PROJECT SECRET SANTA: Homemade Holiday Treats Made Simple

As part of PROJECT SECRET SANTA, I reached out to some of my favorite bakers and asked them to share some secrets and recipes to help all of you with your holiday gifting and baking.

Up first is my friend Tamlyn, who will be launching a new cooking blog called The Weekly Plate in just a few weeks. It will be filled with shopping lists, recipes and meal plans to help you cook healthy, delicious and wallet-friendly meals for your family each and every week.  And let me tell you - this lady knows her sweets!  Lucky for us, she's going to walk us through the treats she makes as holiday gifts.  Take it away, Tamlyn!


THE PACKAGING
You can bet my craft area is overloaded with fun ribbon, candy boxes and all sorts of random goodies from the craft store this time of year.

craft area getting loaded up with goodies!

I love nothing more than making up dozens of homemade treat boxes to mail to friends and family. These are also my go to's to spread holiday cheer to neighbors, our mailman and our local friendly police officers. With a little creativity and some super easy holiday treat recipes that can be made in bulk, you are on your way to creating the perfect homemade holiday gift!

chocolate dipped oreos and rum balls - the perfect little gift!

This year I got really excited over the Martha Stewart holiday packaging collection at Michaels. 

While I know the boxes are "pre-set," I always end up mixing ribbons around and adding my own little touches. Another fun container is the clear paint can. 

Crack crackers... mmmmmm...

With so many different combinations of treats, ribbons and tags, containers and pretty printed parchment paper liners, the possibilities are endless and the results are sure to make feel like a domestic goddess!  The key is to have fun with this.  It is not meant to be stress inducing but a festive way to spend an afternoon. I have done this the last few holiday seasons with girlfriends over at the house. Lots of hands make light work plus how can you go wrong hanging out with friends in the kitchen.

THE SUPPLIES
I had a blast ordering some super fun "disco dust" from Sweet Baking Supply and a great site for buying bulk clear cello packaging is Nashville Wraps.

chocolate covered pretzel sticks with a bit of disco dust to give them an awesome sparkle

For the treats this year I used the 1.65 MIL bags.

Both of these sites are extremely efficient with shipping and I have never been disapointed with their customer service!

THE SWEET TREATS

On the menu this year for bulk candies to make:

Crack Crackers - HEAVEN.  I always have ingredients for this in the house.

Coffee Toffee - make toffee once and you will be hooked!

Rum Balls - try mixing it up with some spiced rum, Kahlua and Malibu.... you will thank me.

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels and Oreos - the key to these are making an assembly line and 5 minutes in the freezer to set them.

chocolate covered oreos with crushed candy cane and sprinkles

As with any "bulk" project, the key is to get all your individual parts done so that the assembly line of putting it all together does not seem so overwhelming.  If making all of these seems like it will be too much, make two of the treats and mix and match. 

a homemade touch..

Just remember that everyone loves something homemade and it is always appreciated and enjoyed so much more.

Enjoy,

Tamlyn

Thanks, Tamlyn, for these great tips on how to achieve some tasty and beautiful homemade holiday treats!  Stay tuned for tomorrow's feature from Stacy at Scrumptious Swirls.

This feature was written as part of AFOMFT's PROJECT SECRET SANTA to benefit Jack's Toy Drive.  For more information on what it is, go HERE and if you'd like to buy a toy for a hospitalized child this holiday season, please visit the Jack's Toy Drive Amazon Wishlist.  Prices start at just $1.   Help put a smile on the face of a child who needs it this Christmas!