Christmas DIY edible gifts

d78

So, I know we kinda talked about this a little last week or whenever, but I need some ideas.In past years, I've made food for my & DH's coworkers. For mine, I make special containers, and for DH's I just make one big container for everyone, since he works on a bigger team. I've done cookies, chex mix, and some other stuff. I'm thinking of doing missizz's pretzel recipe, but want to do something else too. One of DH's coworkers is diabetic and my boss's bf is diabetic (so she's been careful too). I can't decide if I should take all that into consideration & also make something healthy or not. What is there that I could make healthy (& sugar free), though?Any suggestions for easy crowd-pleasers? I don't want to get into the liquors and other stuff some of you were mentioning before, though. It sounds way too complicated!

cobrien1976

My friend makes this wonderful popcorn concoction with chocolate, carmel, peanuts, and pretzels...it is like heaven. Not diabetic friendly. But if you are interested, I can get the receipe from her. It is so good and one of my favorite xmas presents!

d78

Hmm, actually, one of my former students made that for me once (it WAS heavenly!) and gave me the recipe, too! :-) I'll have to dig that up! I had an idea of something else for my boss at least. Maybe I could do that layered jar thing for soup or bread or something, where you just add the wet ingredients.

pinksonya

Last year I did cinnamon roasted almonds (and other various nuts).  They were a hit!  I may have found the recipe in Erica's blog...

LaFemmeRousse

My mom always made a spiced nut mix- one savory, one sweet.  You could probably make the savory one sugar-free and sort of healthy.I always make rum balls, which are not healthy or diabetic-friendly at all, but delicious

KRMac

We make seasoned pretzels every year for my coworkers, host/hostess gifts for parties, etc.  They are delicious and easy, but not really healthy...no sugar though!  I put them in individual bags or tins.This is similar to my recipe....I use whole sourdough pretzels and break them into bite sized pieces though, not the nuggets. [url]http://partyfood.suite101.com/article.cfm/seasoned_pretzel_recipe[/url]  We make cranberry orange bread for my family and DH's coworkers and then a big tray of cookies for my "warehouse" coworkers. 

daveys_baby

I usually do fudge for my coworkers (the recipe is in my blog) it's easy and I do different flavors w/ the different flavored morsels out there or cut up flavored oreos to throw in.I actually have 3 books on edible gifts that you can give in Mason Jars, and the recipient just has to add minor ingredients.  I'm going to be looking through them tonight to see what I'm going to give people this year.  I'll keep in mind that a coworker is diabetic and see if there are any that seem like they'd be sugar free and I'll page you.  I did browse the other day and there were some soup mixes, bread mixes, spice rubs, maybe those would be an option?

jlbaxter33

A few ideas:I make for family "saltine toffee cookies" or as we call it, bark. It is DELICIOUS. Definitely not diabetic friendly, but delicious. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Saltine-Toffee-Cookies/Detail.aspxI thought about making apple butter this year, but haven't gotten around to it. But that's an option.I would LOVE the recipe for cinnamon roasted nuts if you have a second. My sister makes popcorn balls that are always a hit.My friend takes those brownie bites and dips them in chocolate then decorates them for the holidays. I am starving!

jlbaxter33

Hey Daveys-- can you give the name of those books. I'd be interested in purchasing them! Thanks!!

missizz

D- I'm so glad you posted this!  I looove the suggestions so far!

daveys_baby

I'll do anything for a Jamie ;-) I'll page you tomorrow, I'm not sure how easy they are to get, since 2 of them were clearance I got a few years ago.  I'm also interested in the cinnamon nuts, when we were in GA, they had cinnamon cashews and they were so good.  When I think cashews I always think salty, but WOW!

pinksonya

Hmm, I checked Erica's blog and didn't find it.  I know I found it in someone's blog.  I have it on an index card at home.

LaFemmeRousse

This seems like an easier version of my mom's recipe for sweet roasted pecans:[url]http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Coated-Pecans/Detail.aspx[/url]

d78

Nom nom nom! :-) Great ideas everyone! I'm so saving this thread so I can refer back! Thanks, Jamie! I think I have a book like that too, now that I think about it. I'll try to find mine this weekend. I remember there being a LOT of sweets in the one I have, though.

daveys_baby

One of them had a potato soup recipe, it was basically instant potato flakes and all different seasonings.  Last night I used a pack of "Loaded Baked Potato" instant mashed (I think they're by Orieda), you pour 1 cup of milk to every 1/3 cup of flakes, stir and heat it in the microwave for 3 minutes and it's pretty good (not Tastefully Simple good but quick, easy, and cheap).

king26

  I often do the mixes for gifts.  One year I made bread mixes, but them in nice bags, and put the bag in a cheap bread pan.  People loved them!   I've also done chocolate covered pretzels and oreos which are always crowd pleasers.   A good, EASY, and cheap one is to get kettle corn (even the microwave kind), pop it up, mix in some red and green M & M's, and drizzle white chocolate over it.  SOOOOOO yummy and so easy to make!

king26

They have a set of 4 books for Gifts in Jars-one is soups, one is breads, one is cookies, and I can't remember what the other is.  In the books they even give you tags to put on the jars.  If you go to Amazon and search "Gifts in a Jar" all of the books come up-it looks like there are about 15 of them now!