When it comes to Christmas gifts it can be hard to decide what to buy for all the near and dear in your life. But at Christmas, it’s all about gifts that come from the heart, and nothing feels as thoughtful and precious as something homemade. Luckily, homemade sweets and chocolates are a seasonal staple, so this year, make your gift something truly unique with these ideas.
What Chocolate Should You Use?
Making chocolates from scratch can be a little more tricky than it seems. You can’t just pick up a chocolate bar off the shelf and melt it down to make something new. Whether you’re opting for white, dark or milk chocolates, start with high-quality cooking chocolate to help achieve the results you want with menial fuss.
1. Classic Chocolate Truffles
A simple staple, chocolate truffles are one of the easiest chocolate gifts to make at home and come together with very little effort. Simply melt your cooking chocolate with some cream and butter into a thick silky paste and then shape them into balls. When they’re cool, roll them in cacao powder mixed with a little cinnamon for a delicious festive treat.
2. Chocolate Gingerbread Characters
Gingerbread is a staple of Christmas but with the addition of chocolate, things become even more magical. You can either incorporate chocolate powder or chocolate chips into a traditional gingerbread recipe, or you can use tempered chocolate as a delicious coating for your baked goods. Whether it’s an elaborate gingerbread house or a simple choco-ginger cookie, it’s sure to be a hit.
3. Festive Hot Chocolate Bombes
Create fun and delicious hot chocolate bombes that can be dropped into hot milk to create a stunning visual effect and a tasty cp of hot chocolate to follow. Experiment with different flavours like mint, and white chocolate or you can even fill the chocolate bomb with marshmallows or your favourite liqueur for an even more indulgent treat.
4. Homemade Hot Chocolate Spoon:
Craft hot chocolate spoons using melted chocolate, lollipop sticks, and any variety of toppings you can imagine. Just use your chocolate spoon to stir some warm milk and watch it transform before your eyes into a delicious mug of hot chocolate.
5. Candy Cane Chocolate Bark
Another signature flavour of Christmas is peppermint, and i particular the red and white stripes of the candy cane. Fusing it with chocolate in a candy cane bark marrying the best of both flavours. Sprinkle crushed candy canes onto a tray of melted chocolate, let it set and then cut it into pieces, ready to hand out as gifts.
6. Candied Oranges
For a fruitier spin on Christmas, try incorporating oranges for a fragrant mix of chocolate and citrus. Just simmer orange slices in sugar water, dip in melted chocolate, sprinkle with sea salt, and chill until set. Then you have the perfect chocolate oranges ready for everyone who has been extra nice this Christmas.
