Poll: What baked goods do you give as gifts?

[catharine]

New neighbors moved in and I want to go introduce myself with a baked good in hand. I made the Cinnamon Apple Cake for my other neighbors and that was perfect – but this time I want to do something different. I am a little sick of making banana bread (LOL) so I am looking for something else.

I would love a suggestion for something quick, easy and impressive. To push my luck, it would also be fabulous if I didn’t have to run out and buy special ingredients (we are going on vacation and I am trying to avoid shopping for groceries beforehand).

What do you give as food gifts to non-friends (or I should say non-friends YET)?

[keeganm]

What about a cinnamon streusal coffee cake, lemon poppyseed bread, cranberry orange bread, also,a bundt cake always looks nice...

I have a recipe for cranberry orange bread if you want it. Let me know and I'll post it. :)

[m4star]

I know this sounds silly, but I always give my biscotti out as gifts. I usually dip half in a lucious dark chocolate and when wrapped up nicely they make a great gift. You can even make a little basket and put in some coffee beans, tea bags, or cocoa. Biscotti are so easy to make. I'm often amazed that people pay at least a dollar or two for one at a coffeeshop.

[BlueMoose]

muffins, muffins, muffins.....I'm a big muffin freak!

[SusanT]

I give pumpkin bread or chocolate chip cookies.

[ama47369]

How about the Blueberry Poundcake? It's not only tasty, but pretty.

[Ed]

Hi,

I like to give out things that I have made as gifts, and for the most part I think people like to recieve home make food gifts.

As far as baked gifts are concerned, I have given many, many, cookies as gifts, and they always make a hit. I also give home made bread, and cakes too.

Before I retired and was on the road if someone gave us some home made items as a gift I just thought it was great, so now I figure others like it too.

I also like to give out home made Jelly, Jam, and Honey Creme, and there are a lot of folks who like that kind of stuff, --- including me.

Another reason I like to give home made items is that it gives me a good excuse to do some cooking or baking, which I call cooking too.

I was recently at a Picnic for a retiree group I'm a part of, and while this picnic was a catrered affair, (there really is something to be said for a cartered picnic,) we were asked to bring some kind of sweets and desserts to the picnic. Retirees do like their sweets you know.

Well I brought about 8 dozen cookies I made and they sure went over good, many people asked me for the recipe - that made me feel real good - and of course I did pass the recipe on to them, and which I am about to do for you too.

These are really some fine cookies, and old people like them with their coffee, but then young people like them with their milk, and some of the tweeners like them with their tea too.

If you make these I'm certain you'll like them, and since one batch makes so many you should have a few to give to a friend or neighbor or two, I like to make two batches to make sure the friends and neighbors don't lose out.

Happy cooking.

Ed


* Exported from MasterCook *

PREA - No-Roll Coconut - Sugar Cookie


Serving Size : 96 Preparation Time :0:15
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Margarine -- Softened
1 Cup Flaked Coconut
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 Cups All-Purpose flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
Sugar in bowl for cookie stamp or glass bottom

Heat oven to 350°

Beat 2 cups sugar, the Margarine, coconut, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with a spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda, and sea salt.

Shape dough by rounded teaspoon fulls into balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press bottom of glass, or cookie stamp, into dough to grease then dip into sugar; press on shaped dough to flatten slightly.

Bake at 350° 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let sit on cookie sheet for 2 to 3 minutes or until cookies are set, and remove from cookie sheet to wire racks to cool and completely set.

Description:
"Eggless Sugar Cookie"
Yield:
"8 Dozen"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per serving: 64 Calories (kcal); 4g Total Fat; (52% calories from fat); trace Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 67mg Sodium
Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 1 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates

Serving Ideas : These are great with a cold glass of milk, or a good cup of coffee.

A good Scandanavian type of cookie.

NOTES : 1. I use a cookie scoop, (small,) with a bowl of 1 1/4 inches instead of a rounded teaspoon.
2. I use only Land O`Lakes Margarine. Do not use butter. these cookies turn out best with Margarine.
3. These cookies are very thin, crispy, and fragile - But they are also a great cookie. The 8 Dozen disappear quickly.
4. 1 Cookie = 70 calories (calories from fat 35), Fat 4g (Saturated fat 1g), Cholesterol 0g, sodium 70mg, carbohydrates8g, dietary fiber 0g, protein 0g. Diet Exchange 1/2 starch, 1 fat.
5. I use a cookie stamp instead of the bottom of a glass, I think they get thinner and better with a cookie stamp.

[BlueMoose]

Ed... those cookies do sound really good! I love coconut in cookies & I just love your posts! You have such a way with words. Have you ever considered writing a book?

Chrisi :)

[Missi]

Ed, I am going to try those cookies as well. I get wrapped up in your posts everytime you tell a great story!!! If you do ever write a book, you will have to tell us how to buy it. I will be the first in line!!!!:)

[JulieM]

Originally posted by m4star
I know this sounds silly, but I always give my biscotti out as gifts. I usually dip half in a lucious dark chocolate and when wrapped up nicely they make a great gift. You can even make a little basket and put in some coffee beans, tea bags, or cocoa. Biscotti are so easy to make. I'm often amazed that people pay at least a dollar or two for one at a coffeeshop.

Please share your biscotti recipe! Sounds like a great gift. Thanks!:)

[Little Bit]

I tend to favor tried and true things that I know people will eat. Chocolate chip cookies, with pecans, puffed rice and coconut are an easy choice, since the recipe I have makes a lot and is fairly easy to do. Pound cake is great, since it's kind of plain, nicely moist and keeps well.

I tend to stay away from banana bread as a giveaway thing since it can sort of come across as an option chosen because you have black bananas to use up, LOL. :)

[HUNGRY!]

catharine,
what about making one of those soup in a jar things? I did that this past Christmas and it came out pretty good. Other than that I would suggest zucchini bread or the bluberry pound cake (the one with lemon yogurt).

Have a good vacation!