Gifts from your Kitchen Social media image

Gifts from your Kitchen Social media imageCreative DIY Gifts from Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home and a place full of love, family, and delicious food. Why not make your kitchen the go to place for DIY gifts this year? Plus there’s something special about receiving a homemade gift. Would you agree? Instead of braving the mall and the stores this year, why not make these Creative DIY Gifts From Your Kitchen to show your friends how much you care.

Gifts from your Kitchen - Lemon zest Popcorn

Popcorn doesn’t have to be seasoned with just salt and butter! Add a tangy flavor with this delicious Lemon Zest Popcorn recipe. Go ahead and fill a cute mason jar with popcorn and tuck a movie theater gift card inside.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Blackberry Jam at Satori Design for Living

Homemade Honey Rosemary Blackberry Jam by Satori Design for Living is the sweetest gift that doesn’t have to be eaten at dessert time. It can be enjoyed all day long!

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Easy Strawberry Tart Show your love with this gorgeous, mouth-watering Strawberry Tart Recipe.
It’s sure to be the hit of any pot luck too.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Peppermint Snowflake Ornaments

These Peppermint Snowflake Candy Ornaments are fun and decorative.
The kids will delight in helping with this DIY gift idea.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen

Dry weather can be brutal on our skin and lips. A homemade Lemonade Lip Balm is a sweet gift for anyone who needs a little ray of sunshine in their life.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Homemade Lemon Hand Scrub - My Uncommon Slice of Surburbia

This lemon-scented gift will surely pamper the skin (and would pair nicely with the Lemonade Lip Balm above.) Give your friend some Homemade Lemon and Peppermint Hand Scrub found at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.

 

Gifts from Your Kitchen - Sugar coconut scrub - The Palette Muse

This Sugar Coconut Scrub by The Palette Muse is another luxurious spa essential that makes lovely gifts for your friends.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - White Chocolate Cookie Bars

White Chocolate Cookie Bars are a nice change from traditional brownies and chocolate chip cookies. I’m sure Santa wouldn’t mind a little variety in his diet this year. 😉

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies are my go to cookies when I want to impress. They are made using a standard mix from the grocery store, but you add the gourmet factor before baking!

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Lemon Glazed Shortbread - DIY Beautify

These fresh and sweet Lemon Glazed Shortbread cookies by DIY Beautify would make a thoughtful gift any time of the year.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Coffee Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Glaze

Coffee and Chocolate Shortbread cookies are the perfect gift for that caffeine junkie in your life. Bren from Bren Did even provides the free gift tag printable to go with this gift!

 

Gifts from Your Kitchen - Peppermint Oreos

Short on time? These Peppermint Oreo Cookies are simple to make and super scrumptious.

 

If you read my article about improving indoor air quality, you know how nasty store bought air fresheners can be. These next two ideas are not only thoughtful gifts, but they are also healthy alternatives when the house needs some freshening.

Gifts from your kitchen - Simmering Pots - Two Purple Couches

Give your friends a natural way to add fresh fragrance to their home with these 3 Homemade Simmering Pot Recipes by Two Purple Couches.

 

Scented Room Spray Recipe

For those friends that like to spray their way to fresher smelling air, make your own natural room spray to help them combat stale air in the winter.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - chalkboard painted cocoa mugs.

If you aren’t the best cook, that’s okay. You can create these fun Chalkboard Painted Mugs. Then add some hot cocoa mix, because nothing warms better on a cold, winter day.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Friendship Soup in a jar - oh my creative

Cold weather brings out the desire to cook more soups. Show your love by giving friends this Friendship Soup in a Jar by Oh My! Creative. Not only is it tasty, but the colorful stripes are pretty too.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Sugar Free Hot Cocoa mix - Boxy Colonial

The holidays can be filled with so many sugary sweets. Your friend who has gone sugar-free, would appreciate this Sugar Free Hot Cocoa Mix by Boxy Colonial.

 

Gifts from Your Kitchen - Cocoa in a Jar

For the rest of your friends who don’t mind the real deal,  you can make them this adorable Cocoa in a Jar!

 

Gifts from your kitchen - DIY Danielle

Delicious Cake Mix Cookies like DIY Danielle’s are great gifts for anyone with a sweet tooth (even those that don’t love to bake).

