Need another last minute, budget friendly gift idea? Try giving baked goods in a decorative tin. Many of the ingredients in cookies and cakes are everyday baking items… so with the exception of a few extra recipe specific ingredients, you can make something wonderful without breaking the bank.
I found Christmas themed decorative tin containers at my local WalMart, in many different shapes and sizes. Most of the tins cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 or $3 each. For this particular project I chose a 7.5″ square tin with a snowman design.
I purchased disposable tin baking pans in the same size (7.5″ squares-2 per pack) at my local dollar store, however most grocery and discount stores sell these as well.
Note: make sure that the size of your baking tin matches the size of your decorative tin, since leaving too much space around the edges of your baked goods might result in breakage, especially if this is something that will be mailed.
The recipe for gingerbread below will fill 2 – 7.5″ baking tins or a typical 9×13″ cake pan and will be loved by anyone you give this to!
Gingerbread Recipe:
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes (depending on the size of the cake tin, start low and add more time if necessary)
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup butter
- 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 can of Fluffy White or Cream Cheese frosting
Sift dry ingredients and spices together. Boil the water, then add shortening and butter to
boiling water; stir until melted; add sugar and molasses; Combine
mixture with dry ingredients, and add the beaten eggs. Beat entire mixture until
gingerbread batter is smooth. Pour gingerbread batter into a greased baking tin. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40
minutes (2 – 7.5″ squares on the center rack in your oven will take approx 30 minutes while a 9×13″ pan will be closer to 35 minutes, note: oven cook times will vary.
Allow to fully cool and care fully remove from cooking tin (the disposable baking tins really come in handy since you will be removing the gingerbread from its pan and placing it in a tin, the flexibility of the baking tin allows for very easy removal) and place in your decorative tin.
If you are mailing this to someone you will want to purchase a can of frosting and transfer it to a small jar for shipping or wrap the frosting can with decorative paper, so that your recipient can apply the frosting upon arrival.
If you aren’t mailing this, feel free to frost the gingerbread once it is in the decorative tin, being careful to mind the edges of the tin. If it’s messy it just won’t look as polished and cute.
You can either give the tin as is or wrap with a ribbon and place a gift tag on top. Either way, your recipient will enjoy the tin’s contents…I guarantee it! Unless of course they hate gingerbread, in which case substitute with your own cake recipe or cookies.
I am linking this recipe up over at my girl Amanda’s Blog: Serenity Now for her Family Friendly Food Week Party!
