Kerrygold Moments

Gifts are always well-received when they come straight from the heart, and even more so when they’re hand-made with love. Give the shopping malls a skip this year and make custom gifts for your nearest and dearest instead!

These eight great gift ideas will guarantee smiles all ’round and can easily be made by hand in the comfort of your own home.

1. Salted Caramel Sauce

Salted caramel is the unofficial flavour of the year and it’s easy to see and taste why. This particular caramel sauce brings sweet and savoury together in a weird yet wonderfully tasty way and is sure to be enjoyed on top of a creamy vanilla ice cream or even by the spoonful straight from the jar – it’s just that good!

Find our Salted Caramel Sauce recipe here.

2. Shortbread

Shortbread is just the thing with a cup of morning coffee or when served alongside a creamy dessert. Our four-ingredient recipe uses only the best butter, making this version of the quintessential buttery biscuit a real winner!

Try your hand at our Shortbread recipe here and place the scrumptious squares in a pretty, gift-wrapped box once cooled.

3. Spice Rubs

For a gift that’s as varied in flavour as it is versatile in use, think spice rubs!

From a Mediterranean rub with notes of dried tarragon and marjoram to an Indian rub with cardamom and curry powder, the flavour possibilities are endless and can be used to season all kinds of meat, poultry and seafood. A gift that’s sure to be enjoyed by home cooks, professional chefs and braai masters alike!

Find an awesome, all-purpose spice rub recipe here.

4. Infused Spirits

Put a twist on vodka or other distilled spirit by infusing them with the fresh, natural flavours of fruit, veggies, herbs or spices. This will require an adventurous spirit and fair amount of guesswork, but follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to creating delicious combinations that can be placed in an airtight jar and served as a great gift for the drinks enthusiast.

5. Sugar Scrubs

Handmade sugar scrubs provide a trendy, pocket-friendly way to pamper someone this Christmas. The scrub makes for an excellent exfoliant and will hydrate and moisturise the skin – and it smells heavenly, too!

Choose the flavour you know they’ll love most and follow this simple 5-minute sugar scrub recipe.

6. Bath Bombs

Pop one of these into a bath of hot water and be mesmerized by the ensuing burst of fizz and colour! The great thing about bath bombs is they can be made in a variety of different scents and moulded to any shape – some can even give relief to sinus flares, muscle pain and sleeping troubles.

Give the gift of relaxation this Christmas by making one of these unique bath bombs.

7. Chalkboard Mugs

Gift recipients can enjoy their hot beverages in the most charming way with these customisable Chalkboard Mugs.

You’ll only need four items to create this great gift, although you can also add sachets of coffee or hot chocolate and some mini marshmallows for a complete treat.

Follow the tutorial here.

8. Mini Succulent Garden

The perfect gift for nature and garden lovers! These mini succulent and cacti gardens are easy to put together, stunning to look at and easy to look after.

Create a little succulent garden of your own by following the simple DIY tutorial here.

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Which of these hand-made gifts are you most excited to surprise someone with this Christmas? Let us know by getting in touch via any one of our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.