Sweet DIY New Year Gifts / 7 Festive Ideas

In December, many of us are busy searching for holiday gifts for friends and family. We spend hours wandering through stores, unsure of what to choose. Often, the most memorable gifts are the ones made by hand. Here's how to create delightful sweet New Year gifts to bring joy to your loved ones.

1. Gingerbread Cookies

These New Year gifts are sure to please both kids and adults. Prepare a dough using honey, ginger, and cinnamon according to your favorite recipe. Roll it out evenly to about 5 mm thick, cut out festive shapes with cookie cutters, and bake. Decorate the fragrant cookies with colorful or white icing.

Tip:
If you're unsure if everyone likes spices, you can substitute gingerbread cookies with chocolate cookies or make appetizing holiday biscuits.

For a unique twist, gift gingerbread houses instead of regular cookies. Bake walls and roofs from the dough, then assemble and decorate with icing. You can also create DIY "gingerbread house kits" with all the essentials for friends and family to build their own.

Storage Tip:
To keep the cookies soft, store them in an airtight container or wrap them in plastic.

2. Artisan Chocolate

For coworkers, give small chocolate gifts, while for family and close friends, assemble entire chocolate sets. You can create chocolate bars, filled chocolates, truffles, and even decorative chocolate figures or spheres.

You'll need special molds, which can be found at baking supply stores or online. It's best to use high-quality chocolate, such as Belgian callets, for a professional taste.

Melt and temper the chocolate, pour it into molds, and let it set. Decorate bars with freeze-dried berries, nuts, coconut flakes, or dried orange slices. For spheres or large figures, place marshmallows or small candies inside before assembling the halves.

3. Sweet Wreaths or Trees

Start with green food coloring to mimic the look of pine needles. A wreath made from macarons is particularly striking—arrange the macarons in a circle, glue them together with chocolate, and decorate with sprinkles or other embellishments.

New Year trees can be made from macarons, cookies, truffles, or other sweets, using melted chocolate or icing as glue.

Packaging Tip:
Wrap sweet gifts in plastic or place them in a box with a window to showcase their beauty.

4. Homemade Jam

Sweet gifts can be prepared in advance during summer or fall. If you’re skilled at making delicious jams, package them in small jars and decorate them festively. Create an assortment of three to five flavors and pair them with homemade cookies or decorative tea spoons.

If you didn’t prepare ahead, you can still make jam using frozen berries or seasonal fruits. Surprise loved ones with spiced mandarin jam or unique sea buckthorn preserves.

Tip:
Enhance jam gift sets with tea for a complete package.

5. Candy Bouquets

Candy bouquets are perfect for New Year, especially when decorated with evergreen branches or arranged in unique shapes like Santa’s sleigh.

Use red candies to contrast with green branches for a festive look. Include chocolates, candy canes, or other treats, and add ornaments or small decorations for flair. Assemble bouquets on skewers or use a base like a mug, glass, or champagne bottle.

DIY Sleigh Tip:
Use candy canes as runners, attaching chocolate bars or candies on top with double-sided tape. Add a chocolate Santa in the front.

6. Christmas Cake

Impress your loved ones with homemade Christmas cakes like German Stollen, French Yule logs, or English puddings. These rich desserts make unique and luxurious gifts, especially when beautifully wrapped.

Important:
Stollen and puddings require 2–4 weeks to age, so prepare them in advance.

Bake in festive molds, such as wreath shapes, for a more striking presentation. Wrap finished cakes in decorative packaging and sprinkle with non-melting powdered sugar or glaze for an elegant finish.

7. Fruit and Nut Basket

For a healthier option, create beautiful and tasty gifts using dried fruits and nuts. Arrange them in a tin box or a woven basket. Alternatively, make small gift bundles by packing ingredients into transparent bags.

Enhancement Tip:
Pair baskets with aromatic spices, jars of honey or jam, a bottle of wine, or champagne to balance the sweetness.