Gift homemade desserts to spread festive cheer

Holiday special desserts are a thoughtful way to make customisable gifts for your loved ones. The best thing about them? You can make it with everyday ingredients like sugar, chocolate, butter and heavy cream. Here’s a guide to make homemade desserts:

Hot chocolate anyone?
This decadent warm drink is a staple when it comes to the holiday season. One of the best gifts to give your friends and family is hot cocoa mixes in a jar. You can add in marshmallows and sprinkles with rich cocoa powder and sugar, which dissolve easily in hot milk. For a fancier touch, make chocolate stirrers — rich chocolate ganache set on a stick — which dissolve faster. Set ganache in silicone moulds with peppermint candy canes as the stick.

Dessert barks FTW

Crunchy, indulgent, and oh-so-good — that’s what dessert barks are about. Temper chocolate and pour it onto parchment paper-lined baking tray. Add caramel, crushed peppermint candies, nuts, dry fruits, peanut butter, and don’t forget to sprinkle some flaky salt on top. Once set, break into smaller pieces and gift away! Also try baking holiday-themed cookies in shaped like the Xmas tree or Santa, and then decorate with icing.

Try fun DIY packaging
Airtight glass jars and containers are sustainable ways to gift desserts and ensure the treats have a long shelf-life. Suchi
Dutta, owner of a home bakery, suggests decorating with ribbons, mistletoe, handwritten notes and Xmas baubles too. For barks and caramel toffees, wrap them in food-safe cellophane to create desserts that taste great and look fancy.

These gifts are a sweet reminder of gratitude. The best thing is that during winters, most of these desserts can be stored at room temperature
– Swati Arora, owner of a bakery