Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Skip the traditional Christmas cookies and give the gift of homemade Christmas baking this year. Discover easy and budget-friendly recipes for delicious presents.
Change The Way You Give This Holiday Season With Homemade Christmas Baking Gifts
This year, Mrs. CBB and I decided that we would eliminate baking our famous Christmas cookies and replace them with inexpensive Christmas baking gifts.
Giving Christmas Baking Gifts in a jar or bag are gifts that say, we cared to provide you with something we made and hope you like it.
Costs of Christmas Baking Gifts
Will making homemade Christmas Baking Gifts cost more money?
Well, that depends on what you are putting in your gifts and how much you are willing to spend on ingredients.
We set the dollar amount for the Christmas baking gifts to be around the $5-$7 mark (that’s our posh).
By doing so, it allows us to splurge a bit on baking ingredients and save on others.
This may seem a bit odd, but as a family of two adults and one toddler where we’ve cut out sugar from our diet, having loads of sweet treats around is too tempting.
Who wants to lick the spoon? How tempting that would be for me!! Ah!
Most years, we would always have extra cookies hanging about, and my mother-in-law would always try to get them, but since she’s diabetic, we’ve also decided that maybe it’s not so good of an idea.
To add more fuel to the sweet tooth fire, my father-in-law has also been diagnosed with diabetes.
This year, we plan to make some Keto Holiday Cookies (sugar-free) and bring them home with us for the family, which I’ll tell you all about in another post.
Share Sweet Love This Holiday Season
Today, I wanted to focus on Christmas baking gifts and how cool they are to create and give to your friends and family as small gifts.
We no longer go Christmas shopping for adults in our family as we focus on the kids.
Watching their little eyes light up on Christmas morning is far more fun than getting a dozen pairs of socks.
One of the greatest gifts during the Christmas holidays is being with family, sipping hot apple cider around the fireplace, and making memories.
This year, though, we will bring homemade Christmas baking gifts to sprinkle some sweet love this holiday season.
Edible Christmas gifts to make in place of baked goods also allow you to sit back and relax a bit more over the holidays.
If you have a company coming, overstock a few boxes of cookies and offer snacks such as vegetables, dips, and other foods besides sweets.
Homemade Christmas food gifts are also popular, and you can fill a basket with all sorts of foods that your friend or loved one might enjoy.
I’ve consistently seen various cheeses, spreads, dried salami, jams and jellies, crackers, chocolates, etc.
Gift ideas for cooks on your list will love something like this, especially if the items are unique.
Importance of homemade Christmas gifts
They come from the heart and are not a commercialized gift they probably won’t use.
We poured over tonnes of Pinterest recipes the past few months, picking our favorite Christmas baking gifts to share.
Amid our search, we created Christmas Brownies In a Jar we plan to give away.
The cost for the entire recipe at the time of creating it was $5 for the pan although this may have gone up a bit over the years.
Remember that you won’t be adding all the ingredients to the jar.
The idea is to layer the ingredients so they stand out.
Brownie Ingredients For Christmas Baking Gifts
- 3/4 cup Flour
- 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons melted Butter (eliminate from a jar)
- 1 1/2 cups of Granulated White Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs (eliminate from a jar)
- 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract (eliminate from the jar unless using powdered vanilla)
- 1 cup toasted chopped walnuts (optional) (leave nuts out too)
- 1 cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Don’t forget to add a label with the full recipe so the recipient can make their treat.
How To Make Brownie In A Jar For Christmas Gifts
Buying chocolate chips and premium cocoa in bulk from Costco, Bulk Barn or the grocery store will be our biggest expense next to crafts.
The rest of the brownie ingredients are simple and inexpensive to purchase.
You probably already have them in your pantry.
Obviously, you would keep the butter, eggs, and vanilla extract out of the jar and have the recipient add them while preparing to bake the brownies.
Nuts are optional, but I’d keep them out, too.
Add a production date so they know when the jar was made.
Ideally, using the jar as soon as possible would work out best, but there’s no reason it wouldn’t last in a pantry for a month or two.
What we like about taking the Christmas baking gifts route is that we can make them ourselves.
They are also inexpensive compared to some of the Christmas cookies we’ve made in the past.
With the rising costs of groceries in Canada, baking at home can become pricey unless you stockpile baking ingredients in your pantry or freezer before it’s time to bake.
These days, we don’t have the time with a toddler to bake like we used to.
Ultimately, we don’t want to be tempted to dive into a bowl of chocolate peanut butter balls with remorse.
Quitting sugar is like quitting smoking for us so we try to stay as far away as we can from using it in the house.
How To Make Christmas Baking Gifts
For those of you who think making homemade Christmas gifts is a cool idea, I think you’ll love the recipes we’ve found along with holiday inspiration.
