Get your apron on and whip up some DIY gifts! Our resident foodie Pay Chen shows us how to make simple edible gifts for the holidays.

Sugar cubes

(original recipe here)

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup sugar (brown or white)
• 1 tsp water

Method:

Pour the sugar into a bowl. Add the water, mixing the sugar with a fork. It will look lumpy at first where the water has been poured, but as you stir the sugar, it will change to crumbly but fairly even in texture, with a moisture level sort of like brown sugar.

Use a spoon to transfer it to the mold. Spoon some sugar into the mold, and then press it down. Pack the sugar very firmly.

Let the cubes sit at room temperature for several hours or overnight so they can harden.

Turn the molded sugar cubes from the mold. They should come out quite easily.

Spiced nuts

(original recipe here)

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg white (2 tablespoons)
• 2 cups raw almonds
• 2 tsp smoked sea salt
• 1/2 tsp dried orange peel or 1 tsp finely grated fresh orange zest
• leaves from 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, stems discarded

Method:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil; spray with cooking spray.

Whisk egg white in a medium bowl until frothy. Fold in almonds until evenly coated. Sprinkle with smoked salt, orange peel, and rosemary leaves and toss until evenly distributed. Spread nuts in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until toasted and dry in appearance, stirring once or twice in the middle of the cooking process to prevent nuts from sticking together. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Cookie cutter fudge

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• Decorating sprinkles, chips etc

Wrap each cookie cutter tightly with foil on the bottom and up the sides. Place them onto a cookie sheet. Set aside.

Bring a saucepan of water to a steady simmer. Place a heat-proof bowl on top of the water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Add the chocolate and stir until almost smooth. Add the butter and condensed milk and stir until completely smooth.

Turn off the heat and remove the bowl. Spoon or pour the batter into each cookie cutter. Decorate with candy and sprinkles as desired. Cool until firm.

Courtesy Pay Chen
@paychen