Whether you are looking for the perfect souvenir for a...Garden party in summeror just want to put a smile on someone's face, a homemade gift from the kitchen is always well received. You can bake the iconic cake you are known for or create small containers of jam, spices or syrup. Whether you want to make something sweet, savory, to eat straight away or to cook with, we have the right recipe for you. Check out our ideas for homemade kitchen gifts that are perfect for summer. Give the gift of joy with chocolates, spreads, drinks, cooking ingredients and much more.
Homemade gifts from the kitchen that you can eat/drink
Homemade gifts from the kitchen are a popular option for big celebrations such as Christmas and Easter. Who doesn't love some beautifully packaged and delicious cookies? However, cookies and hot chocolate in a glass are rather unsuitable for the summer. Below we reveal what kind of edible gifts you can prepare in summer. The first few ideas are primarily gifts that you can enjoy right away.
Homemade jam without preserving (freezer jam)
This jam retains a fresh strawberry flavor, so you can make it when the berries are in season, then enjoy a sweet taste of summer any time of year. Of course, you can also choose a different type of fruit for your homemade jam. Using this preparation method, the jam will last in the refrigerator for up to a month or in the freezer for up to a year. Package the jam in mini mason jars with a handwritten label and some string for a rustic decoration. Voila! You have an original gift for the next summer party.
Ingredients:
- 500g strawberries
- 800g sugar
- 1 packet (10 g) apple pectin (follow package instructions)
- 180ml water
Wash the strawberries, pat dry and cut into pieces. In a medium container, mash the berries until they are chopped but still have a coarse consistency. Add the sugar and stir thoroughly. Let stand for 10 minutes.
In a small saucepan, combine apple pectin and water. Stir over medium-high heat until the pectin is completely dissolved. Cook for a minute and remove from heat. Let cool for 3-4 minutes.
Pour the pectin into the berry and sugar mixture until well combined. Pour the jam into clean preserving jars, leaving 1-2 cm from the edge. Seal the jars and let them sit for 24 hours before giving as gifts or putting them in the freezer.
Homemade gifts from the kitchen: vegan chocolates
Chocolate and pralines are always a great gift, regardless of the season! We already have a few for youRecipes for summer chocolatesgiven, which are ideal as souvenirs for the next garden party. Here we would like to present another idea that vegans will also like. These chocolate truffles with coconut are vegan, gluten-free and really quick to prepare.
Ingredients:
- 240 g desiccated coconut (plus more for decoration)
- 180 ml vegan condensed milk
- 250g vegan chocolate or chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Add the vegan condensed milk and a third of the coconut flakes to a mixing bowl and stir. Gradually fold in the remaining coconut until a thick dough is formed. Roll the mixture into balls and place evenly on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Place in the freezer to harden.
Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted (or melted in a double boiler). Add the coconut oil and stir in. This makes the mixture a little thinner and easier to work with.
Toss the coconut balls one at a time into the melted chocolate and use two teaspoons to lift them out of the chocolate and back onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. When all the balls are covered in chocolate, sprinkle with a little coconut and place back in the freezer to solidify.
Marshmallows with edible flowers
Not only are marshmallows a great addition to hot chocolate, but they are also great for barbecue parties. If you need ideas for homemade gifts from the kitchen in summer, you can, for example, make marshmallows yourself or decorate them in an interesting way. For example, how about these marshmallow skewers with edible flowers? To glue the flowers on, use a clean paint brush and corn syrup. This is a really easy, quick and very original edible gift!
Summer gifts from the kitchen: bouquet of fruit skewers
Anyone can give flowers. Be original and make your own fresh fruit arrangement! This gift from the kitchen is delicious, healthy and effective. Here's everything you need for this:
- Vase or pot
- Flower cookie cutter
- Ball cutter
- wooden skewers
- kitchen towels
- A tray or tray to place the fruit on
- Scissors
- Needle-nose pliers (optional to press skewers down)
As far as the fruits are concerned, you can vary them as you like. If possible, choose seasonal fruit as it tastes best. Here is an example of what you can use for a fruit arrangement.
- 1 medium-sized head of cabbage (used as a base into which you stick all the fruit)
- 1 bunch of kale (to fill in the gaps when the bouquet is finished)
- Melon
- Pineapple
- grapes
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Oranges
Wash all fruits and dry them well. Place the cabbage in the vase, cutting off part of it if necessary to fit it in and sit well. Then place the chopped side down.
