Edible Gifts - Homemade Gifts Everyone Will Love!

This lens is dedicated to the gift-giver in all of us.  Rather than spend hours at the mall or endlessly clicking the 'Net for that perfect gift, why not just make it?  Here are easy, delicious gifts that your friends and family will talk about for years.

Decadent Butter Toffee - I get requests for these year after year!

1/2 cup butter (keep extra available)

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

4 ounces milk chocolate chips

sliced almonds (optional)

Rub the top of a microwavable mixing bowl with (extra) butter. Place butter into bowl. Pour sugar directly on butter. Add salt and water.

Cook approximately 7-8 minutes (sometimes I have seen some microwaves take up to 12 minutes). Mixture will boil. Start watching at this point so as not to overcook. Candy is done when it's the color of a Heath bar or brown sugar.

Pour mixture over sliced almonds on a buttered cookie sheet. Don't scrape the bowl! Spread mixture evenly. Top with chocolate, let sit for a minute, then spread chocolate over the top (and more almonds if you wish) and let cool. It takes approximately 15 - 20 minutes to cool enough to break easily. Break into pieces and arrange in a bowl, basket, or coffee cup, lined with plastic wrap. I can usually find cute holiday dishes at my $1 store that even come with lids. Make lots - everyone will want some. So addicting!

Makes 3 26 oz. Bottles

Homemade Kafe-Lua (just like Kahlua!) Easy and Fast (10 minutes!)

4 cups water

4 cups sugar

1/2 cup instant coffee crystals

1/4 cup real vanilla extract

26 ounces vodka

Bring water and sugar to a boil.

Add to coffee crystals just enough water to dissolve them. Add coffee to water and sugar and boil for 5 minutes, being careful not to let it boil over. This will make a slightly thick syrup.

Cool completely, then add vanilla and vodka.

Mix well. You can serve immediately but this recipe is best when allowed to sit for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Pour into a decorative bottle with a cork or cap and wrap in a bottle-sized gift bag.

Add a custom label to your bottles for pennies!

Makes 4 mini loaves or 1 big loaf

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Loaf - Spicy and just sweet enough!

2 1/2 C. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg

1 c. chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 lb. canned pumpkin (not pie filling)

1 c. walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 4 mini loaf pans or 1 regular size loaf pan. Dust lightly with flour.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices; set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, add the sugar and oil, and beat just to mix. Mix in the pumpkin, then the chocolate chips. Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing only until all ingredients are moist. Add walnuts, if desired.

Pour the batter into the loaf pans. Bake for 45 minutes for smaller loaves, 1 - 1 1/4 hrs. for large loaves or until a cake tester comes out fairly clean, not with batter left on it. Cool and wrap quickly as these tend to disappear when left unwrapped. Use colored plastic wrap or tin foil and tie with a ribbon. My favorite for teachers as it makes a lovely Christmas morning bread.

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg, beaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

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DIRECTIONS

Sterilize 2 (1 pint) straight sided wide mouth canning jars, lids and rings by boiling for 10 minutes. Keep the lids and rings in the hot water until needed. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C)

In a small bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine butter, water and cocoa powder. Heat and stir until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Pour into a large bowl.

Stir in Flour mixture and blend. Add buttermilk, egg and vanilla and beat by hand until smooth. Stir in nuts.

Distribute evenly into the 2 prepared canning jars. Place the jars on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted deep into center of cake comes out clean.

Using heavy oven mitts, remove cakes from oven one at a time. Place the lids onto the jars and screw them down tightly. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to "ping" as they seal. If you miss the "ping", wait until they are completely cool and press on the top of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed.

Garnish your gift with a custom (and inexpensive!) label: