Homemade Easter gifts. 3...2...1... GO

March 22, 2013 4:41 PM

Homemade Easter gifts. Preferably edible - my friends and family are, like me, wretchedly gluttonous fiends but prefer the not super-processed or over-sweet stuff, so if it's got token fruit or something in then even better. I just realised there's like a week to go and I have no idea what to make these people. HALP.
posted by greenish to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

Home-made granola
Home-mixed chai tea mix
house-made crackers with jam and mustard spread
biscotti
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 4:47 PM on March 22, 2013

Does it need to be Eastery?

First thing that popped into my head in terms of not-too-sweet-and-maybe-fruit was candied (and perhaps dipped in dark chocolate) citrus peels, but that "feels" more Christmassy to me.
posted by jorlyfish at 4:48 PM on March 22, 2013

I saw these cute chocolate dipped strawberries that look like carrots: chocolate covered strawberries.

Bunny tails - cream cheese confection rolled in coconut. mmmmm.
posted by Sassyfras at 4:56 PM on March 22, 2013

If you can get ahold of strawberries (or other good fruit), make Strawberries Romanoff.
posted by jquinby at 5:24 PM on March 22, 2013

Best answer: Not Martha always has really cute (and sometimes healthy) ideas for Easter Egg themed homemade crafts/treats: here's this year's, and here's last year's. I really like the wheatgrass-growing-in-eggshells decoration.
posted by stellaluna at 5:31 PM on March 22, 2013

Vanilla-Lemon Berry Parfaits. Pretty, easy, not too bad on calories, has berries.

Or this cute fruit rabbit.

And if you're up to the challenge, these sweet potato truffles look mighty nice.

And if delicious and actually healthy is your goal, how about this topped with chopped cherries or more berries and nuts (just up the portions) --

Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream
Breemarie

Serves: 2
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup vanilla soy, hemp or almond milk
1 tablespoon natural non-alkalized cocoa powder
4 dates, pitted
1 1/2 cups frozen dark sweet cherries
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients together in a high-powered blender or food processor until smooth and creamy. If using a regular blender, only add half the cherries, blend until smooth, then add remaining cherries and continue to blend.

You can also use berries or banana instead of cherries. Freeze ripe bananas at least 24 hours in advance. To freeze bananas, ripen them until they are speckled (at their sweetest point), peel them and cover tightly in plastic wrap or put in plastic baggies. Cut them into one-inch slices before you put them into the blender for easier blending.
posted by bearwife at 5:32 PM on March 22, 2013

Homemade Peeps
Silk Tie Easter Eggs
Spicy Avocado-Stuffed Eggs: Read the reviews. Nearly everyone doubled the wasabi.
Seconding Wocka's homemade crackers and jam idea. Both are better than any thing you can get in a store.
posted by JABof72 at 6:01 PM on March 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Hot cross buns are traditional, and don't have to be terribly sweet. The ones I like to make tend to be about the same sweetness level as challah, but with raisins and cinnamon kneaded into the dough.
posted by fancyoats at 6:39 PM on March 22, 2013

Jars of lemon or lime curd are pretty pastel yellow and green and can be gussied up with Easter fabric or ribbon.
posted by weeyin at 6:46 PM on March 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Homemade bread is always welcome. If you are an experienced baker, you could shape rolls like bunnies or make a loaf with a basket pattern on top.

World Market has really pretty marzipan Easter goodies, if you prefer not to bake.

I have found that it doesn't matter how old you are or what your typical diet is, a hollow bunny makes everyone smile.
posted by myselfasme at 7:45 PM on March 22, 2013

Make carrot cake by whatever recipe you like (I like Mark Bittman's) and add finely chopped dried pineapple to it. There are recipes out there for carrot cake cookies that you could add pineapple to as well.
posted by maryr at 10:34 PM on March 22, 2013

Lemon or lime bars (like lemon/lime curd spread on a cookie) - especially good made with key limes.
posted by she's not there at 6:51 AM on March 23, 2013

Response by poster: You guys are awesome. I favourited Stellaluna because I ended up making my own creme eggs, inspired by the link, however I made them with marzipan instead of fondant so they'd be a little less sweet overload :)

Awesome suggestions guys x
posted by greenish at 2:35 PM on March 23, 2013 [1 favorite]