Myers - DIY Christmas Gift & Ideas: Over 30 Easy Christmas Gifts & Decoration Ideas for this Winter

Do you have many food-lovers in your circle of friends? Does your family miss your homemade cooking while theyre away? Why not give them edible gifts this Christmas season to get them through the cold winter season? In this chapter you will find simple recipes for various treats such as:

• Assemble your own cookie mix in minutes.
• Learn how to make cake pops and
• Make and drink your own chocolate.
• Create spice blends for your loved ones to use.
• Finally, learn how you can make your own marzipan goodies in no tim e .

For the containers:

• Labels
• Markers
• Tags of the Cookie Recipe
• Paper
• Scissors
• Ribbons for Recipe and Lid
• Canning Jar with Lid (Mason Jar)
• Fabric

For the cookie mix:

• cup Sugar (powdered)
• cup Brown Sugar
• tsp Baking Powder
• cup White Chocolate Chips
• cup Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1 cups All-Purpose Flour
• tsp Baking Soda
• cup Chopped/Pecans/Walnuts
• cup Oats (rolled)
• cup Chocolate (M&M)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Preparing your jars:

1. Wash and dry all your jars properly before you using them.

2. Mark all jar labels with the name of the cookie mix.

3. Write down or print the recipe for your cookie mix on the tags. These will be tied to the jar later.

Preparing the cookie mix:

1. In a dry mixing bowl, add all-purpose flour, then add the baking soda and baking powder. Mix together well.
2. Pack your jar with the cookie mix. Add the white sugar to the bottom of the jar and pack it in place with a spatula or big spoon.
3. Next, add the brown sugar and pack it in. Over the brown sugar, pour the all-purpose flour gently.
4. Next, add your chocolate chips and candy bits. You can mix the chocolate chips if you want the layer to have a colorful pattern.
5. On top of the candy, add the rolled oats, and finally add the layer of chopped nuts.
6. Now, it is time to wrap your jar for a festive look.

Decorating your jar:

1. Take a sheet of paper and place a medium-sized bowl on it, upside down.
2. Trace the rim of the bowl with a marker or pen, then cut out this circle with a pair of scissors.
3. Your Mason jar lids have two parts: a round section and then metal screw lid.
4. Place the round section of the lid onto your jar, then gently place the cut-out cloth on top, and attach the other lid firmly on top.
5. This lid will keep your cloth from moving. Arrange the cloth on the sides once the lid is shut.
6. Take the recipe tag, and punch a small hole in the upper corner of the tag.
7. Fit your decorative ribbon through this hole. Make sure the ribbon is long enough to go around the jars neck.
8. Tie the ribbon around the neck of the Mason jar, and thats it! You cookie mix is ready for gifting!
   

Cookie Recipe Directions to Include With Your Mason Jars:

"This cookie mix yields 4 dozen cookies. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, add cup unsalted butter, teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 egg. Combine all the ingredients together. Then put in the contents from the jar and mix together well. Take a baking tray out for your cookies. Scoop about 1 teaspoon of your cookie mixture onto the tray. Place the baking tray in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool for a couple minutes after taking out of the oven. Enjoy!"

You can also replace this cookie mix for a cake, brownie or even hot cocoa recipe! Follow the same instructions to layer the ingredients and decorate your jars. Stick on festive candy-cane or snowman stickers for an added holiday touch.

Chocolate Cake Pops

For the Chocolate Cake:

• cups Granulated Sugar
• tsp Salt
• 1 cups All Purpose Flour
• cup Unsalted Butter
• tsp Vanilla Extract
• cup Water
• tsp Baking Powder
• cup Cocoa Powder
• tsp Baking Soda
• 4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• cup Milk
• 2 Eggs

For the Cake Pop Decoration:

• 250g White Chocolate Chips
• 250g Dark Chocolate Chips
• Lollipop Sticks
• 4tbsp Canola Oil
• 2 Candy Canes, crushed
• Styrofoam
• Handful of Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans, all finely chopped or crushed

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grease a medium sized cake pan or baking tray with oil or butter.
3. To make the cake, first combine the dry ingredients. Take a large mixing bowl, and add your flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and cocoa. Combine them well.
4. Use whisk or beater to add butter the butter into the mixture.
5. Add oil and continue to mix till you get a grainy texture.
6. In another small bowl, add vanilla extract, milk and water, and mix together. Add this wet mix to your grainy dry mix.
7. Continue to mix the ingredients.
8. Add eggs, one by one, and keep whisking. The ingredients should form a smooth batter.
9. Dont worry if your mix looks thin, as it will thicken when it bakes.
10. Pour the cake batter evenly onto greased baking tray and slide into the oven.
11. Your cake should take around 25 minutes, check the cake by inserting fork into the center of the cake and take it out. The fork should be completely clean. If it comes with liquid batter stuck, allow it to bake for a couple minutes more.