SIX HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

I am not one for getting all crazy about Christmas in November, but one thing I do think it’s worth thinking about are homemade presents. Some need a little time to sit and mature so when I have a spare dark evening these are what I make. There is so much delight in making at Christmas time – giving something you have stirred some love into is for me what the festive season is all about.

It needn’t be too fancy – two Christmases ago I gave away jars of my Coconut + Cardamom Nut Butter, the perfect thing to have on toast on bleak January days and nothing like the nut butter you buy in the shops. I’ve also shared a recipe for my Salted Caramel Date Pecan Butter, and my books have even more variations if you want to make a few.

I have been making these Rainbow Christmas Tree Meringues to hang on my tree for the last few years and they look so great, like little pastel clouds. There are also Clementine + Honey Gingerbread Stars – perfect for making with little hands, along with the strings of cranberries and popcorn you could have quite a feast from our christmas tree.

There are some more grown up ideas too suggestions too – my wonderful friends Anja, Jen and Mimi wrote a book called Do Preserve this year, it’s full of suggestions for seasonal jams, chutneys and syrups and they have kindly shared a chutney recipe that will lift any cheeseboard to the next level. And it wouldn’t be right without something to drink, so this Berry and Almond gin can be made with an array of berries, (I use frozen ones at this time of year)-  so simple to make and only needs a few weeks steeping so it should be ready for Christmas drinks.

COCONUT + CARDAMOM ALMOND BUTTER

SALTED DATE CARAMEL PECAN BUTTER

CLEMENTINE + HONEY GINGERBREAD STARS

RAINBOW CHRISTMAS TREE MERINGUES

BERRY + ALMOND GIN

DO PRESERVE’S PEAR, LEMON + GINGER CHUTNEY