Yesterday, we talked about some of the more traditional options for edible holiday gifts. So, I thought today I would share some less traditional options. No, this doesn’t mean that they are going to be crazy options. However, they are options that are just not what you necessarily expect in a basket of goodies for family and friends.
Cupcakes
Who doesn’t love cupcakes? Okay, I’m sure there are people reading right now that say, “Uh…me.” Fine. You don’t like cupcakes. But, most people love them. With reality shows like Cupcake Wars and cupcake bakeries and food trucks popping up all over the place, cupcakes are a great option for a unique gift.
Ideally, for a cupcake gift, it would be extra special to make a few different kinds. This would be especially easy if you are making gifts for many different people. That way, you could just make a few batches and mix and match. It would also be great to decorate different flavors in different ways – some with piped icing, some with a ganache, and some with my favorite – sprinkles!
Cupcake Recipes to Start You Going:
- Nutella Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting
- Cherry Almond Vanilla Cupcakes
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Spice Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Pumpkin Spice Frosting
- Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
Some Cupcake Books to Buy or Borrow from the Library:
- Betty Crocker Big Book of Cupcakes (I just got this not too long ago, and it’s great!)
- Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make
- What’s New, Cupcake?: Ingeniously Simple Designs for Every Occasion (Just got this from one of my sisters for Christmas, along with the Babycakes Mini Cupcake Maker)
- Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone’s Favorite Treat
Cakes
A cake is a fabulous option, instead of making all kinds of other goodies. It’s especially great if you know the particular receiver’s favorite type of cake.
Cake Doesn't Have to Go On a Platter - It Can Go in a Jar! (Click Pic to Read Post)
Some Cake Recipes to Get You Thinking:
- Double Fudge Coca Cola Cake
- Popcorn Cake
- Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake
- Simple White Cake
- Red Velvet Sheet Cake
- Milky Way Cake
Cake Cookbooks for Everyone from The Advanced Baker to the Beginner:
- Rose’s Heavenly Cakes
- The Cake Mix Doctor
- The Cake Book
- Baking with the Cake Boss: 100 of Buddy’s Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets
Pies
Dropping off a whole pie to someone certainly lets them know that you were thinking of them! Pies are definitely not something I make, but have wanted to learn since seeing all the pies in the movie Waitress.
Some Pies that I Wish I Knew How to Make:
- Cherry Pie
- Super Yummy and Quick Lemon Pie (Okay, well, I did make this. This will be a pie for the pie challenged.)
- Chocolate Amaretto Pie
- Apple Pie
Pie Cookbooks to Buy or Borrow:
- The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook Much (not a pie cookbook, but a beautiful book and it has some great recipes for pie crusts and the like)
- The Lost Art of Pie Making Made Easy
- Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies
- Martha Stewart’s New Pies and Tarts: 150 Recipes for Old-Fashioned and Modern Favorites
- Pillsbury Easy as Pie: 140 Simple Recipes + 1 Readymade Pie Crust = Sweet Success
A Whole Meal
Who says that edible gifts need to be sweet? What an amazing gift idea it would be to drop off a whole meal to someone!
If you plan to do this, you could either make a meal that could go right into someone’s freezer or you could make arrangements with them to drop off a hot meal one evening.
If you decided to go with the freezer option, here are some fabulous books to check out for freezer meal preparation. Most of these would also lend themselves well to making large batches of the same meal, in order to make it easier to prepare meal gifts for several families at once.
- 30 Day Gourmet’s BIG Book of Freezer Cooking
- Don’t Panic – Dinner’s in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead
- Fix, Freeze, Feast: The Delicious, Money-Saving Way to Feed Your Family
- Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites: More Great Recipes That Save You Time and Money
Do you have any unique ideas for some non-traditional edible gifts for the holidays? If so, please feel free to share them here!
Check out the posts of some of my other blogging friends, who are also writing Christmas themed posts this week:
A Slob Comes Clean – Getting Your Home Company Ready
Feels Like Home – Christmas Traditions
Somewhat Crunchy – Christmas with Dairy Allergies
Spell Outloud – Children’s Books
Mama’s Learning Corner – Children’s Crafts
Many Little Blessings – Edible Gifts
Sunflower Schoolhouse – Decorations
An Oregon Cottage – Christmas Cookies
Catholic Icing – Wishing Jesus Happy Birthday
The Traveling Praters – Traveling
The Homeschool Classroom – Gifts Kids Can Make
Mama’s Laundry Talk – Laundry Gifts
Cinnamon buns or Cinnamon rolls make great gifts. Arrange a few on a lovely holiday gift plate and wrap with colored plastic wrap and a bow. Tasty and pretty! For a great Cinnamon roll recipe that tastes like those yummy Mall ones check out this book from your local library:
Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy
I gave homemade crackers to my coworkers this year.