Biscuits For Presents

I just love homemade biscuits.  They are delicious,  decadent and absolutely yummy with a cup of tea.  More importantly,  they are very frugal to make.

Whenever I'm stuck for a present,  homemade baking comes to the rescue.  My favourite biscuits to give are Cranberry Hootycreek biscuits, Anzac biscuits and Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits.

For hungry teenage boys I've made giant Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits.  I place a large amount of dough on a lined baking tray,  flatten out with the palm of my hand then neaten the edges with my fingers to give a lovely round shape.  They do need a few extra minutes for baking.  I place 2 or 3 in a large cellophane bag tied with a tartan ribbon  Placed in a gift bag with a can of Lynx deodorant,  it makes a great male birthday present. for about $5  Let me tell you,  birthday boys have gratefully received these giant biscuits.  One of Jessica's friends bought one to school in his lunchbox and woofed it down at recess.  His friends were drooling.

Sometimes when I get a present out to wrap,  it looks like it needs something extra.  That's when I whip out a log of biscuit dough from the freezer and do some baking.  Neatly placing 8 - 10 medium sized biscuits in a large cellophane bag and tying a bow with ribbon,  lace or netting  achieves an elegant present worth $10 - $15 retail.  Realistically it costs less than $1 to make.

For a family present or Kris Kringle,  I buy glass jars from the $2 shop and fill with homemade biscuits.  I print out the recipe and place it in an envelope and tie it to the lid.  You can add a small decoration or garland to the bow to add extra style.    

Here are some photos of biscuit presents I've made -

A male Christmas present.

.A jar of biscuits from the Christmas story I filmed last year.  Total cost of this present was about $3 - $3.50

 

Presents tied with homemade gift tags and ribbon made from netting -

Here is a link to a blog post I wrote on making gift tags.

  

Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits

Once upon a time I loved to buy biscuits from a certain American biscuit ( cookie ) store.  Yes,  those were the days when I had money and no family to feed  From memory those bought biscuits came at a premium price of around $2.50 each. 

Times have changed and so have my tastes.  I just love homemade biscuits and along with Cranberry Hootycreek Biscuits,  these Peanut Butter Choc Chip Biscuits are my all time favourite.  Whether you make them big or small,  crunchy or soft,  they are divine.   Made into giant biscuits, they make a great present for a hungry teenage boy.

1 cup of butter or margarine ( 250 grams )

¾ cup of white sugar

¾ cup of brown sugar

½ cup of peanut butter – crunchy or smooth

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda ( bi carb )

2 ½ cups of plain flour

½ cup of chocolate choc chips

½ cup of crushed peanuts

Cream the butter / margarine and sugars together with electric beaters.

Add the peanut butter,  baking powders and baking soda and mix well.

Add the flour,  chocolate choc chips and crushed peanuts and mix well.

Drop teaspoonful’s of compacted dough onto greased baking trays and flatten with your hand.

Bake for 10 – 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius until slightly golden around the edges.

Remove from the tray when cool.

HANDY HINTS –

*  Biscuit dough can be frozen.  Wrap the dough in log sizes with cling wrap.  To defrost allow 15 – 30 minutes and slice into biscuit size pieces.  Alternatively you can put the dough in the microwave for about 20 seconds to defrost..

*  Providing you have a big enough bowl,  this recipe can be easily doubled.  When I'm on a roll I make two double batches and freeze most of it for future baking.

*  Biscuits stay fresh for about 5 – 7 days in an airtight container.

These biscuits are great to give as presents.