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Healthy Kitchen Hacks #29: 3-Ingredient Homemade Foodie Gifts

Healthy Kitchen Hacks #29: 3-Ingredient Homemade Foodie Gifts

*Herb Infused Vinegars * Vanilla Bean Spice Set * Dark Chocolate Covered Mandarins * Rich Hot Cocoa Mix * Peppermint Sugar Scrub*

Healthy Kitchen Hacks for the Holidays - all gifts are 3 ingredients: Herb Infused Vinegars, Dark Chocolate Mandarins, Vanilla Bean Spice Set, Rich Hot Cocoa Mix, Peppermint Sugar Scrub @tspbasil

Because my daughter has multiple teachers and therapists, I’m a big fan of DIY food gifts for the holidays. Especially as she’s old enough (8 1/2 years old) to have a say in what we make and can actually help make these gifts with just a little assistance (see Periscope clip below.)

So, in the spirit of a more homemade holiday (without the hassle), this week’s Healthy Kitchen Hacks includes 5 ideas of easy homemade foodie gifts for your favorite food lovers……and all of these edible holiday gifts are made with 3 ingredients or less! (And if you are a baker, check out our previous Baking Edition of Healthy Kitchen Hacks to save time in the kitchen this time of year.)

1) Herb Infused Vinegars
via Kara @The Foodie Dietitian

Healthy Kitchen Hacks - How To make Herbal Infused Vinegars

Are flavored vinegars the next sriracha? If so, you’ll be ahead of the curve with these easy to make DIY Herbed Vinegars from Kara. Sage, lemon balm and basil are just some of the flavors you can make (which also have immunity boosting properties – bonus.)

Tie on a note to each bottle for ideas on using: as a base for salad dressings and marinades, as a splash of flavor for soups, stews and stir-frys or as a drizzle over roasted veggies, chicken or fish.

2) Vanilla Bean Spice Set

Healthy Kitchen Hacks - Vanilla Bean Spice Set (Homemade Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Sugar and Vanilla Salt)

Three gift ideas in one! It’s actually very easy to make your own vanilla extract, vanilla sugar and vanilla salt (<— which is divine sprinkled over popcorn or to use in baked good recipes.)

3) Dark Chocolate Covered Mandarins
via Jenna @Make Healthy Easy

Healthy Kitchen Hacks - Dark Chocolate Covered Mandarins

Oranges always remind me of Christmas. Santa consistently left one in the bottom of my and my sister’s stockings and throughout December my mom would burn the peels on the stove for a lovely, natural house aromatic.

Jenna shows how 3 ingredients can become a magical sweet treat with these Dark Chocolate Dipped Mandarins (<—that vanilla salt would be delish on these.)

Note: These treats are more perishable so gift them by the next day.

4) Rich Hot Cocoa Mix

Healthy Kitchen Hacks - Homemade hot cocoa mix using only 3 ingredients @tspbasil

Many cocoa mixes use non-dairy creamers, artificial flavors and/or fillers but Serena’s homemade hot chocolate mix has only 3 basic ingredients –>nonfat dry milk powder, unsweetened cocoa and powdered sugar.

You can go a step further and flavor with cinnamon, instant espresso or coffee (for mocha lovers) or even cayenne pepper (for Mexican hot chocolate.)

Pour the mix in mason jars with instructions on how mix it up and ideas for other uses (hot chocolate oatmeal, anyone?)

5) Peppermint Sugar Scrub
via Whitney @Sweet Cayenne

Healthy Kitchen Hacks - Peppermint sugar scrub

OK, so this is not an edible but rather a no-calorie gift to pamper someone on your list. Whitney’s Peppermint Sugar Scrub is made from only 3 ingredients and I admit that I may be making for this for myself this year.

Any homemade food gifts you make every year? Any new DIY gifts you’re trying out this year? Please share – we’re always looking for ideas!

Dietitian Jess

Thursday 10th of December 2015

Seriously obsessed with this series of hacks- never stop doing it :) I am definitely not the DIY type but food and cooking is the one time I can get on board, thanks for sharing!

Deanna Segrave-Daly

Thursday 10th of December 2015

Aww, thanks Jess! And I'm the same way - DIY is not usually my strong suit unless we're talking cooking and baking :)

Jessica @ Nutritioulicious

Wednesday 9th of December 2015

Adding to my gift ideas pinterest board now! Yay for so many fun - and easy - gifts!

Chelsey

Wednesday 9th of December 2015

Love these ideas! I just bought dry coconut milk powder to use for hot cocoa and I love it for a vegan/dairy-free version. I love bringing homemade gifts to other peoples homes for parties...I usually go chocolate with my chocolate coconut date balls (http://citnutritionally.com/chocolate-coconut-date-truffles/), so wintery looking and pretty!

Lauren Harris-Pincus

Wednesday 9th of December 2015

These are fantastic! I love homemade gift ideas and am never creative enough to come up with them on my own, Thanks for the ideas :-)

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