigerator. Turn the jars over a couple of times a day for the first few days .....Best after 5 days or so......

Answer 7

Snackie’s Sugar Cookies

These are best glazed with a mixture of powdered sugar and milk and sprinkled with colored sugar after they cool. The dough can also be used to make Thumbprint cookies. You will need a strong mixer – a KitchenAid helps, but you can always knead in the rest of the flour. The dough does not spread or distort – they can be baked fairly close together and can be shipped or transported without breaking.


1 cup (2 sticks) butter
½ cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups sifted all purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder

Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla extract.
Add flour and baking powder.
Mix until mixture clings together.
Gather into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate one hour.

Roll out between ¼ and 1/2 inch thick. Bake 5 to 6 minutes at 375F.

Cool on wire rack before glazing or frosting.

Answer 8

I usually make homemade flour tortillas and homemade salsa in a jar. Or you can make homemade tortilla chips, bag them, and give them with salsa. Everyone really loves it. Its best to make the tortillas from scratch, but you can buy the premixed bags in the baking aisles now.

Answer 9

You can make them chocolate covered pretzels.

My mom and I used to make these all the time when I was a teeny girl :)

1. Get baker's chocolate. White and dark and milk.
2. Melt the chocolate.
a. You can either pit it in a pot on med. heat and let it melt.
b.You can melt in the microwave by intervals of 20 seconds. Check on it and stir until melted.
3. Get unsalted pretzels, any size you would like but not to big.
4. Put foil over your counter (a lot) and lay the pretzels on it, spread out about about a 1/4 inch.
5. Then pour the chocolate over them, a 1/3 with white, 1/3 with dark, 1/3 with milk.
6. Then let them dry.
7. Turn them over.
a. What I find easiest is to take foil off with pretzels still on, being very careful, and put it on somewhere for a few minutes while you lay new foil on the counter.
8. Then Take the foil with the pretzels on it and take it to the new foil, turn the old foil upside down and plop the pretzels over.
a. The ones that did not land chocolate side down filp them over.
9. Then you can either pour a different kind of chocolate or the same kind of chocolate.

Hope I helped!