Gift packaging

Paper drink cups; cardstock; cellophane gift bags; ribbon; gift-wrap paper; glue

You’ll also need Cutting mat; metal ruler; pencil; scissors

STEP 1 Line an oven tray with baking paper. Sift icing sugar into a large bowl. Stir in coconut. Pour in condensed milk and stir using hands until mixture comes together. Cover mixture with plastic wrap and set aside. STEP 2 Put extra coconut onto a dinner plate. Roll teaspoons of mixture into balls and immediately roll in coconut to lightly coat. Transfer to prepared tray. Chill for 1 hour or until firm.

To package cups, trim away the rim and base of a drink cup. Cut down the vertical join to open then flatten body of cup. Following its curves, trim the top and bottom of the body to suit height of your cup. Trace this piece onto cardstock, adding an extra 10mm at 1 short side (for overlap). Cut along marked lines to create a curved template. Trace this template onto the wrong side of decorative paper then cut out. Ensuring overlap join is in line with the cup’s vertical join, wrap and glue the paper strip to your cup. Place a cellophane gift bag in the cup, fill the bag with coconut balls to just above rim of cup. Gather cellophane at the ‘neck’ and tie with ribbon.

Cover shop-bought cupcake wrappers to make them festive and to match your scheme. Coffee and cake, anyone?

There’s nothing tricky

about these snow-capped gingerbread houses. Just three squares and a little icing to join and decorate. Set on mini wood slices, they’re a great gift idea. PS Everything ginger is the trend this year!

Recipe and instructions on page 214