i decided this year – out of both financial necessity and lack of other viable options - i was going to make christmas gifts for my extended family. i’m not talking snowman sweaters or pillows, i’m talking food.
i ventured into the world of candy making with fleur de sel caramels first. they came out perfect – salty, sweet, and wonderfully flavored by the mexican vanilla i had in my pantry. wrapped up in a miniature cardboard box, these made for the quintessential holiday gifts for family and friends.
but i didn’t stop there. i found adorable ceramic mini loaf pans and couldn’t resist filling them with scrumptious treats to go with the caramels. when i stumbled on this recipe, i knew it was the one. chocolate and peppermnt all wrapped into one little cake-bread?
instead of mint green chips, i chose to stick with regular chocolate, and instead sprinkled crushed candy canes on top. not only was it just as delicious, it also added a wonderfully seasonal touch.
and when i say adorable, i mean adorable.
we’ve got strands of lights,
one that resembles a cute sweater,
and of course, santa!
tied with a festive ribbon, my gifts were all set!
The only gifts I made were the ones that I gave that you made. Lol. If that makes any since?
What great loaf pans! Anyone receiving your homemade gifts should consider themselves lucky – I do!
I did make some gifts this year: for some of the men in my life that I find hard to buy for, like stepdads and fathers-in-law… I made a version of orangecello using clementines and fresh ginger. And of COURSE I forgot to take pics of the cute glass bottles and homemade labels I made for them!! Crumb!
Happy Boxing Day!
These are so cute! Homemade gifts are really the greatest.
Those caramels look awesome! I thought about making some from cupcakesandcashmere – but I chickened out lol
And those cakes look GREAT!! Mark me down on your Christmas List next year
Oh my goodness, those are SO adorable! You are so creative!