EasyDIY gifts for your Franco-food fanatic
A handful of yummy, curated gifts with a French twist that will wow any Francophile!
If you’re looking for that gift with the perfect amount of “je ne sais quoi” for your favorite French-obsessed amie, look no further. Simple, classic and elegant, these items are unique enough to be found on the shelves of a high end, specialty item store without the price tag.
Photo: SimplyWhisked.com
Homemade Vin Chaud is the absolute perfect gift for the Francophile who has appreciation not only for French wine, but French winter traditions. Known for being the perfect warming beverage, the mulled wine is beloved all winter long and can be found around towns and at holiday market between November and January.
Vin chaud is usually made using red wine (but I have seen white variations), with traditionalists tending to use a bolder, more full-bodied wine such as merlot or cabernet for the base. The wine is then warmed on the stove with a mix of warm-scented spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, star anise and ginger. Seeped with a handful of citrus peels, the longer it warms, the more the mix infuses, literally creating the taste of Christmas in a cup!
I’ve given this gift in two different ways, depending on how chaotic the holidays become. If I’m running low on time, but want to still give that classic French experience, I will collect all of the spices and put them into a mason jar, then tie the heating instructions around the rim with some decorative twine and pine branches. I then place the jar and a bottle of red wine into a festive basket and voilà, the perfect French-themed gift! This allows the recipient not only to have the incredibly delicious and unique gift, but also the experience of creating their own Vin Chaud, balancing the fruit, spices and sweetness to their own personal taste. Another way I have gifted this is to make a large batch of the mulled wine ahead of the gift giving season, bottling the spiced drink up, and labeling it with instructions on reheating and serving.
Photo:LivetoBake.com
Madeleines are very small spongy butter cakes that bake in the shape of shells. These little sweets are fairly easy to make and can be decorated in ways that are easy enough for the typical home baker to manage, while achieving patisserie window worthy results. These do require a special pan in order to make them authentically and I would suggest not going with silicone molds in order to achieve the traditional perfectly brown, crispy edge. Madeleines can be made in many different flavors, but I tend to enjoy wintery tastes and usually gift gingerbread flavored ones around the holiday. Dip them into some white chocolate and top with some festive sprinkles to elevate this little treat to the next level!
Photo: (Resplendentkitchen.com)
Lavender Simple Syrup is one of those items that you can’t easily go out and buy in the U.S., making it a real specialty item here. You can find food-grade lavender in bulk on Amazon or at your favorite specialty spice store, making it the only real cost, aside from the jar or bottle you put it in. This syrup is so versatile and can be used in lattes, iced or hot teas, cocktails, baking or anywhere you’d like to add a little floral sweetness. If you can boil water, you can make your own infused lavender syrup, transporting your France-loving friend to the rolling lavender fields of Provence with each sip. You can also make this gift into a sweet and savory South of France set. Fill a mason jar or bottle with good olive oil and infuse it with the classic spices, herbs de Provence. The link provided for creating your own herbs de Provence is the best I’ve found, as it talks about the most common herbs found in the blend, but also lists a handful of others that could be found depending on the person creating the mix. She also goes into which herbs are commonly used in the U.S. to make the spice.
Photo:PiesandTacos.com
Macarons are the perfect, elevated French classic. This little cookie is the epitome of French luxury and will take any Franco-friend straight to Paris with one bite. They are the most difficult of the five to make, but don’t let that scare you off. Macarons are well worth the effort, as they ooze glamor and style. These little iconic cookies can also be made in many different colors and flavors, allowing you to stick with traditional holiday go-tos like peppermint chocolate, or go rogue and customize them to each friend’s tastes. Macaron shells are also notorious for having the ability to be stored up to three months in the freezer. That means that you can make them way before the holiday hustle and bustle and pull them out to fill as you need, making them the perfect bake-a-head treat.
Photo: BarefeetintheKitchen.com
Palmiers sound so posh, but are the easiest things to make and look so pretty, they look like a gift even before wrapping them up! The standard palmier cookie is made with just puff pastry and sugar, but you could easily fancy them up with some delicious French fillings. One of my favorite combinations is fig, thyme and goat cheese. You could also take the iconic French bistro sandwich, the croque monsieur, and create a palmier with its classic filling. Start by spreading a thin layer of bechamel sauce on an unrolled sheet of puff pastry. Then, top with a thin layer of ham and sprinkle with some shredded gruyere cheese before rolling the sheet into the classic palmier, heart shape. Cut into one-inch slices and bake until golden brown. Once cooled, stack them in a tall cellophane bag and tie it closed with some ribbon and holly to create the most gift-worthy goodies any French fanatic would love to receive.
What are you favorite French-themed gifts to give??
Have you made any of the suggestions above? If so, in what variation??
Bon-weekend! -R
