Though naturally focused on sweets for the holidays, this list also includes a few savory options like bacon onion jam and spiced nuts. Read on for the most delicious homemade gift ideas this year – any one is sure to be a hit!

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Perfect for Christmas morning, this easy cinnamon banana bread is as versatile as it is delicious. Enjoy it fresh from the oven, freeze it for later, or wrap it up in a festive paper and string for a heartfelt homemade gift. Its cozy aroma and lively taste make it a must-have for the season. 

Christmas Banana Bread

Our best ever Sour Cream Banana Bread is so popular, I get messages all the time saying how moist and wonderful it is. So why not make it “Christmasy” and add cranberries, orange, and walnuts – and gift it for a homemade holiday gift or hostess gift?

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We love a good sweet relish, especially when it’s homemade and spread on a tuna sandwich with lettuce and tomatoes. It’s even better when it’s home-canned! For this Zucchini Relish recipe today, if you don’t have a garden, then shop the farmer’s market or farm stand for local zucchini! This recipe (otherwise known as onion relish) is a keeper–delicious to can, or halve the recipe and keep in the fridge for a “refrigerator zucchini relish.”

Zucchini Relish Recipe

Paste the recipe on your fridge, gather the ingredients, and grab a friend or 2 to make this recipe by preserving the jars. Canning is a process, so this recipe can take some time. But it’s worth every bite. This recipe brings back years of memories of canning batch after batch, with our garden zucchini from Medford, Oregon.

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I love a good cookie bread recipe–our Banana Cookie Bread! If you love banana bread, and chocolate chip cookies, well then this recipe is for you! Oh, and a little peanut butter make each loaf a little better.

We call it cookie bread, because when sliced, it’s thick, rich, and gooey like a cookie–slightly different than a loaf of bread.

Banana Cookie Bread

Bake up a few loaves of this easy recipe and either eat, share, or freeze a loaf. The combo of cookies and bread makes the texture perfect for a snack or breakfast quick bread. And it’s not just for kids–adults love this recipe as well.

Why I love this recipe

• It’s for kids and adults.
• Delish if you love banana bread + cookies.
• Freezes well.

Gather these ingredients:

• Bananas (overripe are the best!)
• Eggs + butter
• Brown sugar + raw sugar
• Vanilla
• Whole wheat flour
• Oats
• Baking soda + baking powder + salt
• Peanut butter chips + chocolate chips
• Walnuts

This recipe came from my roommate, Lori – years ago. It was one of our favorite treats to bake on the weekend. If you love baking banana bread, uou may also want to try my most popular Sour Cream Banana Bread recipe on my blog!

How do you make Banana Cookie Bread?

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 4 small loaf pans with cooking spray.
2. Mash the bananas on a plate and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, both sugars, butter, and vanilla. Add in the mashed bananas and gently stir.
3. Add the flour, oatmeal, and other dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon.
4. Add in the chips and nuts. Mix together.
5. Spoon the mixture into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
6. Allow the loaves to cool 15 minutes before removing from the loaf pans. Cool each loaf; wrap with plastic and freeze or give away!
7. Serve with a glass of milk. Warm it up to softened each slice.

Tips and substitutions:

• Great for a care package: When I decided to make a care package for my son who recently moved away, this recipe came to mind. And that quote. It’s always nice to “tip ourselves” and think of others! I mean, who doesn’t love banana bread, peanut butter, and chocolate? [Also try this Easy Banana Bread with Peanut Butter Glaze.]
• Mix up the chocolate chips for different chip flavors (white chocolate, butterscotch, toffee chips, etc.)
• Serve right away or you can freeze each loaf (wrap well before freezing).

Print

Banana Cookie Bread

This Banana Cookie Bread is a yummy recipe to make for gifts, care packages, hostess gifts, or a snack–a combo of banana bread and a cookie.

Makes 4 small loaves

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Calories 372kcal

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 3 bananas mashed
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup raw sugar
• ½ cup butter softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups  oats
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¾ cup peanut butter chips
• ¾ cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup walnuts chopped (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 4 small loaf pans with cooking spray.
• Mash the bananas on a plate and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, both sugars, butter, and vanilla. Add in the mashed bananas and gently stir.
• Add the flour, oatmeal, and other dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon.
• Add in the chips and nuts. Mix together.
• Spoon the mixture into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Allow the loaves to cool 15 minutes before removing from the loaf pans. Cool each loaf; wrap with plastic and freeze or give away!

Notes

Originally posted NOV 2014

Nutrition

Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 224IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

More banana recipes to try:

• Healthy Banana Brownies
• Strawberry Banana Bread
• Banana Pudding Trifle

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Grand Marnier-Infused French Toast is one of those special breakfasts that I love to make once or twice a year, usually around the holidays. This Challah French Toast breakfast is rich, decadent and I also love to serve it for out-of-town company. With a hint of orange flavor and cinnamon, and soft fluffy bread, it’s the best French Toast recipe.

French Toast with Grand Marnier

Not only is this a super easy recipe, but it’s one even young kids can make. With eggs, heavy cream, cinnamon, orange zest, honey and a tad bit of Grand Marnier–this recipe comes together in no time. Also optional to make this “alcohol-free” (see notes in recipe card).

The holidays are a beautiful gift! And there are many creative ideas and homemade gifts to give! Like this French Toast Breakfast idea! Our friend gave us this recipe years ago for Christmas. She printed out the recipe, added a small bottle of Grand Marnier with a fresh loaf of Challah bread. How fun, and what a unique idea for a “homemade” gift.

We also love this recipe served with these French Toast Cupcakes, fruit salad, and this banana coffee cake! How about a Virgin Mimosa for a special treat?

