Santa’s workshop might be the busiest place this time of year, but kitchens across the United States aren’t too far behind. Edible gifts are a great way to celebrate the important people in your life around the holidays. Here are six of our favorite edible gift ideas:
1. Santa Sleigh Trail Mix: Green pistachios tossed together with a red dried fruit like cranberries or cherries provides a tasty snack that can be wrapped up beautifully in clear cellophane so that the holiday colors shine through. Or, tie a ribbon around gift bags of granola with this Orange, Pumpkin Seed & Smoked Almond Granola recipe.
2. Reindeer Rush of Energy Bars: Kids know that reindeer have magical powers, but that doesn’t mean Santa’s pets aren’t powering up on nutrient-rich foods too. Since caribou love their oats, cranberries and cinnamon, they’d love this Eat-in-the-Car Bar – and your red-nosed kiddos will too. Package each bar in tightly folded plastic wrap with a twine bow and it will be a gift that looks like it was delivered straight from Rudolph’s saddlebag.
3. The 12 Whole Grains of Christmas: Holidays and baking go together like silver and gold, holly and ivy, mistletoe and kisses – you get it… So if your family loves to bake up a storm and then share with neighbors and friends, consider a goody that’s good for you. Whole-wheat muffins, whole grain breads and seedy granolas make for versatile gifts that can be part of any meal. You can’t miss with a basket full of these Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins or even these Ginger Orange Muffins.
4. Snowy Yogurt Parfaits: Need to send something in with the kids for a classroom party? Try filling 9 oz. clear plastic cups with plain or low-sugar vanilla yogurt (we love Oikos Greek Yogurt from Dannon) and then layer in red and green fruits like strawberries, raspberries, kiwis and pears. This calcium-fortified treat is an especially good gift for any kids who are singing about wanting their two front teeth!
5. Chef Cole’s Roasted Chestnuts: Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” is an essential part of many celebrations, but how many of your friends and family members have actually eaten a chestnut roasting on an open fire? Chestnuts are surprisingly easy to prepare, low in fat and rich in nutrients. Why not package up a heap of them and attach a cute homemade recipe card with step-by-step cooking instructions – Martha Stewart’s four steps to roasting chestnuts offer some great tips!
6. Merry Cranberries: When you put an edible gift in a unique mug or jar, the receiver gets to enjoy it over and over again. Whip up a big batch of this Seriously Orange Cranberry Sauce and package it in a jar with a beautiful white or green ribbon. You can also attach a list of creative ways to use the sauce, such as in salsa, omelets, yogurt and sandwich wraps.
