So…I know in my last post I said I was trying not to bake this Christmas. I failed. I had to bake something! I decided to bake for my boyfriend’s family as well as my own aunt and uncle. I am extremely broke this year, and I wanted to get them all something for Christmas, but I can’t afford to buy anything. I thought putting together a nice little package of homemade edible gifts would be a nice idea.

I decided on a vegan cranberry-pistachio biscotti, which I must say I was very nervous about making. I thought biscotti would need the addition of eggs, but it turns out I was wrong! The biscotti tastes and looks just like ‘real’ biscotti! The recipe came from Veganomicon and I followed it exactly. If I were to make them again, I would sub in some whole wheat pastry flour.

I made fudge from here because the recipe was so simple- lo and behold….I screwed it up! I guess I didn’t cook it long enough, because it just will not set. So, when worse comes to worst, maple fudge turns into maple butterscotch sauce!!

I also threw together some spiced nuts, which are always a winner in my book! And lastly, some fudge that didn’t work out so well….so now it is a’butterscotch sauce’- funny how that works, eh?

Spiced Nuts

• 2 cups mixed nuts (I used hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pecans)
• 2 tbsp dried rosemary, chopped (fresh is even better!)
• 1 – 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp salt (I like to use a ginger/garlic/coriander sea salt, but plain sea salt will do. No table salt!
• 1/2tsp -3/4tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet and toast until slightly brown, 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix all other ingredients together in a large bowl. Toss in hot nuts and mix thoroughly. Enjoy!

This will probably be my last post before I relax from EVERYTHING before Christmas and just enjoy my time off from school and work, so I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and enjoy these edible gift ideas. Merry Christmas! Bring on 2010!!

I’ll leave you with a few more Christmas treats from last year….indulgent and all!

Espresso Chocolate Shortbread

Buttered Rum Meltaways

Orange/Apricot Marmalade Cookies

Sugar Cookie Snowflakes with Royal Icing

**So, I had this post all written up, with just the pictures of the gifts needing to be added. Guess what happened- I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off all week, and I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES BEFORE I GAVE THEM AWAY. Oh jeez….better luck next time!