What Would You Bake For Christmas Presents?

@gtargirl (5376)
United States
November 27, 2010 2:42pm CST
Money is a little tight as I'm sure it's with a lot of people so I was thinking of making Christmas presents this year. One thing would be baked goods. Do you make cookies or candy, wrap them pretty and give out as presents? What would be the best items you've baked? What's practical and easy? Do tell.
3 people like this
15 responses
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
27 Nov 10
I've done candy. This year I am going to do cookies. And for one of my friends, I am going to make little loaves of banana bread. She really likes banana bread. Martha Stewart's website has a lot of pretty ways to package baked goods for the holidays.
2 people like this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
29 Nov 10
What would you say was easier? Cookies always seem way more simple to make. Love those cute mini loaves of banana bread. Thanks for the Martha Stewart tip. Have an awesome Christmas.
• Canada
30 Nov 10
I think cookies are easier, but candies can be fun to make. I've been getting distracted lately though, so I'll have to do cookies because they're faster. That, or peppermint bark, which seems like it would be easy. (but the ingredients are more expensive, so I'm thinking about it).
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
27 Nov 10
What I woud do, in your case, is to make something that they will not finish off that quick. It is something like when people give chocolates or if you make fudge. If it is given to a large family, it would be gone in a heart beat. That is what I do not like to give cookies as a present. But if it is something that could be frozen, for instance, if you have a good lasagna, chili, or casserole recipe that could be frozen, then they could have a good meal later on. So if you decide to make cookies or candies, be sure that they will last a while because if you are like me, you will want to see if there is still some cookies left over from Christmas.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
27 Nov 10
Oh by the way, I am making a mincemeat pie. And going over to my son's for Christmas.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
28 Nov 10
One year I painted assorted sizes of empty cans. I put homemade muffin mix, and homemade cappuccino mix and little votive candles in the hand decorated tins. I like giving the mixes, as then people can use them when they do not have such an abundance of goodies at their homes.
2 people like this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Nov 10
I have done cookies before. My friend does special k bars. We found some wonderful jars on sale and they were perfect to decorate. She did that this year for two of their friends. I have also baked breads..like pumpkin etc and given then as gifts.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
29 Nov 10
I love finding pretty jars on sale. I looked in my pantry today and found boxes of home made bread mix. Perhaps I can just bake them in our bread maker and hand them out. Getting creative for Christmas is so fun. Have a great day.
@celticeagle (157563)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Nov 10
Banana nut bread is great. Specialty cookies that you enjoy and want to share. You can buy little boxes or cans cheaply at the Dollar Stores. Bows and ribbons and make things very festive. And those paper bags are nice too and such a selection of them now days. I like to make a cake somewhat like a brownie but with cocunut, bran,apple sauce and natural stuff like that. I find a combination I like and make up batches and freeze them. They are great for snacks and such. You could also add some recipes to the presentation of things you like to bake or cook this time of year.
• United States
28 Nov 10
I bake bread, cookies, candy and fudge. I make home made gift baskets for my husband's family. I try to do more home made gifts rather than store bought. I have some recipes for candy that I would be more than happy to share with you. I will send them in a private message because you cannot post recipes on here. Most of them are easy. I wrap them and put them in a basket (I buy the baskets at the dollar store).
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
28 Nov 10
never thought of that and very thing we bake or make like candy gets ate up before I could give it out lolololol
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
28 Nov 10
Cookies, breads, candies, adn other things like that make great gifts at this time of the year. I also like the mixes that people give in gift jars. I am making some Christmas gifts this year too as I do not see how we can afford to buy many gifts. I am tired of being broke this year and hope that the new year brings a better economy and better job prospects.
@ellie333 (21016)
28 Nov 10
Hi Gtargirl, The only food items I have ever made for Christmas has been jam as I am not much of a baker but I am sure people would appreciate some home made cookies or a cake. This year I had a money plant and spider plant that had many cuttings so I had some clear chunky glasses that I placed coloured gravel in the bottom off for drainage and then some compost and planted the minuture shoots. They look really pretty with a red or gold tied round so have them on my windowsill growing some more and will give out to a few people and also for the church raffle or tombola. Huggles. Ellie :D
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@Elixiress (3878)
28 Nov 10
I am not a baking sort of person, so this is not something that I would do. However, if I was to receive a present of baked goods then I would prefer cookies/cakes over candy. My friend made me some lovely carrot cake cupcakes for my birthday and they were delicious, much better than any store bought ones that I have tried. However candy seems to have little difference between store bought and homemade in my opinion.
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@millertime (1394)
• United States
28 Nov 10
Definitely NOT fruitcake! Lol... I just had to say that as that's the stereotypical holiday baked item that everybody likes to hate. I would make something that freezes well just in case you end up with extra or you want to make it ahead of time in smaller batches. A lot of holiday cookies are great for this and most people like cookies. Another good one is pound cake. There are a lot of recipe variations and it's pretty popular. I like things like banana bread and zucchini bread. They both freeze well too, but I don't think they're as universally liked so I don't know if that would be as good.
@Jiabsa (511)
• India
28 Nov 10
I don't have the habit of giving x'mas presents to others. I also don't get x'mas presents from others. I'm in India and I never see this kind of present distribution anywhere. Giving baked goods like cookies or candy to others as a x'mas present is really a good idea. Now i'm thinking of following this idea.
@MadReKey (10)
• United States
28 Nov 10
The best homemade goods to give as presents, especially around Christmas time, are home made candy canes. They really aren't that hard if you've got a stove, a pan, a candy thermometer, and peppermint extract. They are very easy to make and you can just search on the internet really quickly on how to make them. Just be careful when you're rolling out the molten sugar base, I burnt my hands a little the first time I made them.
1 person likes this
28 Nov 10
Well, I've been thinking exactly like you these past few days. I watched this show on the tube just tonight and found a recipe on no-bake tiramisu. The result was really great and I'm thinking of creating little versions of what they made and send it to some close family friends this Christmas. I hope I gave you a little idea.
• Canada
28 Nov 10
One year when my sister and I were low on funds, Mom helped us make things like various types of cookies, and caramel popcorn. It was a really good idea, and we had a wonderful time being creative.
1 person likes this