In the age of online shopping, gift cards, and instant e-certificates, gift giving has never been easier. While I love those ideas and utilize them when in a time crunch, my favorite gift to give is far more time consuming and messy! I LOVE to bake, and many of the people in my life enjoy the occasional gift of baked goods for a sweet treat.
Over the years I have developed favorites because of their ease to create, ability to cut/store, or the reviews of their recipients. What I have found is that many people don’t like to bake, don’t have time to bake, or never learned how. As a result, sharing a baked goods with daycare providers, neighbors, my mail delivery person, coworkers and tenants has become a tradition in our family. Each year my kids and I spend an entire weekend or more mass producing bars, cookies, dipped pretzels and fudge, after which we package and deliver. Want to try baking as gift giving? Start with these simple steps:
- Ask for family recipes first. I love making things I remember having at my grandma’s house as a child. If this is a no-go, hit the internet. There are hundreds of blogs and websites with great recipes, and of course Pinterest!
- Evaluate your comfort level. If there is specialty equipment required (like a double boiler or candy thermometer) that you don’t have you can always borrow from a friend, but it may be best to start simple. Also choose recipes with ingredients you have on hand or can find easily.
- Do a trial run. Don’t wait until a party or potluck to try a new recipe (this holds true for most food) Your family members make great taste testers, and you’ll know ahead of time if something is going to be hard to cut, package, or transport.
Its also good to remember that not everyone appreciates a pile of extra calories around the holidays, so know your audience. I don’t generally give treats to school teachers as they get bombarded with chocolates and candy at each holiday. The same goes for those with food allergies and other dietary restrictions.
I enjoy sharing treats any time of the year, but I love the holiday season tradition of making a gift baked goods that I have started with my kids.