Why I love this recipe

• Simple ingredients, and optional to make it “alcohol-free.”
• You can make it any time of year, but especially during the holidays.
• Make the recipe (double or triple) and keep warm in the oven. Add to a “big board” or a breakfsat board for special occasions.

Gather these ingredients

• Eggs
• Milk or 1/2 & 1/2
• Orange zest
• Vanilla extract
• Honey
• Grand Marnier (or see notes if ommiting)
• Salt
• Loaf of soft bread: we use Challah bread
• Butter
• Oil

How do you make French Toast with Grand Marnier

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk (or half and half), orange zest, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt.
• Pour the egg mixture into a 9×13 baknig dish. Add the bread and soak the slices of bread in egg mixture for 5 minutes.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. oil in a frying pan. Add the soaked bread and cook 2-3 minutes on each side.
• Place in the heated oven to keep warm until served.
• Serve with warm maple syrup or favorite preserves with sifted confectioners sugar.

Tips and substitutions

GIFT IDEA: In a beautiful basket, add a fresh loaf of Challah bread with a bag of oranges (for zest, and the rest possibly for fresh squeezed orange juice?), with a quality bottle of maple syrup and a small bottle of Grand Marnier. Don’t forget to add the recipe to the basket! And any other fun items that would complete the basket.

Bread: use any soft bread, like brioche, Challah, or even homemade bread.

Alcohol-free: If you want alcohol-free, replace the Grand Mariner with another tablespoon of orange zest and a tsp of Rum extract.

Serve on a big board!

Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and your favorite jam or jelly. We also like to serve it with peanut butter (for those wanting a little more protein). It sounds weird, but it’s delish.

More easy breakfast ideas to try:

Easy Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Baked Berry Stuffed French Toast

Challah French Toast Casserole

Farmer’s Casserole

Print

French Toast with Grand Marnier

Serve French Toast with Grand Marnier, made with soft challah bread and a delicious orange liqueur, for the most amazing French toast!

Great for Christmas morning. Makes 8 large slices. Original source from Ina Garten.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 396kcal

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs beaten
• 1 ½ cups milk or 1/2 & 1/2
• 3 Tbsp. Grand Marnier*
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 loaf Challah bread or use Brioche bread
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. oil

Toppings:

• powdered sugar for dusting
• preserves or jelly
• peanut butter
• maple syrup

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Prepare the beaten eggs, milk (or half and half), Grand Marnier, orange zest, vanilla extract, honey and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together until combined.
• Pour the egg mixture into a 9×13 pan. Add the bread slices and soak the bread in egg mixture for 5 minutes.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. oil in a frying pan. Add the soaked bread and cook 2-3 minutes on each side.
• Place in the heated oven to keep warm until served.
• Serve with warm maple syrup or raspberry preserves with sifted confectioners sugar. We also love a dusting of powdered sugar or peanut butter!

Notes

• If you want alcohol-free, replace the Grand Mariner with another tablespoon of orange zest and a tsp of Rum extract.
• Reposted from December 2017.

Nutrition

Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 557mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 593IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 3mg

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Today I’m sharing a delightful recipe, and a video: How to make Apple Carrot Dog Biscuits recipe, and it’s perfect for your pet-loving friends! One reader says: “Instead of the sugar and egg I added  one mashed banana. Now the dog won’t leave the kitchen because he knows the biscuits are for him. He absolutely loved these.”

Apple Carrot Dog Treat Recipe

These crunchy carrot dog biscuits are the best Apple Carrot Dog Treats. Our dog, Alder, loves them! This recipe is great for pooches of all sizes. And take a peek at this post, Charcuterie Boards for Dogs! (more…)

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Friends, we’ve been enjoying some quality times with friends and family here in central Oregon. And I love to keep amazing Christmas cookies on the counter. These incredibly chunky (healthier) M&M cookies are made with Bob’s whole wheat flour, and they are delish!

Holiday Whole Wheat M and M Cookies Recipe

We took our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and changed it up with holiday colored (red and green) M and Ms. We used a medium-size scoop — to get in more of our favorite candy-coated chocolates. YUM! The result, cookies that look just as good as they taste!

The perfect way to end the day, after a long hike with friends, is to take a bite of these Whole Wheat M and M Cookies! (more…)

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Instant Russian Tea Mix is also called Instant Spiced Tea, and it’s made with warm spice flavors and an orange Tang base. It’s a staple during the holidays in many homes, whether you’re sipping it around the Christmas tree, or enjoying a cup before a night of caroling. You may be filling Mason jars for the perfect homemade gift from your kitchen.

Russian Tea Recipe

The latest lifestyle trend, or the buzz word that everyone talks about this season is “cozy.” So we love this Russian tea recipe (from the 70’s), a recipe many of us remember so well. If you don’t, then give it a try. (more…)

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Friends, for Game Day, have you thought about roasting your own combination of mixed nuts? We love this Roasted Maple Bourbon Nuts recipe, to serve as a quick nosh (just leave a bowl on the counter, and they will be gone).

Or, add to a charcuterie board for Game Day! As you can see, I’ve updated my site. Hopefully much easier to “search” and find recipes! [Send me any private messages or suggestions!] (more…)

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Friends, today I’m sharing a few holiday gift ideas for homemade gifts to give! 

These are fun for Valentine’s Day, but of courses, we love peanut butter cups any time of the year!

Quick Peanut Butter Cups Recipe

These Quick Peanut Butter Cups are perfect for making ahead. Freeze, and wrap in holiday paper for hostess gifts!

No matter what holiday you’re celebrating, it’s always good to have a little gift to give in the closet, or the freezer!

People love homemade food gifts, especially when it comes to chocolate!

(more…)

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