Easy gift ideas for your neighbors this holiday that they will love and enjoy. I love to drop off a little gift on my neighbor’s doorstep around the holidays.
A jar of homemade granola and a few European-style yogurts is what I’m doing this year. It doesn’t need to be consumed immediately, but with being home more around the holidays and having family, it won’t go to waste!
This will be our last Sunday Five Faves with Cindy and Mary Ann for 2022, but we will be back on January 8th! Thank you for stopping by and reading MLT! I appreciate it so much! I hope you have a wonderful holiday! xx
Make Winter Berry Granola for friends
What’s in this granola?
- Oats
- Coconut
- Mixed nuts (optional)
- Peanut butter or almond butter
- Maple syrup
- Salt
- Dried cranberries or cherries
Winter Berry Granola
Easy Gift Ideas for Your Neighbors this Holiday!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: breakfast
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil
- salt
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients and add peanut butter, vanilla, and maple syrup.
- Then add the olive oil as needed.
- Spread out on the baking sheet. Avoid spreading too thin at the edges, or it will burn.
- Bake for 12 minutes, take out and toss and then return to the oven with the pan rotated so that the back of the pan is now in the front. Bake an additional 10 minutes, checking often.
- Once out of the oven, add the dried cranberries and toss.
How to package it like a gift
For one jar and 2-4 small yogurts, I use a larger lunch bag that I double and fold over or a small box. If using a bag, you may want to slip a piece of cardboard into the bottom to give the bag more structure. I use re-purposed jars or these if I don’t have any.
Add a Vintage French Dish Towel or Belgian Linen Dish Towel
It’s always nice to add something everyone can use, a lovely vintage French stripe towel or a red and white Belgian Linen dishcloth.
Or make several and just wrap them in lunch bags with a little frayed ribbon and a clay tag.
This is the perfect little takeaway when you have friends over during the holidays! Right by the door, have little brown bags with a jar of winter berry granola to take with them. I wrapped each in a brown lunch bag. I cut the top 3″ off and gave it a scalloped edge. Then I place the jar inside the bag, roll over the top of the bag, punch a few holes, and thread some frayed ribbon through and tie.
Print out the free label here!
2. Pretty copper pots that are for more than just decoration
Do you cook using copper pots? We have had lovely cookware for years, and I would never complain. It’s Sitram, made in France and was purchased at a cookware shop in the city, Bridge Kitchenware, that sadly no longer exists.
But here’s the thing, since cooking in copper pots we purchased in France last summer, I have to say, now I know what all the fuss is about.
Why Would You Want to Cook with Copper?
“As a metal, copper is one of the best conductors of heat: It warms quickly and stays warm, making for an even distribution of heat and—here’s the best part—uniform cooking of your food. This means no more burnt spots, no more scalding. You have greater control over everything.” Food 52
We have several single pots and a few sets in the shop. You can see them all right here! Order today, and they will ship out on Monday!
3. DIY Gift Wrap
You may remember this post where I used a Bonne Maman jar to inspire a simple idea for creating a hand-drawn gift wrap. It works for any holiday! This package is for Madeline, and I know she loves Bonne Maman and even has their advent calendar this year. Here is a link to the pen that I used.
4. Stocking Stuffers
Last week I talked about frugal stocking stuffers; this week, I have another, even more, practical list of stocking stuffers that everyone can use!
- Apple Air Tag – The easy way to keep track of your stuff.
- A bar of Rampal Latour Savon Soap made in France. Made with olive oil, fragrance-free and gentle on the skin.
- Verilux® Happy Light® – (compact) or full-size – Improves sleep, mood, focus, and energy.
- Ear Bud Cleaning Kit (perfect for AirPods)
- Stanley Screwdriver Set – We bought one on one of our kid’s first college move-ins and have used it ever since.
- Crizal Eyeglass Cleaner– The best for eyeglasses, sunglasses, and a three-pack with cleaning cloths. They recommend this at Oliver Peoples, where I purchased my glasses.
- Slice Box Opener (This little tool opens any box safely wi a TK blade).
- Scrub n Throw Sponges – Get rid of stinky, old sponges in your home. 30 all-purpose, natural scrub sponges sized for one-day use yet durable enough for the toughest cleaning jobs. Made of 100% loofah plant fibers.
- Kuhn Rikon Paring Knife (Set of 3) – The perfect little knife that’s great to use at home or take on picnics since it comes with its case.
How adorable is this mushroom lamp?
I saw this on west elm kids and thought, why just kids? It would be so cute on a bookshelf, a dresser, or even in the kitchen.
cindy says
No one can make a present more inviting than you Annie!! I am hoping to get my toffee made this week. Thank you for all the great ideas. Those clay tags are so darling! Always so inspiring!
Maeve says
Love the stocking stuffers — the eyeglass cleaner is a must buy! Using paper bags as wrapping paper is brilliant: I think I’ll trace some of my Christmas cookier cutters and then use colored magic markers to color the outlines. BTW, granola seems much healther than a cookie but be aware that those with diabetes and others who have to limit carbs can’t eat it except in very small amounts.
annie diamond says
Maeve, I love that idea of using cookie cutters for tracing patterns! I hear you on the granola; we have it as a topping on a small yogurt. I should probably measure it!
Mary Ann Pickett says
I really wish I was your neighbor. You are so thoughtful. And you have the coolest stocking stuffers!
sheri silver says
I LOVE a good granola and this looks like one of the easiest versions yet! As always you package everything so simply yet beautifully!
kim says
Annie, Such a sweet idea for the neighbors. We also did granola last year for friends and neighbors. It was Max’s idea and I think they liked it.
It’s a useful gift and the little yogurts make it a great breakfast on hand! You make them look darling.
Love the stocking stuffer ideas and I think my guys would love a lot of these!
I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and Happy New Year Annie!
xoxo
Heidi says
Hi Annie,
Thank you so much for rounding up all these great stocking stuffer gift ideas. You helped me sp muchI appreciate not having to run around at the last minute looking for little gifts, such great ideas – I ordered a bunch!
I like your granola recipe, it’s a little different than the one I’ve been using, I will try it the next time i make a batch.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Xo Heidi
annie diamond says
Happy holidays Heidi! I love homemade granola! And melting the nut butter…total gamechanger! xx