Gifts from the kitchen and the heart

Gifts of food are unique, personal, and from the heart. This year, take a little time to make special holiday gifts from the kitchen for your loved ones. Here are some of our favorite food gifts:

Chocolate chip cookie mix in a jar

Instead of baking a batch of cookies, put together the ingredients to make cookie mix in a jar. Use a quart-size canning jar and decorate it with ribbon and other embellishments. Layer the ingredients in the jar, starting with the flour and packing down each layer. Use enough chocolate chips to fill the jar. And be sure to include the cookie recipe on the gift tag.

In the jar:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix butter, egg, and vanilla until well combined.
3. Add jar of cookie mix into the mixture.
4. Mix until blended.
5. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough, about 2-inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly brown.

Fruitcake cookies

Yield: 6 dozen cookies

Not everyone likes fruitcake, but everyone will love these fruitcake cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound golden raisins
• 1 pound raisins
• 1/2 pound red candied cherries
• 1/2 pound red candied pineapple
• 1/2 pound green candied cherries
• 1/2 pound green candied pineapple
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup bourbon or spiced rum
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pound walnut halves
• 1/2 pound pecan halves

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, dredge candied fruit and raisins in 1 cup flour.
3. In a large bowl, cream together brown sugar along with butter; beat in eggs.
4. Gradually beat in bourbon and milk; add remaining flour and spices and continue beating; stir in fruit and nuts.
5. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
6. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough, about 2-inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Bake for 15 minutes.

Fantasy fudge

Yield: 3 pounds

Fudge makes a terrific gift. This fudge recipe uses chocolate chips and marshmallow creme for a rich, delicious flavor.

Ingredients:

• 3 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1, 5 1/3-ounce can Carnation evaporated milk
• 1, 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups Kraft marshmallow creme
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk in heavy 2 1/2 quart saucepan.
2. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
3. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted.
4. Add marshmallow creme, vanilla, and nuts and beat until well blended.
5. Pour mixture into greased 13 x 9-inch pan.
6. Cool to room temperature before cutting into squares.

More holiday treats

Rudolf’s Christmas Cookies

The holiday season is almost here – time for Christmas cookies! This recipe video shows you how to make Rudolf’s Christmas Cookies.

More holiday gift ideas

• Christmas cookie gifts
• Christmas gifts wrap ideas
• More homemade gifts from the kitchen