All I want to do in these next few holiday days is crank up the holiday music, turn on all the twinkly lights, load some gingerbread in the oven, put on something super cozy (or super glittery!) and embrace some holiday time, hot cocoa in hand.
Sure it can be fun to do a little last minute holiday shopping, but it is also super fun to stay in, where it is warm, toasty and cozy, and get your crafty-self in gear whipping up homemade gifts made with love. Cocoa, granola, cookies and more. If you want to whip up some last minute DIY holiday gifts, here are six recipes and ideas to try!..
DIY Holiday Gifts Round-Up
1. Cookies
Everyone loves cookies and it is easy to whip up a big batch and wrap them up all pretty and nice for a few of your favorite people. I like to make my cookies extra special during the holidays by using a real vanilla bean in place of vanilla extract. Get that holiday cookie recipe here. And cookie baking tips here.
2. Cocoa
Everyone loves cocoa. And this recipe for my Spicy Aztec Vegan Hot Cocoa is super yummy! We finished out jar and I had to make another batch! You can customize your hot cocoa by adding vegan marshmallows, special spices and crafty cute cocoa labels made with tools from any craft store.
3. Spa Day at Home.
I love these beauty and wellness recipes for a Winter Wonderland Spa Day at home! Even if you do not give this gift to someone else, give yourself the gift of a few hours of spa wellness at home! And smell like a sugar cookie when you are all done 🙂
4. Granola
Holiday granola is easy to make in one big batch and you can hand out single servings to everyone on your holiday list, or fill a large glass jar as a granola-tastic holiday gift. Granola is easy to modify as well based on the nuts, seasoning and flavors you like or have on hand. If you have rolled oats, a sweetener, oil (coconut oil is my new granola favorite!) and a few spices and nuts - you can craft some granola at home!
5. Popcorn
Pop up a big batch of coconut oil popcorn, toss in some cozy spices and fill a few large glass jars or holiday baggies. You could even add an itunes gift card to your popcorn gift for a few movie rentals for your giftee.
6. Cookies-in-a-Jar (recipe below)
Take your favorite cookie recipe and turn it into a jar gift! Try the recipe below or your own..
Coconut-Spice Cookies in a Jar
layer these ingredients bottom to top:
1 ¼ cups oat flour (or other flour)
1 teaspoon ground flax seed
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon whole rolled oats
⅓ cup coconut, unsweetened
3 tablespoon walnuts, chopped - optional
½ cup dry sugar, organic
¼ cup brown sugar, organic
⅓ cup virgin coconut oil - add in a soft yet spoonable room temperature state
handful of vegan chocolate chips - optional
Add: card that says: cookie tittle and "keep at room temperature. Add ⅓ cup non-dairy milk + a spritz of lemon juice. Stir dough and bake at 350 for 12 minutes."
Bonus Holiday Gift #7: Buy your giftee my book 365 Vegan Smoothies and get them started on the right foot for a healthy, happy 2014! Just think, a different smoothie for every day of 2014 awaits them, or you! Buy on Amazon
And if you want a vintage look down my blog-memory-lane. Check out my 12 Days of Vegan Treats from 2009!
