Unique and fun holiday treats for family and friends
Holiday treats are an important part of any Christmas celebration.
I’ll never forget the sweet taste of the plum pudding my mom always makes for dessert on Christmas Day, and I will always cherish the memories of baking cookies and building gingerbread houses with my sons. There is definitely something special (and memorable) about the smell and taste of holiday goodies.
Preparing sweet and savory fare for family and friends is one of my favourite traditions, and this year (with COVID restrictions in place), it may be more important than ever. Today, I am sharing some of my favourite holiday baking ideas and unique options for packaging them to share with family and friends.
When it comes to holiday recipes, I enjoy putting a holiday twist on my tried-andtrue favourites. This year, I decided to turn my no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies into a funny cookie for my boys to share with the kids in our neighbourhood. Because they are brown and full of rolled oats, we baked them and called them “reindeer
poop cookies.” We packaged the cookies in cute boxes from the dollar store, and we added tags that said “Christmas is coming, and here’s the scoop. We made you a treat. It’s REINDEER POOP!”
To make Reindeer Poop cookies:
1) Mix together the following dry ingredients, and set aside:
• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt
2) Put the following ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a boil:
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
3) Remove from heat, and stir in dry ingredients.
4) Before the mixture starts to dry out, drop the mixture from heaping teaspoons onto wax paper, and allow to cool completely.
Another fantastic idea is to take your favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe and simply add red and green M&Ms in place of the chocolate chips. It doesn’t get much easier; they are full of festive flair, and they are perfect for leaving for Santa on Christmas Eve. You can even premix the ingredients and put them in a jar to share with family and friends. My boys already have a jarred “cookies for Santa” mix ready to bake on Christmas Eve.
Savory treats are another wonderful option for preparing, packaging, and gifting. Last year, I cooked a large batch of homemade nuts and bolts for my neighbours. I filled little jam jars with the delicious treats, and added “Spreading Christmas Cheer… one jar at a time” tags. They turned out super-cute!
Gifts from the kitchen really are gifts from the heart. They are inexpensive, thoughtful, useful, and a fantastic way to let friends and family know you are thinking about them this holiday season.
This year, I hope you put on your apron, bake one of your favourite goodies, wrap it up in a festive way, and share it with the people you care about. We may be celebrating a bit different in 2020, but Christmas treats are guaranteed to make everyone’s holidays a little sweeter.
Gina Bell writes the East Coast Mommy column, which runs every second week. Follow her blog at www.EastCoastMommy. com or contact her at eastcoastmommy@gmail.com