Christmas can be an expensive affair for many of us and it’s a really good chance to get back to basics and into the spirit of giving without breaking the bank.
Often a thoughtful handmade present or a gift you’ve put a little effort into is just the trick to show people how much you care, and it won’t blow your budget. Below are SAHM’s top picks for gifts that are a great way to say Merry Christmas and get into the spirit of giving frugally.
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Cookie Mix in a Jar
Lemon Curd or Lemon Butter
Lemon Butter combines both sweet and sour flavours in the one. It’s easy to make and tastes great! Lemon Butter goes great on toast”¦.yummm”¦Not only that, it is an easy filling for a Lemon Meringue Pie, it can be stuffed into raspberries, or just a fantastic gift when put in a jar!
Traditional Rum Balls
Rum Balls are a traditional favourite loved by generations. You don’t have to just make them at Christmas time, they are good all year around. I love these! You can make them up to a week ahead (or even freeze themf or up to two months).
Homemade Irish Cream
This is a beautiful recipe for Homemade Irish Cream (same thing as Baileys!) nice with milk and ice, on its own, or splashed into a cup of coffee! Perfect for a dram today, or on St Patrick’s Day, or a great gift for Christmas!
Homemade Chocolate Truffles
Truffles can be expensive when bought from the dessert shop. If you’re thinking of giving them as gifts, then you’re gonna spend a lot! Unless you make it at home. Homemade Truffles can be as great as the ones sold in the shops. What’s great is that you can choose and make your own version, pick different flavours and make it fit your taste. This Simple Homemade Truffles Recipe is heavenly and just as decadent. All you need is a short trip to the supermarket and put your baking gloves on!
Malteser Fudge
This Malteser Caramel and White Chocolate Fudge is so rich, it could buy a house in Beverly Hills! So when serving, you only literally need 1cm square slices or you’ll OD on sugar! It is very gooey and decadent though so totally worth it”¦”¦..
Clinker Slice
Clinkers Slice is hands-down one of the most amazing things you will ever eat. I promise! Usually I just nibble away on the bag of Clinkers, trying to guess what colour the next one will be (yes, I’m clearly a super interesting person”¦ not!). The only bad thing about this slice is it takes the fun out of guessing the Clinkers colours but I promise that is the ONLY bad thing!
Nanna Darling Jam Drops
Try our Show Winning Recipe for Jam Drops My Nanna’s Own Recipe! This is my Nanna Darlings Jam Drops recipe, they are light, fluffy and that gooey jam centre oh boy! We have put a party twist on this country show winning classic! Stay tuned.
Mars Bar Slice
We have tweaked all different recipes to come up with the winning combo”¦my kids would inhale this if I let them. My sister in-law has also been know for this signature dish! She is not what one would call passionate in the kitchen; she makes a mean Mars Bar Slice, so all is forgiven!
Little Cookie Houses
Gingerbread houses are a true Christmas tradition. These little cookie houses are a simplified version that the kids will love making and eating.
DIY Spa Kit
Moisturise and replenish your skin with this peppermint-scented spa kit! The trio includes a sugar scrub to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, a whipped body cream to soften dry skin, and a foot soak to relieve sore/tired feet. The products are derived from natural ingredients, making them suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. Package the kits up in cute half-pint jars and you have the perfect gift for anyone who would love a little pampering.
DIY Mason Jar Desserts
Do you have friends who absolutely love snacking on desserts throughout the day? Well this is the best present to give them. You can pretty much make any kind of mason jar dessert… just be creative! My personal favorites are mason jar s’mores, cupcakes and hot chocolate.
Simply buy a pack of mason jars at Dollarama or a craft store, and go to the grocery store to buy all the ingredients you would need to make that dessert! These mason jar desserts and drinks are so easy for anyone to bring with them on the go and eat it as a quick snack “” think about carrying a cupcake in your purse not having to worry about it getting squished!
DIY Infused Olive Oils
This is a fantastic idea for holiday gifts and definitely something I would LOVE to receive! The bottle and its packaging look wonderful. it most definitely appeals to me
Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
Homemade salted caramel sauce is so easy to make that you won’t need to buy it from the store! Make a bunch to store in the fridge for future dessert use!
Here’s a recipe from Table for Two!
DIY Bath Tea Bags
We have 2 sizes of these little bags, so decided to make two different herbal mixtures to fill them. For the bigger bags we made a relaxation soak, and for the tiny ones we put together a beautiful skin renewal mix.
Our Relax mix combines Oats, Hops, Lavender and Chamomile to sooth and moisturise the skin, and would be perfect to have as a relaxing soak at the end of a hard day, or just before bed to promote a fabulous night’s sleep.
Homemade Strawberry Jam
Home Made Strawberry Jam is easy and is made in amounts that would make it easy to halve or double, depending on your needs. Enjoy. What a great way to use up fresh berries going off fast!
Homemade Traditional Turkish Delight
We believe that any lover of turkish delight should attempt to make a Traditional Turkish Delight at least once in their lives. Yes, it’s not the easiest recipe, and it’s definitely not the healthiest, but it’s still a heap of fun for a mid-skilled cook, and of course the results are incredibly delicious!
Raspberry Marshmallows
You’ve eaten store-bought marshmallows, but we bet you’ve never had anything as good as these Homemade Raspberry Marshmallows. They’re silky smooth and super soft, basically the best marshmallows you’ve ever eaten. Yes, there’s a bit of legwork, but it’s absolutely worth it in the end!
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Homemade Ferrero Rochers
Homemade Ferrero Rochers are the perfect homemade gift for the person that has everything. They are simple to make and you can make them and freeze them in advance!