You can purchase jars and baskets for your Christmas baking gifts at just about any store in Canada, as well as simple decor and baking accessories from the Dollar Store or any other inexpensive craft store.
If this becomes a tradition for you finding deals at the end of the Christmas season is your best savings bet.
Scouring the second-hand shops on 50% off days throughout the year will yield you very cheap baskets for your holiday projects, too.
The idea is to decorate and add a recipe and a small personal message.
That’s all.
If you’re invited to a dinner party and your hosts are not wine drinkers bring along a baking gift basket which they might appreciate more.
Bringing something they will love is far better than another bottle collecting dust. (We have lots)
Traditional CBB Holiday Cookies
If baking is your passion please check out our traditional holiday cookies we are putting on hold this year to try something new.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls filled with nuts and cherries
- Buttery Snowballs filled with nuts coated with icing sugar
- Coconut Balls filled with chocolate, nuts, cherries then rolled in coconut
- Italian Christmas Cookies Anginetti
Discussion: What are some of your favorite DIY Christmas baking gifts to give or receive?
Best 8 Christmas Baking Jar Ideas
Below are all 8 photos and recipes for our top Christmas Baking Jar for the holidays!
3. Reindeer Cookies In A Jar – Free Recipe Printable
4. Double Hot Chocolate Cocoa In a Jar
5. Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies in a Jar with printable labels
7. Gingerbread Granola in a Jar
Christmas MandM Cookies in a Jar
Great list! Thanks for including my Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies!
Thanks for dropping by Chrysa!
I use Zebra.com, Websaver, Save.ca, P&G,
once a year Chapmans will send you a $5.00 coupon for ice cream.
I’ve never heard of Zebra. I will look it up thanks Mary.
,
Hey Mary,
I just looked up the Zebra.com and it’s not coming up as anything to do with coupons?
Week 43 – Nov 10 – 16, 2017
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $37.46
Human
2 NN Unsalted Crackers = $4.00
2 NN Mushrooms = $2.58
Cherrios Crunch = $4.18
Chex Honey Nut = $4.58
4 L 2% Milk = $4.27
Pears – 1.060 Kg (600 PC Points) = $2.99
Apples – 1.065 Kg = $2.30
2 Schneiders Weiners = $7.56
Cats
5 Baking Soda = $5.00
Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the 2 Adults ($1820.00, for the pay period – $70.00)
Total Human (Adults) this Week Period: $32.46
Total Human (Adults) to Date: $1,336.51 (minus Debt pymt & Gift Cards) = $1,180.12
Total Grocery Budget for the 3 Cats ($364, for the pay period – $14.00)
Total Cats this Week Period: $5.00
Total Cats to Date: $323.91
Total Grocery Budget for Stockpile ($507.69)
Total Stockpile this Week Period: $
Total Stockpile to Date: $163.05
Total Grocery Budget for the Personal Hygiene ($182)
Total Personal Hygiene this Week Period: $
Total Personal Hygiene to Date: $227.40
Total Grocery Budget for Meat ($499.98)
Total Meat this Week Period: $
Total Meat to Date: $407.10
Total Coupons Used this Week Period: $
Total Coupons Used To Date: $22.48
Total Grocery Savings for this Week Period: $
Total Grocery Savings to Date: $89.64
Total Price Match for this Week Period: $
Total Price Match to Date: $54.49
Total PC Points Received this Week Period: 600
Total PC Rewards Points Used this Week Period:
Total PC Rewards To Date: 7,628
Overview: Didn’t need much this week.
Hi Dee,
What do you use the baking soda for? Cat litter cleanliness?
Great job with the shop even though it was small. In 2018 we are really going to tap into the PC points now that they will be combined with Optimum points. We will have close to 2 million points when they combine!!
You get ballot #9
Mr.CBB
Yes, we put the baking soda in the litter box prior to putting new litter in the pan. Unfortunately, I don’t have an Optimum card so I’ll only have PC Points which are converted as regular points.
Week 44 – Nov 17 – 23, 2017
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $37.46
Human
No Shop
Cats
10.9 Kg Whiskas Cat Food = $26.48
Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the 2 Adults ($1820.00, for the pay period – $70.00)
Total Human (Adults) this Week Period: $
Total Human (Adults) to Date: $1,336.51 (minus Debt pymt & Gift Cards) = $1,180.12
Total Grocery Budget for the 3 Cats ($364, for the pay period – $14.00)
Total Cats this Week Period: $26.48
Total Cats to Date: $350.39
Total Grocery Budget for Stockpile ($507.69)
Total Stockpile this Week Period: $
Total Stockpile to Date: $163.05
Total Grocery Budget for the Personal Hygiene ($182)
Total Personal Hygiene this Week Period: $
Total Personal Hygiene to Date: $227.40
Total Grocery Budget for Meat ($499.98)
Total Meat this Week Period: $
Total Meat to Date: $407.10
Total Coupons Used this Week Period: $
Total Coupons Used To Date: $22.48
Total Grocery Savings for this Week Period: $
Total Grocery Savings to Date: $89.64
Total Price Match for this Week Period: $
Total Price Match to Date: $54.49
Total PC Points Received this Week Period:
Total PC Rewards Points Used this Week Period:
Total PC Rewards To Date: 7,628
Overview: Didn’t need for the humans this week but stocked up on the cat food.
