Easy Holiday Gifts for Teachers From the Kitchen

How to Make Homemade Holiday Presents in One Day

Spending a day in the kitchen with family members can be a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. To make things easy, be sure to create several stations in the kitchen for specific steps included below. Instead of a baking day, consider this a Mixing day. Make several to give to favorite teachers.

A variety of containers can be used to hold the various mixed contents, so read each recipe carefully before beginning. Having the right ingredients and clean glass jars with lids prior to starting will make this a very productive day of gift-making. Get out the ribbons, card stock (for tags), permanent markers, holiday fabric, a hole punch, and scissors and set them up on the kitchen table — a perfect gift-wrapping station.

Easy Gift in a Jar — Christmas Cappuccino Mix

Ingredients:

• 8-oz jar French Vanilla or Hazelnut non-dairy powdered creamer
• 1 cup instant coffee granules
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 8 cups powdered milk
• 2-1/2 cups instant chocolate drink mix

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients in a large bowl until mixed well. Place into glass jars with lids.
2. Make a tag including name and directions for Cappucino mix: Place 1/4 to 1/3 cup of Cappucino mix into a mug, add 6 to 8 oz of hot water, stir to mix.

To decorate the jar: Cut out 4-inch rounds and 6-inch rounds of complimentary holiday fabrics. With the hole punch, make a hole on one end of the tag large enough for ribbons to pass through. Tie red, green or gold (or all three) ribbons around the band of the lid, making sure the card’s directions can be clearly read. Any type of clear bottle can be used as long as a tight-fitting lid is available to seal the contents.

Jar Recipe — Chocolate Espresso Mix

Ingredients:

• 8 oz semisweet chocolate squares (Ghirardelli’s is a favorite)
• 1-1/2 cups powdered milk, nonfat
• 1 cup instant espresso powder*
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

*Two good instant espressos: Cafe Bustelo (instant Cuban espresso usually found in the ethnic section of grocery stores) and Medaglia D’ORO instant espresso coffee crystals.

Directions:

1. Shave chocolate squares with a sharp knife. Combine chocolate shavings, powdered milk, espresso powder, and cinnamon in a bowl and mix well.
2. Fill the jar with the mixture, and close the lid tightly. Store at room temperature for up to a month. This recipe makes about 3-1/3 cups. Small Ball Canning Jars can be used for this project. Decorate lids with fabric, ribbons, and handmade tags with directions on how to use the mix.

Directions for Tags:

Add two Tbsp of espresso mix to the mug. Add 6 to 8 oz of hot water; stir. Makes one serving. Add whipped topping if desired.

Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookie Mix in a Jar

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• baking soda 1/2 tsp
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Directions:

1. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Spoon into the bottom of a 1-quart canning jar, packing down well.
2. Layer remaining ingredients in order: brown sugar, white sugar, chocolate chips, macadamia nuts, press well. Add lid, decorate and make a tag with directions.

Write the following directions on the gift-tag:

1. Cream together 2/3 cup softened butter, 1 egg, 1 tsp water, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Add dry cookie mix from the jar and blend well.
2. Drop by spoonfuls on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375° for 10 minutes. Makes about 24 cookies.

For teachers who receive endless apple-related items, these mixes are a refreshing change of pace, easy to put together, and delicious every time.

Kitchen Decorating Ideas for Christmas