Edible Christmas gifts

Brilliant breads
These breads are so easy to make and great for giving as presents. Once you’ve made the bread, let it cool completely and wrap it neatly in clear cellophane. Tie a ribbon around the loaf on all four sides and tie a big bow in the middle. Write the type of bread on a decorative label and attach to the top of the loaf.

Banana bread
Makes 1 x 450g/1lb loaf

3 bananas
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp melted butter
225g caster sugar
175g plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
butter and flour, for coating the tins

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
2. Grease and flour a 450g/1lb loaf tin.
3. Mash the bananas and combine them with the egg, vanilla and melted butter.
4. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the banana mixture. Stir with fork or whisk until combined.
5. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 25-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from the tin.

Lemon poppy seed bread
Makes 2 x 450g/1lb loafs

For the bread:
400g plain flour
450g caster sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp poppy seeds
400ml milk
175ml vegetable oil
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ tsp lemon extract
butter and flour, for coating the tins

For the lemon glaze:
½ cup sugar
¼ cup lemon juice

1. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C/gas mark 4. Combine the ingredients for the glaze and leave to stand until bread has finished baking.
2. Grease and flour the loaf tins. Combine all the bread ingredients in a large bowl. Beat at a medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Divide evenly and pour into pans. Bake at for 45-60 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
3. Take bread out of pan and place on plate. Pour the glaze immediately over the bread.