Homemade Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is just days away but don't worry, there's still plenty of time to make a homemade gift  to let her know you love her and add some sweetness her special day.

To help you decide what to make, here are my Mother's Day gift ideas that are sure to make mom happy. I've included a link to all the instructions, some easy peasy and some more difficult. I'm listing them in order, starting with the easy ideas.....

Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Bark— This is so delicious and so quick to make. Just know that this is addictive so be prepared to make it again and again. Click here for instructions.

Ombre Hearts — These are in the hue of Radiant Orchid but you know mom's favorite color and that's the hue you should use. Click here for instructions.

Soft Sea Salt Caramels — These aren't hard to make but you need a candy thermometer to make them and the patience to read and follow the recipe carefully. Click here for instructions.

Violet Sugar Cookies — I used the wet-on-wet decorating technique to make them which means I had to be organized and have all my colored icings mixed at once, but they aren't too difficult. Click here for instructions.

Double Decker Daisy Cookies — These are best for the intermediate cookie decorator since you need knowledge of proper icing consistencies and a steady hand. Click here for instructions.

Mini Salted Caramel Macarons — Macaron making can be a bit tricky because there's definitely some technique involved and you need to carefully weigh your ingredients with a scale. They take some practice but are worth the work. I do find that mini macarons are the easiest size to make and this salted caramel filling is one of my favorites. For these, I tinted the macaron batter with a bit of violet coloring. Click here for instructions.

Brushed Embroidered Sugar Cookies — These are striking and sure to wow your mom. Knowledge of icing consistencies is key. Click here for instructions.

Hand Painted Cookies — If you have some artistic ability, then this is an edible way to share that with your mom. The most important thing is to make sure your cookie canvas is completely dry before painting it with thinned gel coloring. This is a two day project. Click here for instructions.

Packaging Truffles

Homemade truffles make wonderful gifts, especially when packaged beautifully with some loving care and attention to detail.

Now don't get me wrong, no one is going to reject a pile of truffles delivered on a paper plate but it's definitely more thoughtful to present them in way that's aesthetically pleasing and looks professional. Packaging truffles is also inexpensive to do with a little recycling, crafting and creativity. I actually think the packaging part is fun. Adults need art projects too!

Here's how:

After coating the truffles, I used chopped walnuts, shredded coconut and dark cocoa powder, chill the truffles for at least 30 minutes before packaging them.

After they've chilled, place the truffles in individual paper candy cups. The cups are inexpensive and can be found in craft and baking specialty stores as well as the baking department of many grocery stores. The papers keep the truffles secure and tidy.

I reused and upcycled a 4-piece candy box by covering it with craft paper.  I adhered the paper to the box with double-sided adhesive squares. Double stick tape would also work and I used my trusty large paper punch to make a tag. You could also fold your own box using the easy Origami method.  Click here for an instructional video showing how.

I covered the bottom of the box by cutting paper to fit and adhering it with adhesive squares.

To cover the top, I cut a piece of paper large enough to cover the top and sides plus 1/2-inch extra all around. Then from the corners, I cut diagonally to the corners of the top of the box.

Then, using the adhesive squares to stick the paper, I wrapped the box.

A tag made with the paper punch and an adhesive label adds that final touch.  I also padded the box with a bit of tissue paper and snugly placed the truffles in the box.

Another packaging option is to use self-sealing cellophane bags and attach a homemade tag with butcher's twine or ribbon. There are of course other options too so get creative and share some homemade truffles with your family and friends. It's fun!