EDIBLE gifts

If your love language is food, try giving a gift of the edible variety. Not only is it more personal and sustainable, it can also be more cost effective.

From gourmet preserves and traditional shortbread cookies to homemade granola, here are some healthy and sustainable edible options you can gift to your loved ones this festive season. They are guaranteed to please both the heart and the belly.

Preserves

Do you have a glut of fruit in your pantry or your own backyard? Try converting it to a homemade jam, jelly or marmalade and gift it to your loved ones this Christmas. Making jams at home is surprisingly easier than you think and is a great way to preserve fruit for longer and reduce household food waste. If you’re a novice, try making raspberry jam first. It’s quick and easy and results in a rich, beautiful flavour. Convert the preserves to a special homemade gift by bottling them in leftover mason or jam jars and wrapping them with a sprig of fresh rosemary and gift card for a homemade touch. Make sure the jars are well sterilised prior to bottling, and jar and lid while the jam is still hot. To sterilise, simply place the jars and lids in a deep saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Cover the pan and reduce heat, boiling gently for 10 minutes, then remove the sterilised jars and lids with tongs and place upside down on a clean tea towel to dry.

Chocolate bark

There are not many festive treats as easy to make as chocolate bark. Not only does it taste delicious, it also looks really festive and is a great way to use up ingredients in the pantry. To make it healthier, use dark chocolate that is at least 70 per cent cacao, which is much lower in sugar than milk and white chocolate. Add other protein-rich ingredients like pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, crushed pistachios and almonds, and a touch of flaky sea salt and goji berries.

To make the chocolate bark, simply melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl or in short bursts in the microwave. Allow the chocolate to cool before pouring onto a lined baking tray, then scatter the chocolate with nuts and seeds. Leave the bark in a cool, dry place until it is set, then use a knife to chop the chocolate into shards or just use your hands. Divide the bark and wrap in paper bags with a ribbon for a festive touch.

Healthy truffles

Is there even such a thing as a healthy truffle? Well, the good news is they can be if you make a couple of easy substitutions. Try substituting traditionally used heavy cream and butter with coconut oil to help give them a buttery and rich mouthfeel. This also makes them a perfect sweet treat for vegans if used with a plant-based sweetener. You can also replace refined sugars with an unrefined sweetener like maple syrup, honey or agave to make it even healthier. Finish them with traditional cocoa powder or roll them in another topping like coconut, crushed pistachios, goji berries or cranberries to give them a more festive look. After rolling them into balls, refrigerate before wrapping them in a homemade box for your loved ones.

Homemade granola

Home-made granola not only tastes great but is super-easy to make. Experiment with oats and your choice of nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, sunflower, linseeds, sesame seeds and a combination of dried fruit like sultanas, dates and apricots. The dried fruit and a touch of maple syrup or agave syrup (nectar) provides a lovely natural sweetness to the granola without using refined sugars. It stores really well, which makes it a great sustainable choice for the kitchen. It is also easy to make in bulk.

To make the granola, simply place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine, then pour over a drizzle of maple syrup and a touch of olive oil and spread over a lined baking tray. Bake in the oven until the granola is lightly toasted and allow to cool before placing in a glass or bamboo jar. To give the edible gift more of a personal touch, place it in a basket with a jar of local honey and yoghurt. Just make sure to check any allergies prior to gifting.

DIY brownie jars

DIY brownie jars are a fun way to package an edible gift which the receiver can make themselves. Use a glass jar to layer all the ingredients to make the brownies, like cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, chocolate chips and nuts. Include any wet ingredients like eggs and milk in a separate container. Wrap the jar with twine and include a handwritten label on cardstock with recipe instructions so your loved one can make the brownies at their own leisure. Feel free to experiment with DIY cookie jars and cakes as an alternative to brownies.

Christmas cookies

What Christmas is complete without a big batch of shortbread or gingerbread? Cookies like traditional shortbread, biscotti and Florentines are easy to make in large batches, which can be divided into recyclable jars and boxes to keep them fresher for longer. Opt for a refined sugar-free version by experimenting with unrefined sweeteners like honey or monk fruit. Gingerbread dough is very versatile and can be given as a gift by itself, accompanied by a decorating kit to make cookies or a gingerbread house.

Sustainable wrapping

When gourmet goodies are beautifully packaged and use homemade craft, it makes the gift so much more personal. Get creative and get the whole family involved in the edible giftwrapping process. Before going to the shops to buy wrapping paper and decorations, make sure you shop from your home first or visit your local op shop. You may be surprised by how many things can be upcycled from your own home. Think old jam jars, pasta jars, biscuit tins, old tea towels, clothes and other fabric you no longer use. Always think sustainably and opt for recyclable or compostable bags, labels and ribbons wherever possible.

Lisa Holmen is a food and travel writer and photographer. Her aim is to “eat the world” one inch at a time and explore as many different cuisines and cultures as possible. Follow Lisa’s journey at lisaeatsworld.com

Cookies like traditional shortbread, biscotti and Florentines are easy to make in large batches, which can be divided into recyclable jars and boxes to keep them fresher for longer.