Edible Christmas gifts

Pumpkin apple bread
Makes 2 x 9in loaves

350g plain flour
¾ tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp allspice
450g tinned pumpkin, or pumpkin purée
175ml vegetable oil
500g caster sugar
4 eggs
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped

For the topping
1 tbsp flour
5 tbsp caster sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp softened unsalted butter

1. Blend the topping ingredients in a bowl until they are the consistency of coarse crumbs.
2. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4 and grease 2 x 450g/1lb loaf tins.
3. Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. In another bowl, whisk the pumpkin, oil, sugar and eggs. Add to the flour mixture and stir until well combined. Fold in the chopped apples and divide the batter evenly between the loaf tins.
4. Sprinkle the topping over the top of each loaf and bake in the middle of the oven for approximately 45-60 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the loaves to cool on a rack for 45 minutes then remove from the tin and leave to cool completely.

Pinecone bird feeder
This is edible but it’s not for your tree — it’s for the birds outside. It’s the perfect present for kids to make for a teacher.

You will need:

• mixed birdseed
• festive ribbon
• large open dry pinecones
• smooth peanut butter
• ribbon
• clear cellophane

1. Put a couple of handfuls of mixed birdseed onto a flat plate then cut the ribbon into 25cm lengths, one for each pinecone.
2. Thread the ribbon through and around the bottom fronds of the pinecone securing it with a knot, leaving the ends of the ribbon for tying on to the tree.
3. Smear peanut butter all over and into the pinecone making sure it is well coated. Roll in the birdseed, covering every inch of the peanut butter.
4. Carefully wrap the cones in the cellophane and tie with a ribbon ready to give away.

Need more gift ideas? Check out our edible ornaments.