What homemade Christmas gifts are you making or baking this year?

Our gift baskets/bags/boxes usually hold 3-4 items. Every year, we (I) struggle to find a balance between old favorites that we have to make and new things that we (I) want to make. All while staying on-budget and trying not to end the night of the 23rd with me in a panic, wondering why I (just me!) once again tried to take on too much.

But it really isn’t Christmas without:

Sea Salt Caramels with Vanilla Bean – They’re a favorite of The Foodie Groom, his younger brother, and small cousins. And instead of making several batches of the caramels last year, I made jars of salted caramel sauce instead. And wouldn’t you know, the first thing one of those cousins said to me was, “I can’t wait to get my caramels!” 😳 The kids will not be denied their candy this year.

Red, White, and Green Biscotti – They’re a big hit with the Foodie Groom’s grandmother, aunt, and my mother-in-law. And they’re my favorite. They get double or triple portions of what goes into our standard gift bags.

Homemade Vanilla Extract – The serious bakers usually get a bottle of homemade vanilla extract.

This year, we’ve decided on two additional items: a box of chocolate bark in two flavors (Swirled Peppermint Bark and “Grasshopper” Chocolate Bark) and a jar of homemade jalapeno pepper jelly. I’ve already made the pepper jelly and chocolate bark is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only chopping, melting, and pouring. The flavor combinations are pretty much endless and everyone loves it. We all win! And hopefully one of us (me!) will be a little less stressed out on the 23rd 🙂