Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts

The best homemade Christmas gift is one that still looks and tastes good after a day or two in a gift bag on a warm car seat, which rules out anything that needs to stay cold. Everything on this list is either a no-bake slice set with chocolate or copha, or a baked biscuit, both categories hold their shape and flavour at room temperature for well over a week.

The three no-bake slices, white Christmas, rocky road and chocolate crackles, are also the fastest to make in bulk if you're putting together gifts for more than a handful of people, none of them need the oven and they all cut into small, giftable squares. The caramel slice takes a bit more oven time across its three layers but keeps just as well once set.

Gingerbread and shortbread are the two baked options, both sturdy enough to stack in a tin without crumbling and both look the part dusted with a little icing sugar or decorated simply. Pack any of these into cellophane bags tied with ribbon or layered into a tin with baking paper between layers, and they'll travel well for a day or two without needing to go anywhere near a fridge.

Make the no-bake slices closest to when you're giving them, since the baked gingerbread and shortbread are the two that genuinely benefit from being made a few days ahead.