Last minute Christmas gift

As much I feel Christmas is the most magical time of the year it can also be a very stressful time for some. Gifts to buy and wrap, final errands to run at work before the break, all the packing for those who are spending Christmas away and obviously, for all the hosts out there, the last minute food shopping, cleaning the house…Still thinking it’s the most wonderful time of the year?

And you can plan it to the last curled ribbon but there is always someone that we unwilling forget to buy a present for. Or even that last minute guest to whom you just want to give a little gift. We have a solution! You can make this gift in 20 minutes and with the right packaging it can look really special too. These caramelised nuts are delicious and perfect for this time of the year.

If you are a super-organised type of hostess and have done all your gift-buying and wrapping you can also serve it as nibbles. Careful, it is addictive.

I used a spice mix called Lebkuchen which is traditional here in Germany but you can use the same spices as those for gingerbread cookies or just a combination of cloves and cinnamon. You can be creative here and use whatever you have in your cupboard, it is after all a last minute gift so you shouldn’t have to worry about extra complications. The nut mix shows my favourites but if you find it easier to go for just one type best to go for just almonds.

Caramelised Christmas nuts

400g mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts)

100g almonds

20g butter

1 ¼ tsp Lebkuchen or Gingerbread spice mix

¼ tsp cinammon

180g sugar

Method:

1. Lightly toast the nuts in a frying pan over médium heat, stirring constantly. Melt the butter with the nuts and then add the spices and stir well to combine. Finally add the sugar stirring the nuts lightly to make sure the sugar melts and coats the nuts evenly

2. Line one of your kitchen surfaces with greaseproof paper and pour the nuts over it and let it cool. Once cooled it is ready to be wrapped!