Start these DIY food gifts for the holidays now, so they’ll be ready in time for holiday giving!
It’s no secret that I love food gifts for the holidays. Some food gifts, like baked goods, are best given right away, but some of them take a little bit longer. If you’re planning to make slow food gifts for the holidays like infused booze or flavored oils and vinegars, though, you need a little bit more lead time. Start these DIY food gifts now, so they’ll be ready to rock in time for holiday giving.
1. Homemade Wine – This is not a fine, fancy wine, but there’s something special about wine you’ve made yourself. Just be sure that you sterilize your bottles and tools before starting!
2. Lemon-Basil Vodka – This tastes best if you let it steep the full three weeks before straining. Once it’s strained, store in the freezer until it’s gifting time!
3. Mint Extract – Homemade mint extract takes about six weeks to fully infuse. It’s a great gift for bakers in your life.
4. Vanilla Extract – Homemade vanilla extract is so much tastier than store-bought, but it takes a minimum of three weeks to steep. Start now, and you’ll have rich, flavorful vanilla extract in time for the holidays.
5. Vanilla Glycerite – This is an alcohol-free vanilla extract that uses vegetable glycerine instead of alcohol as the base. Steep for at least four weeks for a good, strong flavor.
6. Almond Extract – Another great gift for cooks on your list! This one takes two months and then needs straining, so start it ASAP!
7. Homemade Bitters – Bitters are a great gift for the cocktail connoisseur on your list. This recipe needs to infuse for two weeks to get a good flavor going.
8. Apple Pie Bourbon – Your recipient can bust out this holiday-tastic gift right away. Serve on the rocks with or without a splash of soda water.
9. Infused Vinegars – Flavorful, infused vinegar is a lovely addition to salads or for finishing soups. Vinegar infuses quickly – you steep for a little less than a week before straining – so you don’t need quite as much lead time for this holiday food gift.
10. Rosemary Olive Oil – Another great addition to soups or salads. Rosemary olive oil is also a nice addition to the table if you’re serving bread. Who needs butter, when you can dip in flavorful, infused oil? This recipe takes 1-2 weeks to steep, so start sooner than later.
11. Vanilla Sugar – The longer this mixture sits the better, so start now for maximum vanilla goodness!
12. Vanilla Maple Syrup – This easy infusion needs at least a week to steep, and the results are so flavorful! Your recipients’ pancakes will never be the same.
I definetly need to start these now!