What I'm Gifting From My Kitchen This Year

This year, Kelsey Nixon is giving out her aunt's famous gingerbread cookie recipe.

Nothing beats a homemade gift from the kitchen during the holidays. I love gifting from my kitchen so much that I devoted an entire episode of Kelsey’s Essentials to it. My pie in a jar recipe is always a hit, but this year I wanted to do something that included a recipe that will be featured in my upcoming cookbook (coming in 2013!). I couldn’t resist my Aunt Kim’s famous gingerbread cookie recipe. They are soft and chewy, just the way I like my gingerbread men. To give them a bit more whimsy, I made them bite-sized. Isn’t everything more fun when it’s teeny tiny? I even used a few of the extra cookies to hang on my Christmas tree this year.

To really seal the deal, I packaged them up in beautiful red and white striped boxes that I picked up at a craft store, tied them off with classic green ribbon, and added a bit of fresh holly for the perfect holiday touch. I always like to include the recipe when I’m giving gifts from my kitchen as it adds a lovely personal touch.

Are you gifting from your kitchen this year? What’s the best homemade kitchen gift you’ve ever received?

Kelsey Nixon shares her passion for the basics on Kelsey’s Essentials, a series showcasing tips, tools, & techniques that no home cook should be without. Kelsey got her start in food media when she created Kelsey's Kitchen, a college cooking show emphasizing fast, fun and affordable meals. She earned her professional culinary arts degree from Le Cordon Bleu – Hollywood.  In 2008, she was a finalist on The Next Food Network Star. Kelsey lives in New York City with her husband Robby where she spends her days developing recipes and cooking up a storm. She has a cookbook scheduled to come out in 2013. Keep up with Kelsey on her blog and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Though it's not Kelsey's Aunt Kim’s famous gingerbread cookie, here's Rachel Allen's recipe for Gingerbread House and People to try at home.

Next Up

Butter Cookies with Eggnog Cream Cheese Icing

Get the recipe for butter eggnog cookies from Cooking Channel, by Todd Porter and Diane Cu of White on Rice Couple.

31 Days of Cookies: Irish Cream and Coffee Cookies

Nealey Dozier creates a southern-inspired holiday cookie recipe for Cooking Channel modeled after the cozy after dinner drink, Irish Cream and Coffee.

Mini White Chocolate, Cranberry + Pumpkin Cookies

Can't decide which of your favorite holiday flavors should be represented in your cookie swap contribution? Why not combine three flavors in one conveniently popable bite-sized cookie?

31 Days of Cookies: Chocolate-Peppermint Cream Sandwich Cookies

Make peppermint cream and chocolate cookie sandwiches with this recipe on Cooking Channel by Todd Porter and Diane Cu of White on Rice Couple.

31 Days of Cookies: Sleeping Almond Meringue Cookies

Learn how to make sleeping meringues -- the cookie that bakes itself -- with this recipe from Cooking Channel.

Lemon Gingerbread Checkerboard Cookies

Make these impressive checkerboard cookies with step-by-step directions from Irvin Lin on Cooking Channel.

Broken Pretzel and Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Make this twist on a chocolate chip cookie recipe with caramel and broken pretzels by Heather Baird of Sprinkle Bakes on Cooking Channel.

On TV

So Much Pretty Food Here