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.

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.