The best gift is a homemade Christmas basket: 81 ideal recipes and how to present them
Share The best gift is a homemade Christmas basket: 81 ideal recipes and how to present them
Receiving a Christmas basket always caused a stir in my house, rather because of the children who launched ourselves to reveal all the "treasures" that they sent to my parents. Over time I discovered that the level of cuteness could be blushing in certain cases; A good Christmas basket only shines if we can afford it to be of quality. So why not make it homemade?
Receiving a nice package full of totally homemade gastronomic gifts will always be more exciting and will be better received than any pack pre-designed by a company. It is a magnificent gift to show true affection with those who really matter to us, also perfect to take to the host if we have to be guests at parties. What should not be missing?
Nougats and other typical sweets
It is inevitable to visualize nougat, shortbread and marzipan when thinking of a Christmas basket. We have been waiting for this moment for months - or so I want to think - to taste these little delicacies reserved for parties, making the pleasure double. Anyone can buy a nougat in any store, but the homemade will cause a special furor.
There are many traditional Christmas sweets within our gastronomic culture, with specialties in each region, so we can choose the ones that we know will be liked the most. Or simply bet on the most classic and seem really essential.
Classic or more original nougat, shortbread and mantecados with their special touch, marquise, almond... we have so many recipes and options that it will be difficult to choose just a few.
How to present a homemade nougat
No matter how good the nougat is, if we present it wrapped in albal paper, the thing is less than worth it. The solution is to use a wax paper to wrap food, which is sold in very cool designs.
We love this decoration with nice bees (ideal, also, if you are going to give a nougat that contains honey).
BALFER® Beeswax Wraps (8Pcs, 10-35cm), Reusable Wrap, Washable, Eco Friendly, Zero Waste. Beeswax Wrap Keeps Food Fresh for Sandwiches, Snacks, Fruits etc.
homemade chocolate
In the past, a box of chocolates seemed to mark something more of distinction and luxury in a Christmas basket. Nowadays they are already something less special because the offer has multiplied and because we abuse them the rest of the year; Although more exclusive editions continue to appear for the holidays, we will surprise much more with our homemade chocolates.
Something as easy as melting a good chocolate and preparing chocolates with Christmas molds will be more appreciated than a box of chocolates from the supermarket. To give it another touch we can fill them with nuts or almond paste, or simply prepare one of these recipes. Homemade truffles, chocolate bars, chocolates, mendiants... customization is almost infinite and open to our creativity.
How to present chocolates or bonbons
If you dare to present a chocolate in tablets, you can also wrap it in wax paper, but if chocolates are your thing, you will look like a gentleman presenting them in individual wrappers, like candy. To do this, you can cut a roll of food paper with the decoration that you like the most, or opt for packs designed expressly for this purpose, like this one from Amazon.
Mixed 500 Sheets Nougat Parchment Making Sweet Wrappers Twisted Sweet Wax Paper, Cookie Wrapping Paper, Baking Paper 5 x 3.5 Inch (Christmas Theme)
Crackers, nuts and other snacks
They are highly appreciated options at parties as they allow an original snack to be offered when there are guests at home. With the hustle and bustle of these days, few people take the time to make their own crackers or toasted nuts and prefer to buy them.
If we include several salty snack products, our basket will make a difference, and the best thing is that there are recipes that are very simple to prepare. We just have to show off a bit on the packaging, just with pretty jars, a label or homemade Christmas food packaging.
How to present the snacks
The ideal way to present any of these appetizers is to do it in well-decorated paper bags. There are multiple options on the market, but this pack of bags with Christmas motifs, which also include stickers and closures, seemed ideal.
HOWAF Christmas Paper Gift Bags, 12 Christmas Party Candy Bags, Christmas Food Stuff Bags, 6 Style Christmas Bags with 12 Christmas Stickers Label
Jams, compotes and other preserves
The world of homemade preserves is a very practical wildcard when it comes to making gifts. If we did our homework back in the day -summer is a perfect time to fill the pantry-, now we just have to choose a range of jams and other variants, put a beautiful hand-signed label, and that's it.
We can always prepare new recipes these days of Advent, also thinking that we want more autumnal or Christmas flavors, with seasonal products and very spicy. There is no need to get too complicated either; jam with seasonal fruit and some spice, a sweet and sour chutney with exotic touches... They are easy and very appreciated.
How to present the preserves
The preserves, logically, must be presented in suitably sterilized jars for this purpose. But there are many options to make these look just right. This pack of decorated boats is second to none.
com-four® 12x Glass Preserving Jars with Screw Lid"Made with love" - TO Ø 82 mm - approx. 260ml
Homemade bread and rolls
A friend of my father sent us a wonderful basket with products from the Murcian orchard, and it included a round bread of those "from town" that was blessed glory. We received it with a greater enthusiasm than any sausage; How to appreciate a good quality bread!
In our bakery cookbook we have a great selection of recipes to choose from, but I have selected the ones that seem most appropriate for the holidays, also including rolls and scones that look great on a festive table and can be very playful in any menu.
How to present loaves
Although the loaves can also be wrapped in food paper, they look better if they are included in the basket while being visible. For this reason, they can be presented in small baskets, which will also be appreciated as a gift in itself.
Amatt Hanging Storage Bag 4 Pack Cotton Linen Collapsible Storage Basket with Handle for Toys Makeup or Small Items
spirits and drinks
It seems that there is no Christmas basket worth its salt without its bottles of cava, champagne or wine; We have it difficult to offer our homemade version, but if you are one of those hooked on craft beer, do not hesitate to include home-grown bottles.
The rest of us can, however, opt for some very simple homemade liquor, a bottle of spiced wine to serve hot or some non-alcoholic drinks so that everyone can enjoy them at home.
How to present a homemade liquor
As with preserves, the bottles in which we present our liquor must meet certain requirements, but this does not mean that they must be ugly. If, in addition, we decorate them with some pretty labels (in which a message can be included) we will have the perfect gift.
SLKFactory 6 x 1 Liter 1000ml Empty Glass Swing Bottle with Swing Cap
international details
Finally, if we want to get away from the classics a bit, it is worth including some more typical Christmas products from other countries. It is true that sweets such as Italian panettone -although mistreated by supermarkets- or cookies such as gingerbread cookies are seen more and more in any store, but we have a good selection of international recipes that will add an original and different note to our basket.
A finishing touch for the perfect basket
Now all we have to do is choose a nice basket, box or tray, pack everything carefully so that nothing breaks and wrap it well with a special note. It is not necessary to go crazy preparing a huge basket, by selecting two or three products from each group we will already achieve guaranteed success. And it can solve more than one gift for us these holidays.
If, in addition, we choose a container that is going to be used for something useful after the holidays, all the better. That's why we loved this picnic basket.
JAWSEU Wicker Picnic Basket,Oval Wicker Basket with Handle,Wicker Gift Baskets Empty Oval Willow Woven Picnic Basket Candy Basket Storage Basket Wedding Basket
If you are looking for something smaller, but at the same time more Christmassy, we have also loved this model, which could not be more cute.
Toyandona Christmas Candy Storage Basket Party Decorations Xmas Party Supplies medium Snowman
More Christmas Recipes
At Directo al Paladar we love these holidays and we have thousands of recipes so that you are sure to get your Christmas meals right.
Don't miss our special with the 215 best Christmas recipes and 16 special menus. And if you need ideas for specific dishes, here is a good starting point:
Photo | iStockLive to the Palate | Meat fondue: surprise your guests at Christmas dinnerEn Directo al Paladar | 19 Christmas desserts that are made in 10 minutes
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