Making your own DIY coffee creamer allows you to control the amount and type of sweetener, the kind of milk you use, and best of all the flavoring. So many nowadays are avoiding dairy for one reason or another and are looking for dairy free coffee creamers. Using almond milk as your base gives you a thick rich creamer without the dairy and you can still create your favorite flavors. So try our DIY Almond Milk Coffee Creamer!

During the holidays I like to indulge a little more (don’t we all) and create flavors that highlight the season’s best! It makes your morning coffee during the hectic season that much sweeter. You can also put your DIY Coffee Creamer into a pretty jar with a lid and gift it to your holiday hostess or tuck it into a coffee themed basket as a gift along with our DIY Flavored Coffee Syrup. Don’t forget to make and display several flavors on your holiday coffee bar for guests to enjoy.

This article is part of our 2017 Handmade Christmas gifts series! Be sure to check out the rest of the gifts here: 2017 Handmade Christmas Gifts.

DIY Almond Milk Coffee Creamer

Ingredients for DIY Almond Milk Coffee Creamer:

2 cups almond milk

3 T. honey or artificial sweetener of choice

1 tsp. Vanilla and/or other extracts

You will also need:

a hand mixer/blender

a jar or other container with a tight fitting lid for storing creamer

Directions:

Whisk or blend ingredients together with a hand blender or standard blender  to combine well, until your mixture is thick and frothy.

Using a funnel, carefully pour liquid into your glass jar with a tight fitting lid (be sure to sanitize the jar first). I used an upcycled jar from a tea that I purchased at a gas station of all places. You say hoarder, I say I’m frugal.

Place creamer in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Combine this creamer with our homemade simple syrup and you have a delicious coffee combo that everyone will love! To create foam on your morning coffee you grab one of these to whip it up and make your morning cup even better!

If you loved this simple DIY Coffee Creamer, be sure to check out other great DIY Handmade Gift ideas in our 12 More Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts 2016 series; our 12 Days of Homemade Christmas Gifts 2015 series, and our 12 Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts 2014 series!

As soon as cooler weather is even a whisper I am pulling out cozy clothes, blankets, and reaching for all my favorite fall flavors.  One fantastic flavor, especially for holiday get togethers with family and friends is hot mulled apple cider. Not only does it warm you up from the inside out and set the mood for fall and winter weather but it makes your home smell amazingly welcoming!  Be ready when guests drop by, you need a quick hostess gift, or want something unique to give to friends and family with my Apple Cider Mulling Spice Sachets. Your favorites spices combined together in an easy to use and toss sachet that gives a pot of apple cider delicious flavor. In a cute little pouch with a pretty ribbon they are irresistible! I like to gift a half dozen or so in a pretty mug that can be used to sip on your mulled cider with.

Apple Cider Mulling Spices

For each Apple Cider Mulling Spice Sachet you will need:

1 cinnamon stick

3 cloves

3 whole allspice

You will also need…

vanilla extract

tulle or muslin

ribbon or twine

Directions:

Break cinnamon sticks in half, then soak in vanilla extract for 5 minutes while you prepare the other items.

Cut tulle into pieces about 5″x 5″.

Tap excess liquid off cinnamon sticks and lay both halves in the center of your tulle, add cloves and allspice.

Draw up the corners and secure your bag with a ribbon or a piece of twine, cut off excess.

To make Mulled Hot Apple Cider- Toss a sachet into a pot with 3 cups of apple cider, add 3-4 orange slices and simmer on low for about 15 minutes.

Remove the bag and throw it away.

Serve your mulled apple cider warm with a fresh cinnamon stick for garnish!

This article is part of our 2017 Handmade Christmas gifts series! Be sure to check out the rest of the gifts here: 2017 Handmade Christmas Gifts.

If you loved this simple DIY homemade gift idea, be sure to check out other great DIY Handmade Gift ideas in our 12 More Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts 2016 series; our 12 Days of Homemade Christmas Gifts 2015 series, and our 12 Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts 2014 series!

How about some Easy Homemade Flavored Coffee Syrups? Coffee and cocoa bars are a fun part of the holidays that encourage friends and family to get cozy and make that just right cuppa’. Whether you want a delicious diy flavored coffee syrup to add to your own coffee bar or need one for a gift to give to a hostess this season, we have you covered with this insanely easy recipe! There’s just 2 ingredients for the base, then you can go crazy creating layers of flavor for your coffee syrup! You can create everything from gingerbread flavored syrup to a simple vanilla one. Put it in a pretty bottle, add a handmade tag and you have a lovely hostess gift or you can add your syrup to a nice coffee basket with our homemade almond milk creamer for a holiday gift.

This article is part of our 2017 Handmade Christmas gifts series! Be sure to check out the rest of the gifts here: 2017 Handmade Christmas Gifts.

