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    Home » Festive Asian Recipes » Christmas

    Published: Dec 13, 2021 · Modified: Jun 28, 2022 by Zen

    22 Homemade Christmas food gifts

    They say the best gifts are personal, and what can be more personal than homemade Christmas food gifts?

    When I was a teenager, a friend baked me a cake for my birthday. For one reason or another, we didn't even meet up any time near my birthday so I never got to eat it- or even see it!- but 2 decades later, I still remember the cake, because she took the time to make it. If you make any of these Christmas food gifts for your friends, it will definitely stand out amongst all the presents your friends receive!

    Also, if you're still struggling to decide what to cook on Christmas Day, here are some Asian Christmas recipes for a different type of Christmas feast!

    Jump to:
    • Cookie recipes
    • Snowball Eggnog Curd
    • Savoury food gifts
    • Drinks

    Cookie recipes

    Naturally vegan peanut cookies

    Chinese peanut cookies on a plate with its ingredients peanuts, peanut oil, flour, sugar and egg
    Inspired by the "How to cook the Perfect..." column in The Guardian (UK newspaper), I baked over 1000 cookies before coming up with this ultimate Chinese peanut cookie recipe. Typically eaten over Chinese New Year, but there's no reason why you can't have it on regular days as well 🙂
    The Best Traditional Chinese New Year Peanut Cookies
    Check out this recipe
    12 types of Chinese peanut cookies made from 12 different recipes on a plate

    Cranberry & Chocolate Cookies

    Christmas twist on an American classic cookie: Cranberry and Chocolate Snickerdoodles
    Nothing says Christmas better than cranberries and cookies! (Well, maybe gingerbread...?)
    Check out this recipe
    A stack of cranberry and chocolate snickerdoodle cookies with cranberries, cinnamon and a pinecone piled around

    Icelandic Pepper Cookies

    A pile of Icelandic pepper cookies or piparkoku on a tile against a blue background that looks like the skyr
    The backdrop here reminds me of snow! The first time I saw snow I was 10 and I was surprised it didn't fall in huge balls like they show in the cartoons! LOL
    Icelandic pepper cookies, or piparkokur
    The name is unusual but the ingredients are not! Chewy and easy to make from scratch, piparkokur are similar to gingersnaps.
    Check out this recipe
    A pile of Icelandic pepper cookies or piparkoku on a tile against a blue background that looks like the skyr

    No Bake Granola Bars

    A few very pretty granola bars tied up with parchment paper and string scattered amongst holly leaves
    No Bake granola bars
    These 5-starred granola bars are not only gorgeous, they're also so easy to make even my Mother (who can't boil water) can make them! The ingredients are basically stirred together, frozen then cut and tied into these pretty parcels! They're so lovely, I think I'm gonna give these out this year but I do wonder if they're stable at room temperatures in a very hot country like Singapore (30C+ even in December) so I shall do a test before updating everyone.
    Check out this recipe
    A few very pretty granola bars tied up with parchment paper and string scattered amongst holly leaves

    Overnight Oats

    Mason Jar DIY: Overnight Oats
    I hate cooking or any kind of food prep in the mornings, which is why I almost always end up eating junk food for breakfast. If you have a friend like me, he or she would definitely appreciate this gift, which only requires them to add milk the night before to enjoy a healthy yet delicious breakfast!
    Check out this recipe
    3 mason jars full of overnight oats

    Gingerbread toffee

    Gingerbread toffee
    When I lived in Scotland, I went to Edinburgh on an almost weekly basis, and there were scores of fudge and toffee shops on the Royal Mile. Now that I've moved back to Singapore, I have to make my own if I want to eat toffee, and adding molasses, ginger, cloves and cinnamon give this one a nice Christmas twist!
    Check out this recipe
    A pile of gingerbread toffee with 2 gingermen cookies in the background

    Refrigerator Chocolate Christmas Tiffin

    Refrigerator chocolate christmas tiffin
    With nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and orange, this 5-starred chocolate tiffin is like christmas in a cake!
    Check out this recipe
    Sliced squares of chocolate tiffin cake on brown paper

    White Chocolate Bark

    A few slices of white chocolate bark studded with dried fruits tied up with colourful string
    White Chocolate Bark with Dried Fruits
    Who says homemade gifts are a lot of work? This recipe is made in a microwave and is done in a flash! Vary the additions if you want to give everyone a personalised gift, so for eg add peanuts for the nut-lover, ginger and chilli for the friend who loves spice and nuts for those who like crunch!
    Check out this recipe

