Homemade Gifts – For Christmas or Anytime!

I love homemade gifts!  There is nothing quite like giving or receiving a gift that someone took their time and talents to create.  This year my family and friends will be receiving several gifts that I am making in my own kitchen.  I’ve been canning Jalapeño Jelly, mixing up a special spice mix and later I’ll be making some Sweet & Spicy Maple Pecans.

Today I’ve been cooking up something special!  I’m including a recipe that is sure to be a hit and be sure to check out the other links from my blogging friends for MORE homemade gift ideas! Today I am sharing my recipe for coffee liqueur that I’m calling Homesteader Hooch – super easy to make and fun to give!  It is bottled in a canning jar but DOES NOT require canning; this is more for a look than anything else.

Homesteader Hooch (aka Kahlua or Coffee Liqueur)

I used circles cut from grocery store paper bags to make my topper – held on with raffia.  These are regular mouth Ball Pint Jars.

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups of pure cane sugar
• 3 Tablespoons of instant coffee
• 1 Tablespoon of pure vanilla extract (no imitation)
• 4 cups of water, preferably filtered
• 2.5 cups of a good quality vodka

Steps

1. Add water, sugar, and instant coffee to a pan
2. Bring to a boil, stirring often
3. Reduce to a low simmer for 1.5 hours (this will reduce by about half)
4. After the 1.5 hour simmer allow the liquid to cool completely
5. Once completely cooled add in vodka and vanilla
6. Stir
7. Bottle (make sure you sterilize your bottles and lids)
8. Label and decorate to your liking
9. Enjoy a little glass of the leftovers over ice with cream. 😉

This recipe will make about 45 oz of coffee liqueur.  Super easy to double or triple, as needed, for gifts.

Homemade Gifts from My Homesteading Friends

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Calendula Sugar Scrub

Moisturizing Sore Muscle Liniment

Nourishing Homemade Sugar Scrub

Natural Lip Scrub

Easy Chocolate Avocado Truffles with a Kick!

Christmas in July – Laundry Soap

DIY Pine Cone Wreath

Chic Christmas Centerpiece

Christmas Gift Set Ideas

Making New Candles from the Old

Herbal Salves

Fabric Gift Bags Tutorial

Monogrammed Coffee Mug Tutorial 

Make Your Own Cribbage Board

Peppermint Foot Scrub

Simple Soap

Tasty Gifts

Crocheted Hand Warmers 

Mason Jar Gift Ideas