Easy Homemade Flavored Coffee Syrups / DIY Flavored Coffee Syrup

You will need:

1 cup Water

1 cup Sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

You will also want to grab:

A small pot

Glass bottle

Funnel

Directions for Easy Homemade Flavored Coffee Syrups:

Place water and sugar in the small pot and simmer on medium heat, stirring frequently until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally for 10 more minutes, allowing syrup to thicken.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, this is a good base for most syrup flavors as it combines well with mint, butter, cinnamon, and other seasonal spices. Or get creative and swap out the vanilla extract for any other extract to create an entire line of homemade coffee syrups to enjoy year round.

Once your syrup is completely cooled, transfer it to a glass bottle with a pump or a spout, use a funnel to pour without spilling into a bottle. This olive oil bottle from Dollar Tree is the perfect size and dispenses the syrup perfectly into coffees, hot cocoa, or over ice cream.

There you have it! DIY Simple Flavored Coffee Syrups! If you loved this easy homemade Coffee Syrup recipe, be sure to check out other great DIY Handmade Gift ideas in our 12 More Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts 2016 series; our 12 Days of Homemade Christmas Gifts 2015 series, and our 12 Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts 2014 series!

We love to entertain, and having great snacks ready is very important to me.  I want to feed my guests something they will enjoy, but I hate spending hours in the kitchen.  This Easy Spinach Dip Recipe is a favorite for me.  Not only does is take only minutes to whip up, it is a great way to get the kids to eat a vegetable!

EASY SPINACH DIP RECIPE

Ingredients

1 10 oz package Frozen Spinach, thawed & drained

1 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Mayonnaise

3 Green Onions Chopped

1 Can Water Chesnuts, drained and chopped

1 Envelope Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix

Directions

• Thaw frozen spinach.
• Drain on paper towels squeezing out as much liquid as possible
• Place all ingredients in large bowl and mix together until well incorporated.
• Refrigerate for at least one hour.
• Serve with chips, vegetables or as a spread on toasted bread.

This easy spinach dip recipe is one that you can easily always have the ingredients on hand to make.  It comes together in just a few minutes and is always a hit with a crowd.  Pour it into a bread bowl for a fun and edible display!

Do you have a simple spinach dip recipe that you love? If so, feel free to leave a comment below!

Crockpot Caramel Apple Butter! One of the best features about crockpot cooking is that you can toss items inside, come back later and end up with a dish that tastes like you have been slaving over a stove all day. That is definitely the case with this Crockpot Caramel Apple Butter, flavored with the aromatic spices of fall! It will also leave your home smelling amazing!  Spread it on toast, top pancakes, oatmeal or use it as a dip for fresh fruit. Need a great homemade gift to give to your hostess? Gifts from the heart and the kitchen are the best! Just tuck a jar of this Crockpot Caramel Apple Butter inside a basket with a pretty towel, and some fresh fruit.

Crockpot Caramel Apple Butter

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of apple sauce 
• 5 oz of wrapped caramels (1/2 bag)
• 1 cup of apple cider
• 1/4 brown sugar
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon  
• 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice

Directions:

• Put all ingredients in crockpot on low, stirring occasionally.
• Serve when caramels are melted.
• Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Check out our other favorite fall recipes:

Caramel Dip for Apples

We love tacos in our house, but sometimes we just want a little snack.  This Easy Taco Dip is one of our favorite to make because it gives us all the flavors we love in a refreshing snack.  Cheap, quick and simple to make – it is a standard for parties and events too.  My kids love it because it is like nachos, yet easier to eat.  I love it because I can make a big batch and they can simply grab a spoon with some chips and enjoy after school! If you love Tex-Mex food, be sure to check out our Crock Pot Chicken Tacos, Homemade Taco Seasoning, Cheesy Crock Pot Mexican Dip, Quick and Easy Tacos, and Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza recipes too!

EASY TACO DIP

Ingredients:

2 Cups Refried Beans

2 Cups Sour Cream

1 Package Taco Seasoning (Try our Homemade Taco Seasoning)

1 Cup Guacamole (We often use ready made from the grocery store – but you can mash a ripe avocado with 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/2 tsp. salt & 1 tsp cumin)

1 Cup Shredded Lettuce

1/2 Cup Diced Tomatoes

1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/4 Cup Sliced Black Olives

Directions:

In small bowl – mix together sour cream and taco seasoning until well blended.

In bowl or platter of choice, layer in order listed below:

• Refried Beans
• Sour Cream Mixture
• Guacamole
• Shredded Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Cheese
• Olives

Serve with your favorite blue or yellow corn tortilla chips.

Some people prefer a bit of chopped fresh onion or green onion in their dip, but we avoid that usually.  My kids don’t like eating foods that “bite them back”, and raw onion can be a bit tough in that category.  While you can make the refried beans and guacamole from scratch, it is just as yummy and super easy to simply grab ready made and throw this together quickly.  For those of us who love the taste of tacos or nachos, but find them messier than we would like – this Easy Taco Dip is a great solution.  Being able to scoop directly with chips always seems to be way less of a mess for my kids!

