What you’ll need
Craft:
4 assorted screw-top jars (I like these ones)
A box
Some filler
Paper tags
Ribbon
Mulled wine:
4-6 cinnamon sticks
6 star anise
2 tablespoons cloves
1 tablespoon cardamom pods
2 tablespoons all spice
A crack of pepper
Gingerbread:
100g soft brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon all spice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
225g plain flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon bicarb soda
Hot chocolate:
2 tablespoons malt powder
2 tablespoons corn flour
3 tablespoons icing sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
100g dark chocolate, grated
A pinch of cinnamon
A pinch of sea salt
Fried chicken:
3 cups plain flour
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
A pinch of salt and pepper
What to do
First things first, make sure you’ve washed out your jars and thoroughly dried them.
Then start with the mulled wine. In a small bag give your cinnamon sticks and star anise a bash with a rolling pin to crush them. Add these into a small jar along with the rest of the ingredients.
Seal it, give it a shake and set aside. One done.
Next the gingerbread (my fave!), take a medium-sized jar and add the sugar, ginger, all spice and cinnamon.
Give it a mix around, then pack it down tightly with a spoon. Combine your flour, baking powder and bi-carb, then pour this on top.
Seal it up and no shaking this time. Two down.
Third, hot chocolate. This one’s really easy. Take a small jar and add all your ingredients.
Try not to make a total mess with the cocoa like I did!
Seal it, give it a shake and set aside. That’s three.
Finally, the coating for finger lickin’ly good fried chicken. Take a large jar and add in your flour, then carefully add all the other ingredients on top so you end up with a nice colourful layer.
Seal it up and don’t shake this one either.
So that’s it, jars done, now it’s just a matter of making your little labelling instructions (I’ve included mine below for you, you can be a little creative) and tying them on with some ribbon.
Pop the filler in your box then layer in your jars. I went for red and green for Christmas but if it’s for a birthday present then all you need to do is change up your ribbon colours. Voila!
Instructions:
Mulled wine:
In a large saucepan add a bottle of red wine, 2 tbsp of honey/sugar, the zest & juice of 1 orange & 1 tablespoon of this mix (use a muslin cloth or tea strainer). Heat until steaming but do not boil.
Gingerbread:
Mix 150g melted butter, 1 tbsp golden syrup & 1 egg yolk. Add to these dry ingredients, mix well then knead into dough. Chill for 15mins then roll out & cut into biscuits. Bake at 180C for 8-10mins.
Hot chocolate:
Simply add to warm milk then cosy up with a blanket…
Fried chicken:
Spread this dry mixture onto a plate & crack an egg into a separate bowl. Dip your chicken in the dry coating, then dip it in the egg, then dip it in the coating again before frying.
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Photos by Krissie.