Making a homemade holiday gift is a fun way to get kids involved in gift-giving — but finding the perfect handmade present can be tougher than last year’s fruitcake. If your list includes some hard-to-please folks, and you’re running low on time and creativity, don’t throw in the towel. Instead, choose from this collection of culinary gifts for everyone on your list. These tasty treats are thoughtful, easy on the wallet, and usually come together in less time than it takes to go the mall. Give them a try, and you’ll be rewarded with heartfelt thanks and cherished family memories.
The foodie: Herbed salts
Give the gourmet in your life the gift of perfectly seasoned meals. Make an herb salt blend by mixing one part crushed or ground herbs and five parts salt. For cumin, marjoram, or thyme salts, use ground herbs; for others, such as basil or rosemary, let kids help crush the herbs with a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin. Use single herbs, or experiment with different combinations.
Pour the finished mixture into a salt-shaker, and be sure to label your custom blend.
The snow bunny: Hot cocoa mix with marshmallows
Send warm wishes to friends and family in cold climates with this charming chocolaty twosome. Whip up a dry hot cocoa mix and combine it with powdery, fluffy homemade marshmallows (locate recipes online).
Package the cocoa in a small tin, and seal the marshmallows in a plastic bag if they’ll be shipped. Add a large cocoa mug for an extra-thoughtful touch. Kids will love making and tasting this sweet pair of treats, but be warned: once they taste hot cocoa perfection, they may not go back to the store-bought stuff.
The film buff: Popcorn and homemade seasoning mix
Cold weather calls for cozy movie nights at home, so give your favorite film fanatic a couch-worthy snack. Begin by filling a large mason jar to the top with bulk popcorn kernels and fastening the lid. Next, have kids help prepare the seasoning mix and scoop it into small mason jars.
To finish, tie the pair of jars off with twine or ribbon, and present with a new DVD or a popcorn bowl. Try this sweet-and-salty combo: mix a quarter cup sugar with one teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and ground salt.
The coffee connoisseur: Vanilla bean syrup
Treat a coffee-lover to homemade vanilla syrup that will add layers of flavor to her morning java. This project is best for older kids, who will be fascinated by the funny-looking vanilla bean and the aromatic flecks inside.
First, bring one cup water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add one to two cups of sugar (more sugar will yield a thicker syrup) along with the vanilla bean and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool. Take out the vanilla bean, and pour the syrup into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. In addition to flavoring coffee, this sweet concoction can be added to sparkling water, lemonade, cocktails, or poured over ice cream or yogurt.
The calorie-counter: Infused vinegars
With sugary treats as far as the eye can see, the holiday season can be trying for those on restricted diets. Herb-infused vinegars make an attractive gift that fits anyone’s diet plan. To start, scout discount stores and craft stores for pretty glass bottles. Remove the bottles’ lids and insert herbs from your garden or the grocery store.
Using a small funnel, pour in warmed (not hot) distilled white vinegar and seal the lid with hot wax. Some combinations to try: oregano, thyme, and basil; lemon balm, nasturtium, and dill; and sage, thyme, basil, and rosemary.
Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is “Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.”
