Inexpensive Homemade Secret Santa Gift Ideas

Is your office having a Secret Santa gift exchange? While the rules of some Secret Santa exchanges consist of the anonymous swapping of a gift with a set price range, others include secretly leaving small gifts over a period of time. If your office is undertaking the latter, following are some inexpensive homemade Secret Santa gift ideas that are sure to please your recipient.

Homemade Goodies
Everybody loves candies and cookies, especially at Christmastime when even the most health-conscious people are known to indulge. So when you are whipping up a batch of your favorite Christmas cookies or other treats, set aside enough for a small jar- or baggie-full and treat your Secret Santa recipient. Need a quick and easy treat to make in a hurry? Here's a tried-and-true microwave peanut brittle recipe:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1-2 cups peanuts or any other nut
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix sugar and corn syrup together and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Add nuts and mix well. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Add butter and vanilla and cook in microwave on high for 2 minutes. Add baking soda and mix well, mixture will foam. Spread on buttered foil (or spray with butter-flavored cooking spray). Allow to cool completely, and then break in to pieces.

Some other simple homemade treats include: chocolate-covered pretzels (simply melt chocolate chips in the microwave and dip pretzel rods or Bavarian pretzels in the melted chocolate and top with sprinkles or crushed candy canes); gifts in a jar (find some great recipes here); or a Christmas-y coffee mug (check out the thrift store or dollar store) filled with chocolate-dipped spoons (here's a recipe).