With the holidays fast approaching, some of the most heartfelt gifts to give (and receive!) come from the heart…and the kitchen! Traina Foods shares some easy and fun ways to give edible gifts this season.

Cookie Mix in a Jar — Give that person on your list with a never-ending sweet tooth a large Mason jar filled with the dry ingredients to a holiday cookie recipe (such as white chocolate chip cookies with Traina Foods dried cranberries). Include a cute recipe card with the entire recipe — including the remaining ingredient list and directions), and add a fun and festive bow. Voila!

Sun Dried Apricot Preserves — Preserves can be a fancy addition to a gift basket that includes nuts, dried fruits, and summer sausage. For a short-cut version, dice eight Traina Foods Sun Dried Apricots, and then cover them in warm water for 15 minutes. Drain, then add them to a 1/2 cup of high-quality store-bought apricot preserves. Fold in the apricots, allow to cool, and then transfer the preserves to a jar with a seal-tight lid. Include a recipe for Traina Foods Polenta Crostini.

No Bake Sun Dried Fruit Energy Balls — For the health nut, a container filled with Traina Foods easy No Bake Sun Dried Fruit Energy Balls is sure to please. This combination of sun dried fruits, rolled oats, chia seeds, nut butter and a touch of honey and coconut oil has just the right amount of sweetness and a whole lot of nutrients to keep gift-recipients energized all season long!

Chocolate-Dipped Sun Dried Pears with Cashews — This special Traina Foods recipe is easy yet  elegant enough for gift giving — especially along with a nice bottle of wine or bubbly. Alternate dried fruit pieces and nuts can be used to create a whole new taste! Find the recipe here. 

Date Nut Biscuits — For a nod to the English, create an “afternoon tea” gift basket with a variety of teas, mini jars of jam and these homemade Date Nut Biscuits from Traina Foods. No need for a pricy airline ticket across the pond to get a taste of English tradition!

Fruit Cake — This poor loaf has gotten a bad rap over the years, but not all fruitcakes are like those hard brick types! There are as many new fruitcake recipes (fruitcake cookies, anyone?) out there as there are traditional ones and they might just be worth a Google! Half the fun of giving a gift from the kitchen is allowing the chef to get creative with the gift! Maybe fruitcakes deserve a second chance… after all — chock full of healthy dried fruits and nuts, they are practically a precursor to the energy bar! 

Making and sharing gifts homemade — whether in the kitchen or elsewhere — is a fun and meaningful way to share a talent with loved ones and friends this season. Traina Foods wishes everyone a very special holiday season filled with love and deliciousness!