Sometimes it’s not appropriate to take alcohol as a gift, so I have an alternative to my Spiced Vodka – Gingerbread syrup that can be added to coffee, for a winter warming sweet flavour, or drizzled on vanilla ice cream, it’s absolutely delicious.
I made this last year, and I have been playing around with the recipe, to try and increase the depth of flavour. I prefer it to be spicier, and this seems to have taken on more of a true gingerbread taste.
You will need for approximately 800 ml of syrup, or three small Fentimans bottles:
- 4 cups of water
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 2 heaped tablespoons of molasses sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 inches of peeled fresh ginger, chopped into quarter-inch pieces
- Vanilla Pod
- 10 cloves
- 10 whole black peppercorns
Add all of the ingredients to a pan, and bring to the boil. Reduce and simmer for around 20 minutes. Strain, and let it cool for before transferring into bottles. If it does not fill the three bottles, I top up with more cooled boiled water.
I have chosen to decorate with some gingerbread buttons, that I bought from eBay last year. You could buy gingerbread cookie cutters cheaply and add those, or even cook some gingerbread men to give as well.
With the 3 bottles of Spiced Vodka, that’s 6 gifts for less than £25, and a very Merry Christmas indeed!
Thank you for reading
Also check out The Family Budgeting Bumper thrifty Christmas ideas
Love it, going to give it ago. Gorgeous buttons too! I have a thing for buttons! 🙂
Sonya cisco recently posted..Hunting for Joy.
I also have a thing for button, and I have a little bit of a collection 😉 glad you like x
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Pantone Art
Oh I love the sound of this! The way you have it presented is just lovely too. I swear every year I am going to make some homemade gifts but in the end its always so rushed I never get around to it. But this seems very do-able
mum of all trades recently posted..How To Make a Footstool From An Old Coffee Table
It’s so quick and easy, the hardest bit is making the tags! 😉
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Barbie Photo Fashion : Review
This looks delicious! I love the idea of making homemade gifts to give to everyone, but time seems to run away with me and it never happens. This year maybe! 😉
Jen Stanbrook recently posted..5 Easy Ways to Update your Christmas Decorations
Go for it Jen, you won’t regret it!
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Dress To Impress This Christmas : Guest Post
I’m going to have a go at this one. I love gingerbread syrup in coffee in coffee shops, I had no idea you could make it yourself. Going to make some for me and my brother. Does it have vanilla in? It looks like vanilla on the plate but its not in the recipie? Thanks x
Opps! I have amended now, yes a vanilla pod!
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Spiced Orange Vodka : Homemade Christmas Gifts
Would love to hear how you get on. You can adjust the ginger to your taste if you need to.
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Dress To Impress This Christmas : Guest Post
wow thats amazing i used to always request this at Costa in my latte. you make it seem so easy too x
jenny paulin recently posted..Guess How Much I Love You DVD – A Review
So simple! Me too, I always order it at Christmas. You can be it all yr round now 😀
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Taylors of Harrogate : The Video
what a great idea : ) I think it will have to go on next years ‘to do’ list now though!
Sian recently posted..Wet
Hehe, have you got a huge list of things to make? If you like coffee, I’d recommend it all year round, I’m having one this morning 😉
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Dress To Impress This Christmas : Guest Post
Oh my! Just what I was looking for. However, I’m not giving this away–I want it for myself! 🙂
If you come up with a pumpkin one, I’d be sooo happy!
Jenny recently posted..Vintage Style Lace Earrings – Victorian Fancy Scroll Venetian Lace in Ruby Amethyst Ombre (Red and Purple Hues) by venusenvyart
yum! love the cute tags too with the gingerbread men buttons. x
thebeesleybuzz recently posted..Britain’s Best Christmas Craft using one piece of paper!
This looks amazing, thanks so much for sharing the secret with us!
Sally recently posted..Chris Maloney, Prank Calls and Squaring the Circle.
Was delish!!!! Thank you
Becky recently posted..Home Makeover on a Budget …The Perfect Rug
Thanks so much for sharing! I never would have thought of making flavored coffee syrups. Such a fabulous idea!!!
Nikki Gillette recently posted..Some Christmas Humor
This looks great. How long does it last in the bottle?
About 4-6 weeks in the refrigerator Alex.
Amanda Cottingham recently posted..Getting the most out of a Soda Stream
Hi!
Just wondering how long this will keep?
The longest its lasted in our house is one-two months. Usually because we used it really quickly! Its important to remember to sterilise the bottles and caps well, to ensure it lasts as long as possible. hope that helps.
Awesome!! I’ve been looking for some lovely unusual presents for some dear friends and they’ll love this!! I’ll make some gingerbread men to go with it!! Thank you for sharing!!
Love this idea for gifts, I’m definitely going to give it a go x