Our Top 3 Homemade Gift Ideas This Christmas

Christmas time can be expensive and worrisome for all. You'll find people rushing around grabbing all the toys, gadgets and goodies and every year it just becomes more expensive than the last. That’s why we thought we would share with you our top 3 homemade gift ideas. Often something homemade with that extra personal touch makes the best gift of all.

Reindeer Chocolate Gift Jar By Kilner

Directions:

1. Start with a Kilner Wide Mouth Preserve Jar
2. Cut some brown felt to cover the body of the jar
3. Use fabric glue to stick the felt to the jar
4. Stick 2 googly eyes onto the felt
5. Cut a round piece of red felt out for Rudolf’s nose and stick on with the fabric glue
6. Punch 2 hole carefully in the preserve lid and place in 2 brown pipe cleaners to make antlers
7. Decorate the lid with ribbon and attached a gift card
8. Pour inside the chocolates of your choice

Traditional Christmas Pudding By Mason Cash

You need:

• 50g ground almonds
• 2 large Bramley cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 whole nutmeg, grated
• 1.2kg mixed dried fruit and candied peel
• 140g plain flour
• 100g soft, white breadcrumbs
• 100g light muscovado sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tbsp brandy
• 250g butter, grated

This recipe uses the Mason Cash Pudding Basin Directions:

1. Butter the inside of your Pudding Basin and line the base with a disc of buttered greaseproof paper
2. Mix all the ingredients for the pudding, except the butter, in a large bowl
3. Add the grated butter and stir until well combined
4. Pour the mixture into the pudding basin and press down.
5. Cover with a layer of greaseproof paper and then foil, making a pleat in the centre to allow the pudding to rise
6. Tie the foil securely with string, and then place each pudding in a large pan with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the basin
7. Steam the pudding for 8 hours, topping up with water as necessary
8. Remove from the pans and leave to cool overnight
9. When cold, wrap in cellophane and fasten with a Christmas ribbon of your choice and gift tag

Homemade Pavlova

You need:

• 4 egg whites
• 200-250g of sugar
• 1 tsp white wine vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tsp cornflour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 400g of sliced peaches
• 80g chia seeds
• 3 tbsp icing sugar
• Almond flakes
• Whip cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 150C. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Draw 9-inch circle on the parchment paper.
3. Beat the egg whites in a large bowl until they form stiff peaks but not dry. Gradually add sugar in about 1 tablespoon at a time while beating after each addition. Add in the sugar vanilla extract, white wine vinegar and cornflour. Beat until thick and glossy.
4. Spoon the mixture inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper and gently smooth to the top.
5. Immediately place it in the oven on a wire rack to bake for an hour.
6. After an hour, leave the oven door ajar to let it cool down
7. Remove the paper and place the now warm meringue on the Maxwell and Williams White Basic Pavlova Plate
8. Fill the centre of the meringue with whipped cream and decorate it with sliced peaches, chia seeds and almond flakes for a colourful finish.
9. Place it in a cake box and fasten with a Christmas ribbon of your choice and gift tag

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Next Read: 5 Great Ways to Save Money this Christmas

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