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - bbq and ranch mixes - Hearth and Vine

Have a grill master in your life?  Give them these Homemade BBQ and Ranch Spice Mixes by Hearth and Vine.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Infused Oils - Craving some Creativity

These homemade Infused Oil bottles shared by Craving Some Creativity are a perfect gift for your friend who loves to cook!

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Coconut Toffee Candy - My Life Cookbook

My Life Cookbook’s Coconut Toffee Candy would be a sweet little holiday treat for your friends.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Hot Chocolate on a Stick - Persia Lou

Give your loved one Persia Lou’s Hot Chocolate on a Stick. What a decadent gift that old and young will enjoy when stirred in warm milk.

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - Chocolate Dipped Candy Apples

Craving Some Creativity’s Gourmet Chocolate Candy Apples are a fantastic and fun gift for any occasion!

 

Gifts from your Kitchen - SlowCooker peanut clusters

Make these quick and simple Peanut Clusters in your crockpot! Cupcakes and Crinoline has the details for making this candy that your friends will go nuts over.

 

Gifts from your kitchen - Warm and Cozy Chocolate Gift Basket

Take any of the above chocolate sweets and use them to fill  this warm, cozy, and useful Chocolate Gift Basket this year.

I hope you found some inspiration for amazing gifts you can make from your kitchen. If you like this collection, pin the image below to share with your friends (because friends don’t let friends go crazy at the mall during the holidays):

Gifts from your Kitchen Pinterest image
Here are a few other creative gift idea posts you may enjoy:

21 Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

 

35 Upcycled DIY Gift Ideas

Upcycled Gift Ideas

 

Gift Ideas for the Creatives on Your Wishlist

gift ideas for creatives

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Last year I made these Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments. They were a lot of fun to watch as they melted and fuzed into a snowflake ornament. My son asked if we could make them again this year. Because the kids are officially out of school now, I thought this would be the perfect holiday activity today.

Won’t you join us as we make these Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments?

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Materials:

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 300˚F.

Unwrap the candies. You’ll need 13 candies per star. Lay the peppermints onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Arrange them into a snowflake design:

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Place the baking sheet into the pre-heated oven. Bake for 8 minutes.

Remove the tray and immediately use a large needle to create a hole in the top of one of the outer points of the snowflake.

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Allow the peppermints to cool and thread a green ribbon through the hole and tie.

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Wrap up the Peppermint Star Ornaments in treat bags and give them to your friends and neighbors!

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Or hang them on your tree ;-).

Easy Peppermint Snowflakes | Pretty Handy Girl

Here’s the quick video wrap up for how to make Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments:

Be sure to plan on making more than you need. The melting process can create some not so desirable snowflakes, but they still taste good ;-).

 

Pin for later!

Quick & Easy Peppermint Oreo Recipe : Great for last minute cookie exchanges or gifts

 

Want a quick and easy holiday recipe you can make with the kids? When you don’t have time to bake, but you still want to give a homemade holiday treat, try this recipe for Peppermint Oreos!

Quick & Easy Peppermint Oreos

Ingredients:

  • 1 Pkg. of Oreo cookies
  • 1 Pkg. of peppermint candies
  • 1 Pkg. of white chocolate chips

Instructions:

Place the peppermint candies in a double ziploc bags. Let the kids hammer them to smithereens! (I placed scrap wood under the peppermints to protect the countertop.)

While the kids are pounding away to their heart’s content. Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler (or in the microwave. But, the double boiler will keep the chocolate from hardening as fast.)

Pry the hammers from your kid’s hands. Place the crushed peppermints into shallow bowls (one for each child.)

Roll the edge of the oreo cookies into the white chocolate.

Then roll them into the crushed peppermints.

Lay the cookies onto wax paper to cool.

 

After they cool, eat them, gift them or save them for a snowy day.

A bunch of oreos would fit nicely in one of these decorated gift bags made from a cloth napkin, don’t you think?

drawstring gift bags made from cloth napkins

Want more 15 Minute Gift Ideas?

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Pin for later!

Want a quick and easy holiday recipe you can make with the kids? When you don't have time to bake, but you still want to give a homemade holiday treat, try this recipe for Peppermint Oreos! | Pretty Handy Girl #prettyhandygirl #oreorecipe #holidayrecipe

Easy Pumpkin Dip

Easy Pumpkin Dip

When the weather turns cooler in the fall, I can’t help but want to spend more time cooking inside (with pumpkin of course.) There are so many things you can make with it including this easy pumpkin dip to serve for the next few months.