Hi Dee,
All for the cats this week!!
You get ballot #8
Mr.CBB
NOVEMBER – Nov 13-19, 2017
2017 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
==============================================================================================
REMARKS FOR THE MONTH:
The monsoon season continues! I’m not even tempted to shop!! Thank goodness for a well stocked pantry and freezer. 🙂
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This is a no shop week!
==============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT SHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR LATE DECEMBER
==============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT SHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER
==============================================================================================
2017 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year: $308.47
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year: $0.00
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year: $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year: 324 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year: 58 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year: 20,000 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year: 4,100 Points
==============================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 2,090.00 Grocery Budget JAN-NOV
($ 414.57) NET RESERVE SAVINGS
($1,675.43) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 0.00 AVAILABLE Y-T-D GGC SPENDING NOT INCL RESERVES
• RESERVES Y-T-D:
$ 405.69 Re-Stocking Fund
$ 170.70 Holiday Season Fund + $210 RCSS POINTS + $10 Dream Air Miles + $10 RCSS Gift Card (TOTAL $400.70)
$ 649.59 Summer Season Fund
$ 421.87 US Shopping Reserve
$ 41.56 GGC Savings Reserve
$ 0.00 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,689.41. This means the $1,274.44 that we carried forward from 2016 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $1,445.94 that we have added in 2017, LESS $1,030.97 that we have drawn out for use in 2017.
=================================================================================
Hi Mary,
Hope you are feeling better now. 🙂
You get ballot #7
Mr.CBB
NOVEMBER – Nov 20-26, 2017
2017 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
==============================================================================================
REMARKS FOR THE MONTH:
I am feeling poorly so it’s keeping me close to home.
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This is a no shop week!
==============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT SHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR LATE DECEMBER
==============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT SHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER
==============================================================================================
2017 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year: $308.47
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year: $0.00
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year: $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year: 324 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year: 58 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year: 20,000 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year: 4,100 Points
==============================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 2,090.00 Grocery Budget JAN-NOV
($ 414.57) NET RESERVE SAVINGS
($1,675.43) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 0.00 AVAILABLE Y-T-D GGC SPENDING NOT INCL RESERVES
• RESERVES Y-T-D:
$ 405.69 Re-Stocking Fund
$ 170.70 Holiday Season Fund + $210 RCSS POINTS + $10 Dream Air Miles + $10 RCSS Gift Card (TOTAL $400.70)
$ 649.59 Summer Season Fund
$ 421.87 US Shopping Reserve
$ 41.56 GGC Savings Reserve
$ 0.00 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,689.41. This means the $1,274.44 that we carried forward from 2016 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $1,445.94 that we have added in 2017, LESS $1,030.97 that we have drawn out for use in 2017.
=================================================================================
NOVEMBER – Nov 13-19, 2017
2017 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
==============================================================================================
REMARKS FOR THE MONTH:
I rather like this not shopping…I think I can hold off until after Christmas!
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This is another no shop week!
==============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT SHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR LATE DECEMBER
==============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT SHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER
==============================================================================================
2017 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year: $308.47
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year: $0.00
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year: $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year: 324 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year: 58 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year: 20,000 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year: 4,100 Points
==============================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 2,090.00 Grocery Budget JAN-NOV
($ 414.57) NET RESERVE SAVINGS
($1,675.43) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 0.00 AVAILABLE Y-T-D GGC SPENDING NOT INCL RESERVES
• RESERVES Y-T-D:
$ 405.69 Re-Stocking Fund
$ 170.70 Holiday Season Fund + $210 RCSS POINTS + $10 Dream Air Miles + $10 RCSS Gift Card (TOTAL $400.70)
$ 649.59 Summer Season Fund
$ 421.87 US Shopping Reserve
$ 41.56 GGC Savings Reserve
$ 0.00 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,689.41. This means the $1,274.44 that we carried forward from 2016 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $1,445.94 that we have added in 2017, LESS $1,030.97 that we have drawn out for use in 2017.
================================================================================
Mr CBB you missed this post.
I hadn’t approved it yet that’s all. Thanks for reminding me. 🙂
Hi Mary,
Great job with the no-shop weeks!
You get ballot #6.
MR.CBB