    Microwave peanut brittle

    Peanut brittle that's made in a microwave
    Christmas can be a stressful time, but it shouldn't be! Giving gifts should spread love, not stress, which is why I love food gifts that easy to make and what is easier than using the microwave? As this recipe uses butter and peanuts (versus store-bought peanut butter), you could also vary the nuts in it if your friends don't like peanuts!
    Check out this recipe
    Chunks or peanut brittle spilling out of a red and white container

    Snowball Eggnog Curd

    A jar full of eggnog curd that has a ribbon tied around it for christmas
    Snowball Eggnog Curd
    With a name like snowball eggnog curd how could I resist adding this to my list of Christmas food gifts? Moreover, it lasts for up to 3 weeks in the fridge (nothing worse than getting a homemade food gift that has to be finished TODAY) and has a 5-star rating!
    Check out this recipe
    A jar full of eggnog curd that has a ribbon tied around it for christmas

    Christmas Jam

    Christmas Jam
    Note that the 1kg of fruit specified in the recipe refers to the weight after cutting up!
    Check out this recipe
    A spoon dipping into a jar of Christmas jam

    Savoury food gifts

    Homemade Kimchi (Whole 30/ GAPS/ keto)

    A close-up of kimchi being picked out of a bowl with a pair of chopsticks
    Fun fact: did you know that according to Chinese etiquette, your chopsticks should never cross? Unfortunately, I'm Chinese but mine still do LOL

    Friends with dietary restrictions can be quite challenging to eat with, or to give food gifts to. However, the more limited their diet, the more grateful they are when you give them a delicious food gift as it can be difficult for them to find stuff! (Trust me, I know, as 1 of my friends is allergic to eggs and dairy- I almost cried when I ate the vegan cake I bought for her years ago- it was like sweet cardboard... The search for a good dessert that she can eat is what led me to start making (and now selling) vegan desserts, namely vegan Belgian chocolate truffles!

    Click here for some easy vegan food gift ideas.

    Whole 30, Gaps and Keto homemade kimchi
    When I wanted to make kimchi in London, my good friend quickly said no as she was worried my flat would smell (she comes over for dinner quite often so has a vested interest!) If you've friends with similar concerns but who still love homemade kimchi (and if you're not fussy), why not make them some kimchi for Christmas?
    Check out this recipe
    A close-up of kimchi being picked out of a bowl with a pair of chopsticks

    Homemade salted eggs

    Salted eggs are super easy to make, you just need to be organised, as they need time to sit in the brine. Some people are scared to make their own though, so why not make it for them and save them from the pesky chemicals and preservatives found in the store-bought ones? Make it a complete gift by including some salted egg recipes, such as the following salted egg popcorn (and maybe a curry leaf plant, as curry leaves go amazingly with salted egg!). I don't recommend gifting the popcorn itself as it tastes best fresh!

    Quick and easy salted egg yolk popcorn snack recipe
    Loaded with umami, you won't be able to stop snacking on this salted egg popcorn! Chilli and curry leaves are optional but they do add complexity to the popcorn and make it better!
    Check out this recipe
    A bowl of salted egg popcorn made on the stovetop.

    Finishing Salts

    DIY Finishing Salts
    Finishing salts are another super easy gift, perfect for friends who don't have a sweet tooth! If you wonder why we should gift salts, think of Cordelia and King Lear! Once you've made these once, feel free to vary up what you add to the salt, to create your own flavoured salts!
    Check out this recipe
    3 small saucers with different finishing salts in them

    Sriracha Salt

    Sriracha Salt
    When I first moved to London, almost a decade ago, I remember sriracha being all the rage, and I still have lots of friends who love it, so I can think of many people who'd love to get this! It does call for quite a bit of oven time so make a huge batch or make it together with the finishing salts in the recipe above!
    Check out this recipe
    A glass jar full of sriracha salt with some sprinkled around it

    Homemade 5 spice powder

    If you're wondering why your friend can't just buy 5 spice powder from the supermarket, just remember that supermarket spices have been sitting around for ages (whilst in transit from the factory to the supermarket, then on the shelves before making it to your kitchen). The fresher the spice powder, the more tasty it is, so nothing beats homemade! At the same time, why not include some recipes so that your friend knows what to do with the gift? Here's a link to some easy recipes which featured 5 spice powder- you'd be surprised by how unusual some of them are!