Line a sheet pan or tray with paper towels. Use flower cutters to cut out the pineapple into flower shapes. Cut the remaining pineapple into rectangles. Using a ball cutter, form balls out of the melon and set them aside. Prepare the rest of the fruit by cutting it to size. If you want to use green apples, cut them last and immediately put them in cold water with a squeeze of lemon to prevent them from browning.
To create the arrangement, first make flowers out of pineapple and melon. Then thread the other fruits onto the skewers and the skewers into the cabbage to create a nice arrangement. When you're done, use the kale to cover small empty spaces and add a green accent. The fruit bouquet is ready!
Hearty gift from the kitchen – homemade basil pesto
Who doesn't like that in summer?classic tomato and mozzarella salad? This goes hand in hand with a delicious basil pesto, which you can prepare yourself as a gift from the kitchen. All you need is a few ingredients and a high-performance blender. If you don't have such a device, a hand blender can also work well.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 100 ml virgin olive oil
- 50 g pine nuts
- 3 medium garlic cloves, crushed
- Salt and pepper
- 50 g Parmesan, grated
Place the pine nuts in a high-speed blender and chop. Then add the remaining ingredients except the olive oil. Then begin to slowly mix the ingredients while gradually drizzling in the olive oil until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Pour the homemade pesto into pretty jars and add a pretty label.
Make your own lemonade in a pitcher
Who doesn't like onecold lemonade in summer? Give the gift of real summer enjoyment by packing everything you need to make lemonade. For this DIY gift you need a jug, 5-6 lemons, 100 grams of sugar in a bag, a wooden spoon and a few green twigs for decoration. Add everything except the spoon and greens to the pitcher and add a homemade lemonade recipe label if desired. Tie the wooden spoon and some greenery to the handle and your homemade gift is ready.
Homemade gifts to use while cooking
Somehomemade giftsfrom the kitchen are not intended for direct consumption, but rather to refine various dishes or desserts. Here are a few ideas!
Gift for the grill master: DIY grill seasoning
A homemade barbecue seasoning is the ideal gift for men, but not only. Any housewife who likes to prepare meat would be happy to receive such a homemade gift from the kitchen. The possible combinations of spices are almost endless and you can prepare your favorite spice mix. However, if you want to be on the safe side, mix the DIY barbecue seasoning from the following ingredients:
- 2 THE Paprika
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 3 tbsp brown sugar (muscovado)
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour the finished spice mixture into suitable containers with lids and add a label with instructions for use, if desired.
Homemade gifts from the kitchen in summer – salted lemons
Lemons preserved in salt and sugar are a gourmet ingredient that can be used to spice up pestos, risottos and pasta dishes. Packed in preserving jars, they make an original, edible gift. These lemons will last for several months, but the recipient will likely use them up long before then!
Ingredients:
- 4-5 lemons, washed
- 100g sugar
- 100g kosher salt
Cut the lemons into quarters and remove the seeds if possible. Mix salt and sugar. Cover the bottom of a small glass container with a layer of the salt and sugar mixture. Place a layer of the sliced lemons on top and cover with another layer of the salt and sugar mixture. Repeat the layering until all the lemon wedges and salt and sugar mixture have been used. Seal the container and let it sit at room temperature for 3 days. Give this gift along with some printed recipes to try with it.
Make your own strawberry syrup as a gift
With just a few ingredients, this recipe is super easy to make, yet packs a huge amount of flavor. Gone are the days when you had to buy artificial or commercially produced strawberry syrup from the supermarket. With three simple ingredients, you can quickly make this versatile syrup. This gift not only shows your gratitude but also embodies summer.
Ingredients:
- 500g strawberries
- 250 ml water
- 225g sugar
Wash, clean and halve the strawberries. Then place in a medium saucepan and add water and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes. Place a mesh strainer over a mixing bowl or large measuring cup and pour the syrup through the strainer.
Pour the syrup back into the saucepan, bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the syrup thickens slightly, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a glass container.
If you want to make the gift even more interesting, you can add a few recipes that you could prepare with the syrup, such as aStrawberry Mojitoor a strawberry ice cream.
