OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS IN A BASKET OR BOX
Bread
Breads (plain and fancy), muffins, mini-muffins, include herbed butters®, jams, marmalades and jellies,
baking tins and cider®
Sports Fan
Tortilla chips, salsa, popcorn, schedule of TV sports events, package of sport socks, golf balls, tennis balls
Break Basket
Small loaf of pumpkin bread, cinnamon tea mix, spoon, favorite magazine, note pad and pen
Tea Lover
Mug or teapot and fill with variety of herbal teas with cinnamon or peppermint sticks and/or a jar of
honey (see Raspberry Tea Mix)
Pasta
Basket, box or pasta pot filled with pasta, jar of sauce, carton of Parmesan cheese, garlic or French
bread, spaghetti spatula, spaghetti measurer
Chocolate Lover
Fudge, fudge sauce, chocolate chip cookies, add the recipes for them. Make your own fudge, grease
bottom of holiday tin, pour in fudge, cool and add the lid with a bow
BBQ’er
Jar of BBQ sauce(s), apron, mitts, tongs, spatula, grill lighter
Ice Cream Lover
Jars of toppings, sundae spoons, glasses, ice cream scoop
Cook (non-food)
Recipe book, recipe cards, file box, coupons, file of your favorite recipes
Coupon’er (non-food)
Plastic box filled with coupons or rebates
Errand Service
Do grocery shopping for someone or do their holiday baking
Baking Pan
Wrap a baking pan with the ingredients to make a batch of brownies, include the recipe
Kitchen Basics
Dried onion flakes, cinnamon, parsley flakes, nutmeg, pepper, salt, or other popular herbs/spices
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese board and knife, cheese balls® and/or spreads®, add assorted crackers and/or pickles
PICKAWAY COUNTY
CFAES provides research and related educational
programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For
more information: go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity.
Teas and Coffees
Flavored coffees and spiced teas, mugs, add a jelly or pumpkin roll®. Make your own Amaretto Coffeeempty a 13 oz. can of ground coffee in a plastic bag and add 4 tablespoons of almond extract. Close the
bag and shake well and store in the refrigerator until ready to give. Pour the coffee in a pretty jar and
give with mugs. (See Café au Lait recipe)
Cinnamon Maple Syrup
Combine 1 ½ cups light corn syrup, ¼ cup brown sugar, packed and 2 tablespoons of water. Boil 2
minutes. Add ¾ tsp. maple flavoring, ¾ tsp. vanilla extract and ¼ tsp. cinnamon. Pour in a pretty bottle
and pack in a basket with a buckwheat pancake mix, coffee and pretty napkins.
Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream Sauce
Add 1 teaspoon cherry extract and ½ tsp. vanilla extract to 1 cup chocolate flavored syrup. For mint
chocolate, substitute ¼ teaspoon mint or peppermint extract for cherry. Put in glass jar and include
recipe card, ice cream scoop and a bowl.
Pancake Breakfast Basket
Pancake mixes, syrups (flavored), pancake turner, jar of preserves/apple butter/applesauce
Fruits and Vegetable
Fresh fruits and vegetables®, peeler, fruit and vegetable dips
Popcorn
Buttered, plain, caramel and cheese popcorn and add gift certificates for movie rentals
Cookbook
Prepare a favorite dish with the recipe marked in a cookbook, use dish towels to wrap food
Cookies
Put cookies of several varieties in a cookie jar or use a molded plastic kitchen drawer organizer. Fill each
section with different cookies.
Sweets
Homemade candies, mints, candy mold, with holiday bowl or candy dish
College Student
Snacks for munching- popcorn, cookies, dried fruits and candies. Add a box or two of soup mix. Include
a laundry bag and a roll of quarters for the laundromat. Add the latest issue of the local newspaper.
The Movie Goer
Pop a tinful of popcorn and toss it with some Onion Butter ® (1 envelop onion soup mix blended with 2
cups softened butter®) for a unique taste. If your budget allows it, attach two tickets for a movie.
® This item needs refrigeration immediately.
FOOD GIFT RECIPES
Café au Lait
½ cup nondairy creamer
½ cup sugar
1/3 cup instant coffee powder
To Serve: Place 1 tablespoon of mix in a cup. Add boiling water and stir.
Raspberry Tea Mix
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 cup unsweetened instant tea
2 packages (.17 oz.) unsweetened raspberry soft drink mix
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Store in airtight container no longer than 6 months. For
strawberry tea mix, substitute unsweetened, strawberry-flavored soft drink mix for the raspberry.
To Serve: For one serving, place 1 cup hot water in large mug. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or
until very hot. Stir in 2-3 tablespoons tea mix.
Onion Flavored Rice Mix
4 cups uncooked long-grain rice
2 (1 ¼ oz) packages onion soup mix
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon salt
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Stir until evenly distributed. Put about 1 1/3 cups mixture each into
three 1 pint airtight containers. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6-8 months. Makes about
4 cups of Onion Flavored Rice Mix.
To Serve: Combine Onion Flavored Rice Mix, 2 cups cold water and 1 tablespoon butter or margarine or
vegetable oil in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat and cook 15 to
25 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Makes 4-6 servings.
Popcorn Party Mix
2 qts. popped popcorn
2 cups slim pretzel sticks
2 cups cheese curls
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon seasoned salt
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (optional)
In shallow baking pan, mix popped corn, pretzel sticks and cheese curls. Melt butter or margarine in
small saucepan; stir in seasonings. Pour over dry mixture and mix well. Bake at 250° for 45 minutes,
stirring several times. Makes 2 ½ quarts.
Oatmeal Chip Cookies in a Quart Jar
In a quart recycled jar, layer the following ingredients using a funnel:
1 cup flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
In a small cup combine:
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Spoon the mixture onto the sugar on the wall of the jar.
Add 1 ¼ cup rolled oats and top with 1 cup of chocolate chips.
Add a pinked circle of fabric 1” larger than the jar opening and top with lid.
Attach a recipe card with the following:
Mix dry ingredients with ½ cup oil, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Form into small balls and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in 350° oven for 10-15 minutes until
slightly brown.
Decorate the top with silk poinsettia/holly and ribbon or twine.
Makes 3 dozen.
Barbecued Peanuts
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup barbecue sauce
¾ teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 jar (16 oz.) dry roasted, lightly salted peanuts
Preheat oven to 325°. Grease 13x9 inch baking pan. Add peanuts; toss with wooden spoon until evenly
coated. Spread peanuts in a single layer on baking pan. Bake 20 to 22 minutes. Cool completely,
stirring to prevent peanuts from sticking. Store in tightly covered decorative tin at room temperature up
to 2 weeks. Makes 4 cups.