Many thanks to The Handstand Kids Cookbook Company for these creative ideas for holiday gifts the kids can make that are thoughtful, reasonably priced thanks to the DIY element, and add a lot more heart to the gift since they’re homemade.  These were my favorites…starting with my #1 favorite idea they had…

Homemade snow globe: Adhere a figurine or photo to the lid of a jar, fill the jar almost full with water, add glitter and glycerin, and let it snow! These make great gifts for teachers and friends.

Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar

What you’ll need:

  • Medium sized mason jars with lids
  • Hot Chocolate mix
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Crush peppermints (or chocolate chips)
  • Festive Ribbon
  • Gift tag
  • Hole puncher

Instructions:

  • Fill each mason jar 1/3 of the way with hot chocolate mix, flattening with a spoon as you go
  • Next, add crushed peppermints or chocolate chips another 1/3
  • Fill the rest of the jar all the way to the top with mini marshmallows and close with lid
  • Fill out your gift tag with you and your recipient’s information
  • Use your hole puncher to poke a hole in the top of your gift tag and run ribbon through hole
  • Tie ribbon around the mouth of jar and place under the tree!

White Chocolate Pretzels

What you’ll need:

  • Salted pretzels or pretzel sticks
  • One package of white chocolate chips
  • Crushed peppermints
  • Red and green sprinkes

Instructions:

  • Spread out pretzels on top of wax paper on a cookie sheet
  • Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat in microwave until melted (you can also do this over a stovetop)
  • While chocolate is still warm, using a spoon, drizzle over the pretzels
  • Immediately add sprinkles and crushed peppermint and let cool for 15 minutes
  • Enjoy!

Marshmallow Peppermint Snacks

What you’ll need:

  • Marshmallows
  • One medium sized bag of chocolate chips
  • Crushed peppermint
  • Small, straight candy canes (ones with no archs)

Instructions:

  • Melt chocolate chips in the microwave
  • Dip the bottom half of each marshmallow into chocolate and immediately into crushed peppermint
  • Let cool
  • Stick candy canes in the middle of the marshmallows
  • Serve to all your favorite elves!

The Handstand Kids Cookbook Company is a line of kid-friendly cookbooks and cooking accessories that teaches children about the cultures and cuisines of other countries through cooking.