3 Delicious Edible Gifts for Friends & Family

Paula Gallagher on
nuts in a jar make a nice gift

Homemade food is the perfect gift. It is genuine, heartfelt, and not overly expensive. Personally, I would much rather receive a gift that someone made than one they went out and purchased. With our hectic schedules, making gifts can be time-consuming, but gifts from our kitchen are fun to make, taste better than store-bought, and more importantly, say something from our heart. You don't have to to be a gourmet chef or an amazing baker. The recipes below are easy to make, and when packaged in a cute reusable tin and sent with a handwritten card, make a beautiful and tasty gift.

Sweet and Spicy Nuts

This recipe for sweet and spicy nuts is simple and fun to make. Place the nuts in a reusable Mason jar and tie them with a pretty ribbon and handwritten note, and you have a healthy gift that will be appreciated and savored.

  • 1 egg white
  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne (depending on how much heat you want)
  • 1/4 tsp salt

    Preheat oven to 325 F. In a bowl, lightly beat the egg white. Add the nuts and stir until evenly moistened. Combine brown sugar, cumin, cayenne and salt; sprinkle over the nuts and toss well to coat evenly.

    Spread the nuts on a rimmed baking sheet lined with natural parchment paper. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to separate nuts, until coating is crisp and nuts are fragrant.

    Remove from the oven and let the nuts cool completely. Put them in small jars with tight lids

    Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

    This is a gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free cookie, perfect for someone who has allergies or sensitivities, and safe to throw in your kid's lunch for school.

    • 1 cup gluten-free baking mix
    • 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 2 tsp cinnamon
    • 3/4 cup apricot or date purée
    • 1/4 cup organic canola oil
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
    • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

    To make the apricot or date puree, soak dried apricots or dates in room temperature water overnight, or in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Remove water and place softened fruit in a blender and blend until it is a puree.

    Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix gluten-free baking mix, xanthan gum, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Incorporate apricot purée, oil, vanilla, cranberries and chocolate chips. Using a 1 oz cookie scoop, measure the dough and form it into balls, flatten, and place on oiled baking tray. Bake for 13 minutes or until golden.

    This makes about 16 cookies.

    Maple Granola

    This is the perfect gift for the outdoorsy person. A high fiber, high protein granola that is delicious and easy to take with you on wintery walks. Package in a mason jar with a ribbon to make it a festive edible gift.

    • 2 cups coconut chips (these are larger than the flakes and you can find them at your local health food store)
    • 1 cup of nuts and seeds of your choice (I use whatever I have on hand, usually walnuts, sunflower seeds, cashews)
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup coconut oil
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1/4 cup dried fruit of choice (I usually use cranberries)

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix the coconut chips, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Set aside.

    In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the coconut oil and maple syrup until it starts to bubble, then add vanilla. Remove from heat and pour over the dry ingredients and mix well. The consistency will vary some depending on the maple syrup, coconut chips, and coconut oil you use. If there is not enough of the wet mixture to lightly coat all of the ingredients, add slightly more melted coconut oil and maple syrup in equal parts.

    Spread the mixture on a parchment paper lined baking dish and bake for 15-20 until starting to brown. Remove and let it cool, then crumble in to granola pieces. Store in an air tight jar and use within 2 weeks.

    More Recipes on Our Blog

    Did you know that we have a collection of healthy recipes on our blog? From vegan recipes to healthy snacks for kids, there is an abundant selection of recipes for you and your family. Take a look, you may find even more ideas that you can use as gifts. And if cooking or baking still isn't for you, check out our gift blog of natural products.

    Photo from here, with thanks.

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