    A plate of spices used to make Chinese 5 spice powder
    Don't forget to break the cassia into small pieces before pounding- this saves you time!
    Homemade Chinese 5 spice powder
    A quick and easy recipe to make your own 5 spice powder
    Check out this recipe
    A plate of spices for homemade Chinese 5 spice powder.

    Smoky BBQ dry rub

    BBQ dry rub
    Similar, but even easier to make than finishing salts, as you don't even have to turn on the oven- just mix everything together!
    Check out this recipe
    A spoonful of BBQ dry rub wit more in a glass jar underneath

    Sweet red chilli sauce

    A glass jar full of a bright red sweet chilli sauce
    In Singapore, it's common to pickle green chillies to eat with noodles- it's very similar to this recipe (vinegar + sugar + garlic + sliced green chillies) except that we don't add the cornflour!

    I'm usually finicky about giving garlic food gifts to people due to the risk of botulism- although it's rare, the consequences are severe enough that I'd rather be safe than sorry. if you're not familiar with it- some of my friends had never heard of it and didn't realise that they shouldn't be leaving garlic in oil for more than 24 hours!- do have a read of the link I attached. Luckily, Cooks Illustrated did our work for us and checked with the experts: we don't have to worry about the food safety aspect of homemade garlic vinaigrettes thanks to the vinegar (the taste is something else entirely, as the garlic will start tasting "pickled" quite quickly!)

    Sweet red chilli sauce
    With over 40 5 star ratings, this jar of chilli makes a great gift- it's not only delicious, the colour is so bright, cheery and Christmasy!
    Check out this recipe
    A glass jar full of a bright red sweet chilli sauce

    Drinks

    A glass of golden tea with turmeric, ginger and cinnamon behind it.
    Turmeric ginger cinnamon tea
    Easy, healthy, naturally golden and only requires 5 ingredients.
    Click here for the turmeric tea recipe.
    Close-up of naturally golden turmeric, ginger and cinnamon tea.

    Vanilla and orange bourbon

    Vanilla and orange bourbon
    This must be the easiest Christmas gift to make: it only requires 3 ingredients, vanilla, orange, bourbon and time! Perfect for your cocktail-loving friends!
    Check out this recipe
    A large jam jar full of bourbon with some orange slices and a vanilla bean inside

    Other drink ideas include this homemade Korean tangerine syrup (chung gyul cheong) and homemade plum syrup (maesil cheong)- they can be added to alcohol to make cocktails, to hot water (or sparkling water) to make tea or to salads as part of the dressing. You can even use them when cooking soup and stews!

    Which recipe on the list was your favourite? If you try any, do let me know in the comments, or take a photo and tag me on social media (@greedygirlgourmet) In the meantime, happy holidays everyone!

    « 39 Best South East Asian Lemongrass recipes
    easy hotel chinese pumpkin rice recipe (with soup and fish) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Camilla Hawkins says

      December 13, 2021 at 10:18 pm

      Loving all these recipes, thank you for including mine. I would pin but can't find a montage pin?

      Reply
      • Zen says

        December 14, 2021 at 6:13 am

        Hi Camilla thanks for taking the time to visit! I usually don't do a montage pin but will look into doing one! 🙂 Happy hols to your family and you!

        Reply
        • Camilla Hawkins says

          December 14, 2021 at 7:37 pm

          It's best otherwise you're using someone else's original image to promote your post which isn't good for the creator and not in accordance with Pinterest guidelines. I make all guest images unpinnable in my posts.

          Reply
          • Zen says

            December 21, 2021 at 3:01 am

            Thanks for sharing, didn't know that!

            Reply

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    Greedygirlgourmet eating 2 sandwiches in Scotland

    Hi I'm Zhen! I couldn't boil water till I was 18 but after living abroad (in St. Andrews then London) for 11 years and having to cook for myself, I now love having friends and families over, and cooking for them. I tend to be slightly obsessive-compulsive, so I like to try many different versions of a recipe before coming up with my own "ultimate" version. Check out www.greedygirlgourmet.com every week for new tried-and-tested (on my guinea pigs aka guests!) Asian recipes which are full of flavour!

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