If you’ve forgotten anyone on your holiday gift giving list, I can’t think of anything more personal than a gift basket filled with beautifully hand selected items, from candles to picture frames. And even better is to include a homemade element, like peppermint bark or homemade scones. Here are some of my favorite edible gifts to give for the holidays. Each one goes with a themed gift basket designed entirely with Pier 1 Imports, which has a variety of last minute gift options from frames to candles to mugs. Here are links to the products I featured in my Eyeopener TV segment this morning:
[ingredients]
White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
2, 12-ounce packages good white chocolate
4 medium candy canes, pulverized in a food processor
Double boiler
Large baking sheet
Parchment Paper
Directions:
Melt chocolate in double boiler, stirring occasionally. Pour onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with crushed peppermints. Allow to cool and harden completely before cutting into large pieces.
[end-ingredients]
[ingredients]
Wild Berry Drop Scones
2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
5 tbsp cold unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg
1 cup frozen wild berries like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Coarse sugar for sprinkling.
Directions:
Add all the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl (flour, sugar, baking powder and salt) and whisk. Cube the cold butter and add it in, using a pastry cutter or your hands to break up the butter until it’s well combined. If you pick up a handful of the flour, it should be crumbly but stick together slightly. Whisk the egg in a small bowl, then add it to the dry mixture, along with the cream. Add the frozen berries and gently stir until all the ingredients are combined. Scoop a couple tablespoons of the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet, sprinkle with coarse sugar, and bake at 375 for 13-17 minutes or until golden brown at the edges.
[end-ingredients]
[ingredients]
Yogurt Dipped Hanukkah Pretzels
1 bag of yogurt dipped pretzels
12 oz white chocolate chips
Blue sprinkles
Sea salt
Directions:
In a double boiler, add the chocolate chips and melt, stirring every few minutes. Plae the yogurt dipped pretzels on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle immediately with blue sprinkles. Allow to cool and harden.
[end-ingredients]
