A homemade biscuit box for family and friends

As soon as December hits, I am in full Christmas mode. The fairy lights are glittering, the decorations are up, and the freezer becomes my best friend. While Christmas can be a stressful time in the kitchen for many, my menu is planned and executed with military precision. In the weeks leading up to the 25th, gravy is made, mince pies are baked, and all those little bits and bobs that can be prepared ahead and frozen to alleviate any pressure coming up to the big day are accounted for.

One of my favourite parts of Christmas is making edible gifts for family and friends, and while the seasonal period is undoubtedly about cheer and loved ones, it is made so much better with great food to share.

A Christmas biscuit gift box, as a concept, is a great idea. Everyone loves a biscuit. If planned well, a biscuit gift box is easy, effective and bound to impress. At the start of December, spend a morning in the kitchen mixing together a few simple biscuit doughs, wrap them in clingfilm, and pop them in the freezer and forget about them. When you need a quick gift, bake a few of each, and pile them into a beautiful box or tin filled with tissue paper. Add a homemade gift tag describing your biscuits and tie with a ribbon for a final flourish.

Each dough will make enough for about 20 biscuits and can be scaled up or down accordingly. Each biscuit is quite different in texture; the chocolate hazelnut and coffee biscotti are beautifully crisp, the crackle cookies are almost brownie like, and the salted butterscotch shortbreads are wonderfully soft and crumbly. They freeze well once baked too, just let them defrost thoroughly before packaging up and gifting to your loved ones.