Edible gift ideas {Christmas ideas 2013}

I am yet to post a savoury Christmas-themed dish, but when it comes to sweet treats and snacks...I've got you covered. 

If you're looking for edible gifts suitable for family or friends, I've got them covered too. As a bonus? Most of these ideas are vegan, but your non-vegan friends won't suspect a thing.

First: Christmas cookies

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will have seen the above collage already. It shows biscuits made to my family's classic Christmas recipe, and jointly decorated by me and my Mum and sister last weekend. The recipe never fails, and whilst the decorating is fiddly, it is a great activity to do with others.

Christmas-appropriate cookie recipes on Bite-Sized Thoughts include: 

• Iced spice biscuits (those shown above; vegan)
• Vanilla biscuits with lemon icing
• Chocolate thumbprint biscuits with jam and peanut butter (vegan)
• Lavender biscuits with lemon and yoghurt (can be vegan)
• And of course, my recent hazelnut and cherry carob cookies (vegan and wheat free)

Second: Rocky road, chocolate tiffin, or chocolate hedgehog

These related chocolate treats (if you know what one of the three is - the other two are very similar) are easy to make and can be very attractive if made and sliced neatly. I recently made a batch of nut-free rocky road with ginger, biscuit pieces and marshmallows, that were not made and sliced neatly - see below! However, even they had no trouble finding takers for their consumption.

Messy nut-free rocky road with ginger

The recipe for that rocky road is at the end of this post. For other chocolate slice ideas, you might like:

• Chocolate tiffin (vegan)
• Pebble road with dried apricots (vegan; similar to the above rocky road but with apricots instead of ginger)

Pebble road with dried apricots

Third: Truffle balls

I know I'm a bit biased, but I don't think you can go past truffle balls for an easy, customisable, never-fail treat. This week I tried a spiced orange, date and almond batch that would be perfect for Christmas, but there are nearly 20 other varieties to choose from on my recipes page (!). Favourites of mine that I think are Christmas appropriate include:

• Chocolate almond and goji berry truffle balls (vegan and high raw; featured in my 2012 Christmas food ideas)
• Chocolate fudge balls (vegan)
• Gingerbread truffle balls (vegan and high raw)
• Papaya and cashew balls (vegan and high raw; featured in my 2011 Christmas food ideas and still one of my all time favourite truffle balls)
• Strawberry white chocolate truffle balls (can be vegan; uses more processed ingredients than the ones above)

Chocolate almond and goji berry truffle balls

As for those orange, date and almond balls, the recipe follows below.

If you need yet more ideas, my 2011 Christmas gifts post also features chocolates!

Nut-free rocky road with ginger

Makes 16 - 20 squares

Can be vegan

No bake

Print recipe

Ingredients

90g (6 large) plain wheat biscuits (Digestives, Graham crackers and Nice biscuits would all work, depending on your country and what you have to hand)

1 cup vegan or regular marshmallow pieces

1/2 cup crystallised ginger

150g dark chocolate (dairy-free if vegan)

Method

Line a square baking dish with grease proof paper.

Place your biscuits in a plastic bag and bash against a hard service to roughly crush. 

Roughly chop the marshmallows and ginger into quarters.

Melt the chocolate over the stove top or on low power in the microwave, stirring regularly.

When the chocolate is melted, add in the crushed biscuits, chopped marshmallows and chopped ginger. Mix to thoroughly combine. Transfer the mixture to your baking dish and press down evenly.

Set in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, and then slice into squares to serve.

Spiced orange, date and almond balls

Makes about 16 balls

Vegan and raw

Print recipe

Ingredients

3/4 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup pitted dates

2 tsp orange juice

1 tsp grated orange zest
1 tsp vanilla (use vanilla bean if raw)

1 tsp mixed spice (pumpkin pie spice; omit or use a raw alternative if strictly raw)

Method

Process the almonds and dates in a food processor until finely ground. Add the orange juice and zest and mixed spice and continue processing until the mixture clumps together. Roll into balls and set in the fridge or freezer before serving.

Orange, date and almond balls

I know I'm not the only one to post these sorts of round-ups, and there are plenty of other ideas out there too. If you're keen for some non-edible suggestions, also check out this round up of eco friendly gift ideas on Cityhippyfarmgirl for some unique and meaningful possibilities.

Do you have favourite edible gifts for this time of year (or any time of year)?

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