Ten homemade gifts that cost little, look beautiful and can be made weeks ahead.
A dehydrator is one of the most useful bits of kit for Christmas gift-making. Dried food keeps for weeks or months, so you can make everything in November and wrap it in December. Most of these ideas use cheap seasonal produce and a few jars.
Here are our favourites, from decorations to stocking fillers.
Download these gift ideas (PDF) (PDF, A4, printable)
1. Dried orange slice decorations
Tie a bundle of five slices with twine and a cinnamon stick, or make a ready-to-hang garland. Dry at 55–60°C for 8–12 hours.
2. Cranberry and orange garland
A bright, natural garland that packs flat in a box with tissue paper.
3. Christmas simmer pot jar
Dried orange, apple and cranberries layered with whole spices. Add a tag with the simmering instructions.
4. Homemade mincemeat
Made with home-dried apple, cranberries and peel. Give with a recipe card for mince pies.
5. Chocolate-dipped orange or clementine wheels
Dry unwaxed citrus slices at 55°C, then half-dip in melted dark chocolate and set on parchment. Pack in a cellophane bag. Keep cool.
6. Spiced apple rings
5 mm apple rings dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg, stacked in a tall jar with a ribbon.
7. Scotch broth jar
A layered jar of barley, split peas and home-dried veg. Practical, pretty and loved by anyone who batch cooks.
8. British beef jerky
Made with the safe heat-step method. Pack in a kraft bag with a 'best within 2 weeks' label.
9. Fruit leather rolls
Roll strips in parchment and tie with baker's twine: a hit in children's stockings.
10. Herb salts and dried herb jars
Dry rosemary, thyme and sage at 35°C, then blend with flaky sea salt. Label and date.
Gift-making tips
- Dry completely. Any moisture left in the food will cause mould in a sealed jar. If in doubt, give it another hour.
- Cool before packing. Warm food sweats in a jar.
- Label everything. Include the date, the ingredients (especially allergens such as nuts and milk) and a 'best within' date.
- Use clean, dry jars. Wash and dry them thoroughly before filling.
Related
- How to store and rehydrate dried food
- Drying times and temperatures chart
- Getting started with your Ezidri
Free recipe pack: The Ezidri Drying Year
20 British recipes for your dehydrator, from Christmas oranges to allotment gluts, plus a drying chart and storage cheat sheet.
Some food images are illustrative.