Handmade Sweet Holiday Gifts

The Holidays are fast approaching. Every year so many of us state that we will have a budget and still to it 'this year' and every year so many of us become self professed liars. Holiday budgets are difficult to maintain if we are looking to give store bought gifts as presents.

Think back to when you were young... how many cherished memories were spent in the kitchen?

Think back to your Christmas tree... how many handmade ornaments were on the tree?

Make more gifts this year and you will discover that adhering to a pre-set budget is not as difficult as in the past.

Handmade sweet gifts to give- cocoa

Now it is wintertime, people come in from outside and are chilled to the bone ( maybe not in Texas) but still people always enjoy a good cup of cocoa. Stock up on wide mouth mason jars or pint size condiment jars from your refrigerator. Feel with any homemade version of cocoa you know. No jars, no homemade cocoa- simply fill a plastic bag with several cocoa packets, a smaller bag of crushed mints and a candy cane as a stirrer. Lest not forget the marshmallows, either. Your kids can assist you in making this gifts and tying with ribbons. There is simply no end to this gift as each year you can change up the additions to your cocoa gift. This year I am doing a caramel theme.

Handmade sweet gifts to give- candy cupcakes

I love these-not only as a treat for me but baking them. Make a cupcake as you normally would and then place an unwrapped mini candy in the center and bake as usual. The candy will melt in the cupcake, creating a more luscious treat! Again, my theme this year is caramel so I will be using Carmelo bars. Have fun! Let your children experiment and chose different flavor cake mixes, and candies.

Handmade sweet gifts to give- ornaments

My sister's barn/shed burned down this year and she lost all of her Christmas decorations. She had more than even Mrs. Claus, as this is her favorite time of the year. This year, as so many previously, my children will make her ornaments for the tree, only more so this year and she will be receiving them at Thanksgiving. With craft books and craft sites in such demand these days, choosing ornament that both your children and you can agree on will not be difficult. Moreover, neither are the crafts involved in making ornaments. I am not sure about my caramel theme with this, but sweets will still work.

Handmade sweet gifts to give-accessories

Still want to go ahead and purchase a gift? Stick to your budget and go small. Add some sweets to the gift to make it even better. Gift cards are great when presented with a candy bar tied to them. Or taped to the bottom of a plate of cookies.

Enjoy the holidays. Enjoy the aroma of baking. Enjoy the joy in giving, not in be stressed or worried about finances.