Easy Pumpkin Dip is great for a kids’ snack, a dessert, or a side dish while entertaining. You can switch out a few ingredients to make a healthier version too.

Here’s how to make pumpkin dip with just 4 ingredients:

(Affiliate links are included for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Materials:Easy Pumpkin Dip

  • 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
  • 1 3.4 oz box of vanilla instant pudding
  • 1 8 oz container of whipped topping, thawed
  • 1/2 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice
  • Serving Bowl
  • Hand mixer

 

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients with a hand mixer until the mix has a smooth consistency. Refrigerate the dip for about an hour. Serve with apples, graham crackers or cookies of your choice. That’s it!

Easy Pumpkin Dip

The great thing about this dip is that it takes only 5 minutes to prepare and it’s not too sweet. It’s perfect for those who want a little treat at the end of a meal but don’t want too much sugar.

There are a lot of other ingredients you can add to this recipe to create different flavors: brown sugar, cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, and cinnamon.

Easy Pumpkin Dip

If you are watching your calories, here are some healthy alternatives to try instead:

  • Substitute vanilla or plain greek yogurt for the whipped topping
  • Substitute coconut milk and coconut sugar for the instant pudding and whipped topping
  • Serve with apples instead of cookies or crackers
  • Use a lite version of the whipped topping
  • Use low calorie cream cheese instead of the whipped topping

If you like this recipe, you’ll probably also like Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dip:

peanut butter pumpkin dip recipe

For more fall entertaining ideas, you’ll probably enjoy 24 Fabulously Creative Fall Wreaths:

24 Creative Fall Wreaths | Pretty Handy Girl

See you at Decor Adventures soon.

Decor Adventures BlogRead more of Jessica’s tutorials~

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Raise your hand if you are addicted to sugar! (Hand raised high here.) I’ve been trying to give up sugar and developed this Healthy Sugar Busters Coffee based loosely on a Bullet Proof Coffee recipe I found. Research has shown that we all need healthy fats to support our brain function and a healthy diet. Healthy fats can be found in coconut oil, grass-fed butter, MCT oil, avocados and much more. You can read about a diet rich in healthy fats and oils in Dr. Mark Hyman’s Eat Fat Get Thin book (affiliate link.)

Instead of grass-fed butter and MCT oil, I used coconut oil and almond creamer plus almond milk to make my Healthy Sugar Busters Coffee. You will not believe how tasty this coffee is. And the frothiness of this drink makes you forget there’s little to no sugar in it.

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Ready to indulge in a luxurious Healthy Sugar Busters Coffee with me?

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Ingredients:

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Start by brewing your favorite cup of coffee. (I’ve switched to decaf per my doctor’s suggestion. But, occasionally I’ll add a little caffeine coffee to my drink.)

While the coffee is still hot, add one tablespoon of coconut oil to your coffee.

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Add one tablespoon of creamer. (Note: the Califia Almond creamers have a few grams of sugar per tablespoon. If you want zero sugar, buy the unsweetened Califia Almond Creamer.)

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Add Almond Milk to taste. (Zero grams of sugar in the Almond Breeze Vanilla Unsweetened, so feel free to add more if you like a light colored coffee.)

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Poor the coffee mixture into your blender.

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Put the blade attachment (or lid) on your blender cup and give it a whirl. The Magic Bullet doesn’t take more than 15-20 seconds to whip the coffee up to a beautiful froth. (I used to use a Ninja before, it took longer, didn’t froth as much and ultimately the blender died. Plus, the cup started to leak at the blade attachment. Boo.)

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Check out how much beautiful froth your drink has after being blended! If you like lattes, this has the consistency of a Starbucks latte.

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Pour your Healthy Sugar Busters Coffee into a mug and indulge!

Heathy Sugar Busters Coffee | Pretty Handy Girl

Want iced coffee instead? Pour it over a glass full of ice. Or brew decaf and store it in the fridge.

This is what I live for every morning. I can’t wait to wake up and make my Healthy Sugar Busters Coffee each morning. Have you caught on to the healthy fat diet? How do you feel? Have you lost any weight?

PHGFancySign