What can I bake for my grandparents for Christmas?

Question

I decided for their gift, I want to make a nice treat from scratch and wrap it up all pretty. Here are the stipulations:
1. They can't handle spice, of any sort--so no cinnamon or nutmeg and especially no fruitcake!
2. I would like to bake something I can freeze, then pop in my suitcase for the flight home for Christmas.
3. I've done frosted Christmas cookies for them before, so I'd like to try something different.
What ideas do you have?

I'd like it to be something I can bake b/c I want to freeze it. It's going to be hard to travel with fresh food.
And thanks for the fudge suggestion, but I failed to mention that my grandma herself used to make the best fudge on earth--I'd hate for her to think I was trying to outshine her!

Answer 1

Here is a recipe for chocolate candy that you don't have to bake and they can be frozen for the trip home. They make a pretty gift when wrapped in Christmas tins or colorful boxes.
Holiday Balls
One 6oz package chocolate chips
One 6oz package butterscotch chips
One 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
1 cup walnuts, chopped
2 cups miniature marshmallows
2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
Melt all chips together in a 2 1/2 quart bowl sitting in hot water.
Stir in cream cheese, cherries, walnuts and marshmallows.
Mix together and shape into balls. Roll balls in coconut.
Place on cookie sheet and chill until firm.
Store in freezer and take out as needed. Makes about 6 dozen.
I have kept these in the freezer for a year and they still tasted fresh and delicious.

Answer 2

Christmast is the best days ever... So I will give you this recipes for you :
Strawberry Smoothies

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 ice cubes
1 c. milk
1/3 c. cottage cheese
2/3 c. frozen strawberries
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:

Pour all of the ingredients into a blender.
Put the lid on the blender and blend for 45 to 60 seconds until smooth.
Pour your smoothie into a glass and enjoy.
Serves: 1

Serving size: 1 large glass

15 Minute Salmon

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

2 6-oz. salmon steaks (a normal portion size for meat and fish is 3 oz.)
butter or vegetable oil cooking spray or fat-free canola cooking spray
Directions:

Preheat the broiler. Cover the broiling pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease the foil with butter or vegetable oil cooking spray.
Place the steaks on the pan and broil the salmon for 5 minutes. Turn the steaks carefully and broil the other side for 4 to 5 minutes or until the fish is firm but still springy and a bit translucent in the center.
Serve immediately topped with the sauce of your choice.
Serves: 2

Serving size: 1 salmon steak

Nutritional analysis (per serving):

350 calories
34 g protein
20 g fat
114 mg sodium
0 mg calcium

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Answer 3

I have some other recipes than the following to offer you, but I'm too sleepy to go, look for them in the kitchen. Could I get back to you with them?

Salmon and Spinach Rosti Bake:

This is an unusal twist on the classic fish pie. 6 servings 1¼ hours 40 min prep

2 medium waxy potatoes, unpeeled
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 large onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
225 g baby spinach
600 g salmon fillets, skinned, boned and halved lengthways (about 4)
284 ml double cream
1 finely grated lemon, zest of
of chopped fresh dill or parsley


< 4 hours Main Dish

Parboil the potatoes for 8 minutes, then drain and set aside to cool. Dry the pan and return to medium heat, adding the oil. Saute the onion for about 7 minutes, stirring, until softened. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, then add the spinace and cook, stirring until just wilted down. Tip into a deep 1/3 litre baking dish and spread the mixture across the base.
Pre-heat the oven to 220*C. Place the salmon strips neatly in 1 layer across the spinach mixture. In a bowl, mix the cream, lemon zest and dill or parsley, seasoning well. Pour all over the salmon and spinach and onion base.
Remove the peel from the potatoes with your fingers, and coarsely grate the potatoes directly onto the creamy salmon in a craggy layer. Drizzle with a little olive oil, season to taste and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minuttes, or until it's bubbling and the potato is a deep golden brown and crispy.
Serve with steamed fine green beans.




Gingerbread Kids


It wouldn't be Christmas without the chance to dress gingerbread cookies in frosting finery.
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup molasses
Tubes of white decorator's frosting
Red and green M & M's and Skittles


Step 1
In a medium-sized bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda. Set aside dry ingredients.

Step 2
In a large bowl, blend the butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the molasses. Slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture, stirring after each addition with the wooden spoon or mixer (the dough should be stiff).

Step 3
Divide the dough in half, flatten into a thick pancake (a fun step for kids set up with a rolling pin) and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until the dough is firm enough to roll (if it becomes too stiff, soften for 10 minutes at room temperature).

Step 4
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a floured counter, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men and a spatula to transfer them to a greased cookie sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light brown.

Step 5
Once the gingerbread men have cooled, invite your kids to pipe on frosting features and clothing (they can make both boys and girls -- or even a whole gingerbread family). Add red and green candies for buttons. Makes about 25 cookies.

Answer 4

Does it have to be baking? A friend of mine once got a lot of strawberries and handdipped them for thier granparents. Of course the granparents were really into starwberries and it was a good fruity treat in winter. But if it's baking...maybe....creampuffs?

Answer 5

Mary Jane Brownies

Answer 6

Pillsbury brownie mix. (Regular!)
6 ounces chocolate chips

Make the brownies as directed, but put them in cupcakes!
They freeze GREAT.

Answer 7

Pecan tarts

Answer 8

Fudge or some sort of candy.

Answer 9

Fudge
Brownies
Any type of pie

Answer 10

chocolate cake with fruit toppings is very nice and delicious