Homemade Treats From The Kitchen Make Easy and Inexpensive Gifts To Give (Or Keep!)

I think homemade goodies make great gifts and all of these are easy to make and inexpensive….and most important, delicious! After each recipe I’ve shown an inexpensive example of how to wrap it. These “gifts” can enable you to give, even if you’re on a budget. And they are also make great presents for those on your list who are hard to buy for. Of course you can make and keep these for yourself too! I’ve broken down the prices to show you how much each goody cost me to make and added if the items were on sale so you’ll have an easier time figuring out what you can afford with your budget.

* I made these treats a few years back so with inflation, prices will be slightly higher. And my containers from the Dollar Tree were $1 but are now $1.25.

These pecans are so delicious! And they are super easy to make. I bought my pecans at the grocery store and they weren’t on sale. You can pick them up cheaper at Wal-Mart, Sams or Costco, which would lower your overall investment. I picked up my cinnamon and instant coffee at the Dollar Tree for a dollar each. The suggested serving size is 1/4 cup (with 176 calories)….You could make a big batch of these and individually wrap them for lots of gifts or fill up a larger size jar….*If you start sampling them, you better make extra!

CINNAMON-COFFEE PECANS (from The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook)

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Makes: 16 1/4 cup serving sizes at 45 cents each

Ingredients:

• 3 cups pecan halves
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• dash of salt

Directions:

Spread pecans in a ugreased roasting pan or 15- x 10-inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. Combine sugar and remaining 4 ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until sugar and coffee dissolve, stirring often. Add pecans, and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Spread pecans in ungreased pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Cool completely; store in an airtight container. Makes 4 cups.

My box cost a dollar from the Dollar Tree and I filled it up with 3/4 cup pecans making this a nice little gift for $2.35.

There was a time I made beer bread all the time but I had forgotten how good and easy it was. I dusted off my recipe, don’t remember where I got it, and now I remember why I stopped making it….it’s so good, it’s hard not to eat it all by myself! For added sweetness, you can add cinnamon and raisins, which is super delicious! Again, I did my shopping at the grocery store but if you buy in bulk, you’ll save money.

BEER BREAD-

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 45-55 minutes

Makes: 1 loaf (plain) $1.60 or with raisins $2.69

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 12-oz can beer, room temperature
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Additional ingredients if making the sweet version;

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pour the beer in and mix well. *If making the sweet version, add the cinnamon, sugar, and raisins. Pour the batter in a lightly greased loaf metal pan. Pour the melted butter over the top. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Let cool before slicing.

My pan size would have been fine if I hadn’t added the butter! If I had thought about it, I would have put a cookie sheet under the loaf pans to catch any spillover…..

I got my pan for a dollar at the Dollar Tree (and my ribbon). The labels were bought at Office Depot for $3.79 for 40 so this cost approximately $2.79 for the beer bread packaged like this or $3.88 for the sweet version.

If you know a meat lover, this steak rub I found in Family Circle magazine is a perfect homemade gift and takes about 5 minutes to make. We tested it on our steak and it’s delicious! I bought all my spices at the Dollar Tree so my dollar amount is less than Family Circle’s price.

STEAK RUB-

Takes about 5 minutes to make and makes 1 jar (11 teaspoons) for approx $1.50 per Family Circle. I made the same amount for 40 cents using spices from the Dollar Tree.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:

Blend all the ingredients together in a bowl. Spoon into a small jar and attach these instructions: Rub 1 teaspoon spice onto both sides of steak. Grill or broil as desired.

The article also had a pork rub and a chicken/fish rub that I haven’t tried but here’s the recipes….

PORK RUB-

Blend 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons crumbled dried rosemary, t teaspoon crushed fennel seed, 1 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic, 1 teaspoon coarsely ground peppercorn medley and 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel in a small bowl. Spoon into a small jar and attach these instructions: Rub 1 teaspoon spice mix onto both sides of 1 pound pork chops. Grill or broil as desired.

CHICKEN AND FISH RUB-

Blend 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoons dried minced garlic, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried tarragon and 1 teaspoon ground peppercorn medley in a small bowl. Spoon into a small jar and attach these instructions; Rub 1 to 2 teaspoons spice mix onto 1 pound skinless chicken or fish fillets. Grill or broil as desired.

I got this container at the Dollar Tree for $1.00 and the tags are from Office Depot, sold in a package of 100 for $5.99. With me buying my spices at the Dollar Tree, AND doubling the recipe to fill up the jar, this present cost me $1.85.

I have made chocolate covered pretzels for at least the last 20 years. In Family Circle (December 2012) I saw where they used pretzel rods so I tried that for a change. I bought my pretzel rods at the Dollar Tree and also my green sugar crystals. The chocolate chips I used were on sale for $1.99 for 12 ounces.

CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZEL RODS-

This is so easy….simply melt your favorite color/flavor of chocolate chips according to the package directions. Because the rods are so long I spooned the chocolate over the pretzel and shook off the excess (with smaller pretzels, I dip them in the bowl). If using colored sugar crystal, you want to sprinkle that on while the chocolate is warm. Put the pretzels on wax paper to dry (I stick mine in the fridge for about 5 minutes). If using another color of chocolate, add after the first color has dried. These rods cost me 15 cents each to make…a lot cheaper than when you buy them already made!

This container I got at the Dollar Tree (for $1.00) is deep enough to hold the pretzel rods. I added 10 pretzels so this gift cost me $2.50.

As you can see, you don’t have to be the world’s “best cook” to create some tasty and easy homemade goodies from your kitchen.