For anyone who has had to give a gift, you know how difficult it can sometimes be to find the right thing for certain people. But there is one thing that will never go out of style: chocolate. Almost everyone loves chocolate, so why not give it as a gift? This article includes instructions and ideas about how to make a gift basket for your favorite chocolate lover. To personalize this gift even more, I like to make the chocolate goodies inside myself instead of buying them, so I have included some of my family’s favorite recipes. I have had many smiles and thank-you’s for my chocolate gift baskets, and now you can too. This is perfect for anyone on almost any occasion; and almost as fun to make than as to get.
To start off with, find a basket, a tin pail that you decorated yourself, or any kind of interesting looking vessel to fill up with sweets; you can personalize the gift even more this way. You can surprise your uncle or step-father by giving them a brand new fishing tackle box filled with sweet treats made by you. Line the box with wax paper or aluminum foil and add the treats to the neat little compartments waiting to be filled with the chocolate goodies. A gardening pail is a perfect choice for an aunt, grandmother, cousin or someone into gardening. Stencils are an easy and cost-effective way of decorating your gift basket. This project is only limited by your own creativity. You don’t have to just keep it chocolate, feel free to add other items relevant to the gift and the person. The more the gift relates to the person will show that you not only put a good deal of thought into your gift, but that you care enough about that person to remember details about their likes and dislikes. And for some, that is a gift in itself.
Hot Fudge Sauce
3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons of unsweetened baking cocoa
1/3 cup of water
3 tablespoons of butter
1/3 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of corn syrup
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan on a low heat while stirring constantly. When the butter has melted and the sauce is mixed thoroughly, remove from heat and let cool in a separate bowl. Transfer to a decorative bottle or jar and give as part of a decadent chocolate gift basket. Stores for about 1 month in the refrigerator.
Fudge is an enjoyable treat that has been around for well over 100 years. Fudge was believed to be invented and named by a college girl in 1888. Supposedly it was named by a “fudged” caramel recipe. In the next few years after it’s beginning, fudge became a popular fad with college girls because it could be made it their dorm rooms using chafing dishes and chem lab equipment. This treat became the grounds for other sweets, like praline (a confection using almost the same flavors as original fudge) and panocha (a brown-sugar and nut fudge from the southwest). This treat is still quite popular today, probably due to the time we have had to perfect it and create versions of it (including sugar-free) that any and everyone will be able to enjoy.
Peanut Butter Fudge
1 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of marshmallow cream
1 cup milk
2 cups of granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Boil sugar and milk to a soft ball stage then add marshmallow cream, peanut butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Spread into a shallow, buttered dish or pan. Let cool completely at room temperature and then cut into squares. Do not cool in the refrigerator. Variation: if you like chocolate with your peanut butter, melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave and then spread on cooled fudge. Let the chocolate cool and then cut.
Chocolate and Nut Fudge
3 packages of semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 3 cups)
1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
Dash of salt
1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds or whatever you prefer)
1-1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
In a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk and salt. Remove from heat; by hand, stir in nuts and vanilla. Spread evenly into wax paper-lined 8 or 9 inch square pan or dish. Chill for about 2 hours, or until firm. Turn fudge onto a cutting board; peel of wax paper and cut into squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature. Yield: makes about 2 pounds.
Vanilla Fudge
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups sugar
1 stick salted butter (4 oz)
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Combine heavy cream, sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves and butter is melted. Wash down sides of pot with a pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals. Bring to a boil and cook until mixture reaches soft-ball stage, or 238 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove pan from the heat and stop the cooking by plunging pot in a water bath for 1 minute. Add vanilla, but do not stir. When the thermometer reads 110 degrees, mix fudge with a wooden spoon until creamy. Spoon into a greased 8 x 8 baking pan. Let cool, then cut into squares. Yield: makes about 1 pound.
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
About 2 cups of mini pretzels
8 squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate (1 package)
8 squares of semi-sweet white baking chocolate (1 package – optional)
For this recipe, dark and white chocolate can be used separately or together to create swirls of color for extra flair and flavor. Separate the dark and white chocolate in different microwavable bowls. Microwave the chocolate squares for about 1 minute and then stir, put back in the microwave for another minute if needed, but do not burn the chocolate. It is best to let it go a few seconds and keep checking it, rather than possibly having it ruined. When the chocolate is completely melted, simply dip each pretzel, by hand or fork, into the chocolate. Set aside on baking sheet covered with wax paper to dry. Do not refrigerate while drying – let set at room temperature.
It is always recommended that you start this project the night before, in case of any mishaps and because the fudge will need time to set and you will need time to decorate your basket, box, or whatever you decide to fill with yummy chocolaty treats. Please watch your pets, who knew they like fudge too? I’ve had a batch of fudge ruined due to my greedy cat jumping on the counter when the fudge was setting and I wasn’t in the room. Enjoy this project, and remember to save yourself a few samples for all of your hard work.
