1. Elaine’s Soda Cracker Bark
Bark is unanimously a favourite holiday treat. This recipe is courtesy of our colleague Elaine, Executive Assistant and Office Manager, who makes this classic every year. Place saltines on a baking sheet, cover them with homemade caramel and then bake them in the oven. Then simply add melted chocolate and almonds for a sweet and salty treat reminiscent of childhood sweets. Put a few pieces of bark in a metal container, then wrap it in a pretty cloth.
Candies, chocolates and Sweets
Elaine’s Soda Cracker Bark
2. Macerated Rum (Rhum Arrangé)
If you’re always trying to distinguish yourself, you can’t go wrong with a homemade gift perfect for spirits enthusiasts. The recipe is incredibly simple: just put pieces of pineapple and clementines in a jar, and add a vanilla bean, a bit of sugar and white rum. Since the flavours of this original recipe from Réunion Island only get better with time, you must let the rum macerate for at least two weeks before giving it as a gift. So be sure to get started on it well in advance. Present the gift in a one-litre bottle decorated with a small wreath made from a twisted sprig of rosemary.
Drinks and cocktails
Macerated Rum (Rhum Arrangé)
3. Brown Butter, Sage and Pecan Crackers
The real gift, of course, is the time you spend with your loved ones, so offer them crackers that will be a surefire hit once unwrapped. First, mix melted butter with sage and pecans, then cook until the butter turns a nutty brown. Add it to your food processor with the other ingredients, making a dough that’ll be cut into various shapes and then baked. The resulting 30 crackers make lovely gift packages with a jar of rillettes, chutney or some cheese.
gourmet gifts
Brown Butter, Sage and Pecan Crackers
4. Italian-Style Mushrooms
For a bit of originality, gift someone a semi-firm cheese like Tête à Papineau with its lactic flavour, or perhaps a Tomme de Grosse-Île, which has a similar aromatic profile, medium intensity and a supple texture. Complete your gift basket with a jar of Italian-style mushrooms, which complement the hazelnut and mushroom notes of the cheese.
Jar mixes and ketchups
Italian-Style Mushrooms
5. Cranberry Bread
Delight the cheese lovers in your life with a triple-cream cheese like Laliberté or even La Courtisane, which is similar and has a mushroom flavour of medium intensity, as well as a soft rind and creamy texture. For a sweet and tangy touch that’ll complement the rich cheese, bake up a loaf of cranberry bread to go along with it.
Muffins and dessert breads
Cranberry Bread
6. The Perfect Pair: Wine and Cheese
Spark a loved one’s curiosity by introducing them to Carignan-Salières cheese, with its vegetal flavour, or Clos-des-Roches, which has a high-intensity fragrance that is balanced perfectly by its firm texture. A local wine with natural acidity or a honeyed aroma will pair wonderfully with these flavours. Looking for more gourmet gift ideas?
Be sure to check out our wide selection of recipes: