Homemade goodies that keep well?

[la79al]

I have decided this year I am going to just make a bunch of snacky foods and use them as gifts for people I don't know what to buy for. The problem is, I would like a nice assortment but for one gathering, I will get maybe a days notice. And then the next gathering isn't until a few days after Christmas. So what goodies can I make that will keep for a week or so? I am thinking about caramel popcorn, fudge, chocolate covered pretzels but I would like some other ideas.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

I know you plan on making chocolate covered pretzels but you MUST MUST MUST do this savory pretzel snack also. Easy to make and easy to store indefinitely.

Bob's (not sure why he gets the credit ) Delicious Pretzels

32 oz. pretzels (If I remember right that's usually about 2 bags)
1 pkg. dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 bottle Orville Redenbacher's popcorn oil

Mix oil and all seasonings well. Put pretzels in large Ziploc bags. Pour oil mixture over pretzels and shake/stir/mix well. Leave the bags on your counter for two days and flip/shake the bag whenever you think of it but as often as possible. After two days, store bags in the refrigerator. (Everyone absolutely loves them. In fact, the hospital where I work has started making them for sale in their cafeteria.)

 

[amcnj]

I make peanut brittle and that keeps for weeks in a sealed container. Unless it is eaten! Recipients seem to enjoy it.

 

[scrapquitler]

If you are asking about cookies, you can make them ahead of time, wrap them well and freeze them. My Mom used to put them in ziploc bags then in tupperware containers in the freezer. When we were going somewhere, she'd take them all out, assemple a platter of assorted ones, stick the rest back in the freezer and we were all set with a nice plate of cookies to take with us.

Other things that you can make ahead: chex mix, fudge, caramel popcorn, popcorn balls, etc. Just keep them in sealed tupperware containers.

I think the biggest trick to keeping them and having them ready to take with you at a moments notice is hiding them so they are still there when you need them..

 

[albarellic]

My sister makes a mini pretzel treat that's delicious. You top a mini pretzel twist with a Hershey's kiss and heat it (microwave or oven) until the kiss is just barely melted then top with a red or green m&m. Cool until the kiss hardens back up again. They keep for a long time and are very easy to put together on short notice. They are VERY addictive though.

Another idea is to make layered cookie ingredients in large mason jars. They can be made ahead of time and keep for months. I made them one year with my mom and we handed them out to people at church, the library, post office, etc. We made oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. We topped each jar with a square of Christmas fabric and attached the baking instructions to the lids with pretty ribbon.

We also make pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes for teacher gifts.

 

[secretpantssam]

I know you plan on making chocolate covered pretzels but you MUST MUST MUST do this savory pretzel snack also. Easy to make and easy to store indefinitely.

Bob's (not sure why he gets the credit ) Delicious Pretzels

32 oz. pretzels (If I remember right that's usually about 2 bags)
1 pkg. dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 bottle Orville Redenbacher's popcorn oil

Mix oil and all seasonings well. Put pretzels in large Ziploc bags. Pour oil mixture over pretzels and shake/stir/mix well. Leave the bags on your counter for two days and flip/shake the bag whenever you think of it but as often as possible. After two days, store bags in the refrigerator. (Everyone absolutely loves them. In fact, the hospital where I work has started making them for sale in their cafeteria.)

These sound great! I think I'll have to make these!!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

My sister makes a mini pretzel treat that's delicious. You top a mini pretzel twist with a Hershey's kiss and heat it (microwave or oven) until the kiss is just barely melted then top with a red or green m&m. Cool until the kiss hardens back up again. They keep for a long time and are very easy to put together on short notice. They are VERY addictive though.

Another idea is to make layered cookie ingredients in large mason jars. They can be made ahead of time and keep for months. I made them one year with my mom and we handed them out to people at church, the library, post office, etc. We made oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. We topped each jar with a square of Christmas fabric and attached the baking instructions to the lids with pretty ribbon.

We also make pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes for teacher gifts.

The pretzel m&m treats are awesome, we make them often. I have no idea how long they keep because they are always gone in one day they should last for a bit though. My daughter made some for her school friends.

Fudge keeps for a little while too. I personally like the carnation milk/nestle recipe without the nuts in it.

 

[brennicksmom]

Great ideas! Thanks for asking OP!

 

[Dancemomof3]

I make rocky road candy to take to a New Years Eve, Eve gathering every year. You melt a bag of chocolate chips and add a handful of mini marshmallows and a handful of peanuts (really its not an exact science). Then I spread it onto some buttered waxed paper and when it's cool break it into pieces.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Quick breads also freeze well - pumpkin, banana, date nut, blueberry, cranberry, etc.

Made the herbed pretzels before -- they are wonderful!

 

[mrp4352]

This is very similar to Bob's pretzels (which I think I'll have to try!).



2 bags/boxes of oyster crackers
1 scant cup oil
2 tablespoons dill weed
2 tablespoons lemon pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 envelope dry ranch dressing

Heat the oven to 200. Pour the crackers into a large casserole (I will often double the recipe and make it in our turkey roaster). Mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the crackers, stirring to coat. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stir every 6-7 minutes. They're done when all the oil has dried into the crackers. Once cool, you can package these into ziplocks and they'll keep for a few weeks!

 

[amcnj]

My sister makes a mini pretzel treat that's delicious. You top a mini pretzel twist with a Hershey's kiss and heat it (microwave or oven) until the kiss is just barely melted then top with a red or green m&m. Cool until the kiss hardens back up again. They keep for a long time and are very easy to put together on short notice. They are VERY addictive though.

Another idea is to make layered cookie ingredients in large mason jars. They can be made ahead of time and keep for months. I made them one year with my mom and we handed them out to people at church, the library, post office, etc. We made oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. We topped each jar with a square of Christmas fabric and attached the baking instructions to the lids with pretty ribbon.

We also make pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes for teacher gifts.

A variation of this is to use a Rolo candy in place of the kiss. I have usually had them on those pretzels that are little squares, and either with another pretzel on top or an M&M.

 

[frenzy70]

A variation of this is to use a Rolo candy in place of the kiss. I have usually had them on those pretzels that are little squares, and either with another pretzel on top or an M&M.

In our family we use a pretzel , rolo, and a pecan to make a turtle like taste . Soo yummy

 

[hops&dreams]

In our family we use a pretzel , rolo, and a pecan to make a turtle like taste . Soo yummy

We do these too - We call them Poor man's Turtles...

Pretzel (or those pretzel thins work even better!)
rolo
Pecan.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

I would rethink doing fudge a week ahead of time. Fudge gets so dry after a couple of days-- yuck!!!

 

[ImDMous]

I made these spiced nuts last year and they were delicious, even a month later. I gave people little christmas zip lock bags of them and had a ton left for us.

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/sweet-spicy-nuts-carla-hall

I also made sugared cranberries which lasted fine in the refrigerator.

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/sugared-cranberries-carla-hall

 

[lovesmurfs]

I made these spiced nuts last year and they were delicious, even a month later. I gave people little christmas zip lock bags of them and had a ton left for us.

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/sweet-spicy-nuts-carla-hall

I also made sugared cranberries which lasted fine in the refrigerator.

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/sugared-cranberries-carla-hall

Never heard of sugared cranberries! I'm making them for work for our party next week. Thanks!

 

[msmama]

I made sugar cinnamon almonds last year. Super easy and keep really well, unless you eat them all.

 

[manning]

I use a foodsavor vacuum pack. They have zip lock bags. You can get a portable pump they sell to use on those bags. Cost about $20.

We buy cakes made by Strawberry Hill Povitica. Just bought some with use date by Jan 4 2015.

we did the same last year, vacuum packed and put them into the freezer. We took them out for Easter and they were just as freeze as the day we bought them.

Our Costco is selling them now.

 

[mhf]

I know you plan on making chocolate covered pretzels but you MUST MUST MUST do this savory pretzel snack also. Easy to make and easy to store indefinitely.

Bob's (not sure why he gets the credit ) Delicious Pretzels

32 oz. pretzels (If I remember right that's usually about 2 bags)
1 pkg. dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 bottle Orville Redenbacher's popcorn oil

Mix oil and all seasonings well. Put pretzels in large Ziploc bags. Pour oil mixture over pretzels and shake/stir/mix well. Leave the bags on your counter for two days and flip/shake the bag whenever you think of it but as often as possible. After two days, store bags in the refrigerator. (Everyone absolutely loves them. In fact, the hospital where I work has started making them for sale in their cafeteria.)

I use oyster crackers to make something similar but use very little oil. Addictive.

To OP: Chex Mix! keeps for days and makes a ton.