It’s Back to School time, and we’re excited to announce 2 lucky winners will snag a Free $25 Save-A-Lot Gift Card! Just leave a comment on this blog post to enter, telling us what you’d buy!

Are you familiar with Save-A-Lot Stores? Save-A-Lot stores feature Great Food, Great Prices, and Great People! I recently went shopping at Save-A-Lot in Independence, MO in search of super easy Back-to-School Snack Ideas! Check out what I found, and Find a Save-A-Lot Near You!

After shopping in the store, I came up with a delicious homemade snack mix recipe that has a “secret” ingredient that will quickly become everyone’s favorite ingredient in this snack mix… Caramel Mini Rice Cakes! These are seriously delicious and addictive. My 6 year old wanted to eat those first and kept wanting more. 🙂 This is the yummiest snack mix I’ve ever had… the Caramel Rice cakes are a MUST-HAVE in this snack mix recipe!

Plus, Save-A-Lot has lots of great ready made Snack Mixes that are perfect for Back-to-School and after school snacks, like Pistachio Chewy Bites and Chex Mix too! Here you can see some ready-made snack mixes we bought, and ingredients we used in our Super Easy Rice Cake Snack Mix:

Ingredients for Super Easy Rice Cake Snack Mix:

J. Higgs Caramel Rice Snacks (Save-A-Lot brand)

J. Higgs Honey Roasted Peanuts (Save-A-Lot brand)

Tipton-Grove California Style Raisins (Save-A-Lot brand) or Dried Cranberries (or both!)

J. Higgs Mini Pretzels (Save-A-Lot brand)

Kiggins Honey Nut Rollin’ Oats (Save-A-Lot brand)

The amount of each ingredient you use is ultimately personal preference and also depends on the size of batch you need. I made a small batch, with around 1/4 – 1/2 cup of each ingredient (with some extra Caramel Rice Snacks, since those were our favorite. 🙂

Notice that we used lots of Save-A-Lot brand ingredients in this snack mix and it was delicious! I recommend buying EXTRA of the Caramel Rice Cakes. 🙂

Save-A-Lot also has other great after school snack ideas! We found these Whole-Wheat Ritz crackers and Cheddar string cheese, and these scrumptious little pudding cups.

Delicious Crockpot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats are great way to start the morning.

Crockpot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

These Crockpot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats make waking up in the mornings a little bit cozier. Belly warming and filling spices, oats, and soft apples create the perfect fall flavor combination. Don’t have a crockpot or looking for a new one? This programmable version makes cooking this dish a breeze, once cooking time is over it will turn to warm mode so you can just put toss this recipe in before you go to bed and let the crockpot do the rest.  You end up with a healthy and tasty breakfast ready when you wake up.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup Steel Cut Oats

3 tbsp Brown Sugar

4 cup Water

2 cup Milk

3 tbsp Butter

2 Apples

3 tsp Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Core peel and chop the apples.

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray.

Put all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours.

Before serving give it a stir to mix all ingredients well.

Top off your bowl of steel cut oats with some additional milk and a sprinkle of brown sugar.

How to Make Onion Dip! Everyone loves chips and dip as a snack or appetizer at a party, but there is nothing quite like having your own homemade Easy French Onion Dip.  Not only is it way better homemade than the kind you can buy in the store, it actually ends up being cheaper most of the time too!  You can keep the ingredients for this on hand all the time, so it’s an easy snack with chips, or a great go to with fresh vegetables, pita chips, and even a dollop on the bun when you grill burgers!  There is nothing as tasty as a bit of this on your baked potato either!

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Brownie Bites

These delicious 2 ingredient Pumpkin Brownie Bites are perfect for a snack, make a batch or two to bring into the office, or fill up a basket and set it out for brunch. Easy and simply delicious, these brownie bites are moist and loaded up with yummy pumpkin and chocolate flavors! And the best part is that it doesn’t take more effort or ingredients to make them! They look just as pretty as they taste, so they make a wonderful presentation on a buffet or on the table.

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Brownie Bites

Ingredients:

1 can (16oz) Pumpkin

1 box Chocolate Brownie Mix

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin and brownie mix until the 2 ingredients are well mixed (no dry mix left). Grease a mini muffin pan and scoop the brownie mix by the tablespoonful into each cup.

Bake the brownies at 350 for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the brownie bites comes out clean. Enjoy warm or cool or even drizzled in caramel!

After they have cooled completely you can put some in a freezer safe zippered bag and place in the freezer for later, a little thaw and a  quick heat in the microwave will have you a warm, sweet treat in no time. Enjoy these delicious 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Brownie Bites!