Homemade Holiday Gifts from the Heart

Written by Chris -

Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies (Recipe Below)

Nothing says “I care” like fresh baked cookies and treats. This holiday season, give the gift of homemade goodness…and enjoy the time you save on shopping by spending it with your loved ones!

Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Make it a Family “Bake”tivity

Get the whole family together and create a makeshift Santa’s Workshop. Have one person measure all of the ingredients, another can mix everything together, mom or dad can bake, and everyone can have fun assembling and decorating the packages. This works especially well in my household with three nine year olds! Here are a few family-favorite recipes:

Gift-Giving Pumpkin Cranberry Breads (Pictured Above)

Milk Chocolate Almond Brickle

Create a Gift that Keeps Giving

Layer the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in glass jars. Attach copies of the recipe to the jars with bright ribbon bows and voila, you’ve created thoughtful gifts and cheery holiday kitchen décor. You apply the same idea with hot cocoa (see below)!

Hot Cocoa Mix In A Jar

Refresh Holiday Favorites

Chocolate chip and gingerbread cookies are classics, but these Peppermint Mocha Chip Cookies might become a fast new favorite. This was one of the top recipes in our Cookie Contest! Notes of crisp peppermint perfectly complement the flavors of coffee and semi-sweet chocolate morsels. Add a crushed peppermint to each cookie to create a beautiful and seasonal presentation.

Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies (Pictured Above)

Ingredients for 36 cookies:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons Nescafé Taster’s Choice House Blend 100% Pure Instant Coffee Granules
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 3 large eggs
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 12 soft peppermint candies, crushed

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease or line baking sheet with parchment paper.

MELT butter and 1 cup chocolate morsels in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.

TRANSFER chocolate mixture into a large mixer bowl; add sugar and beat until combined. Add coffee granules, vanilla extract and peppermint extract; beat just until combined. Beat in eggs. Add flour and baking powder, mixing until all is incorporated. Fold in remaining 2 cups chocolate morsels.

SCOOP dough onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart, using a medium size cookie scoop. Sprinkle each cookie with a little of the crushed peppermint candies.

BAKE for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are set. Cool for about 2 minutes on baking sheet and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Layer cookies in gift boxes between pieces of parchment paper for gift giving. Be sure to seal tightly to keep cookies fresh.

If you plan on shipping baked goods oversees, here are some great tips.

And check out this post for tips on shipping cookies to loved ones.

Please share your gift-giving ideas with us! Happy holidays to you!

More Gift Ideas:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix In A Jar	Hot Cocoa Gift with Holiday Dippers