It’s only a couple of days till Christmas, and you still have yet to buy a gift for a close friend of whom you cherish dearly.
Buying a gift seems as simple as ABC these days thanks to online shopping, but it’s going to be a lot harder to impress your recipient if you are merely buying something online to use as a gift.
Instead of buying something convenient, why not go the extra mile for your loved ones by making something from scratch?
Handmade gifts are extra special and more personal because they require a lot more effort than easily buying something convenient online. They make your recipient feel blessed and touched by the effort and thought that went into preparing the gift.
If your recipient is a durian lover, why not prepare something special with the King of Fruit?
Thanks to this minor season that will last till the middle of January, you can stock up on durian supplies like fresh, frozen or even pureed durians that could be used to create a variety of tasty and gift-worthy dishes.
Read on for 3 durian gift ideas you could use this Christmas!
1. Durian Shortbread
You might see shortbread being sold at various department stores and supermarkets during Christmas season, that’s because shortbread was reserved only for social and special occasions in the past. It was an expensive luxury that originated in Scotland.
Today, shortbread is a popular Christmas snack that people all over the world enjoy. It has a rich buttery texture with the right balance of sweet and salty.
Want to take traditional Christmas shortbread up a notch? Try making durian shortbread.
This online recipe on Home Cooking Recipes recommends using durian powder, but you could also replace it with fresh durians but opt for drier species like Hor Lor and Golden Phoenix to avoid having a dough that is too watery.
2. Durian Gingerbread Pudding
Gingerbread houses, cookies and other snacks are a must-have for Christmas. Nothing screams happy holidays louder than they do!
Hailing from Nuremberg. Germany, the first Gingerbread house was recorded in the 16th Century. The art of making unique shapes out of the dough and decorating them, however, dates back to the early 19th Century and Pennsylvanian German immigrants brought this tradition with them to the Americas.
Today, gingerbread crafts are a popular snack for kids during Christmas. They signify the holidays and are definitely satisfying for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Believe it or not, the combination of durian, spice and ginger can be pretty tasty.
The bittersweet tastes of the durians can complement and also neutralise the distinct tanginess of ginger and bring forth a sweeter and distinct flavour. Try out this durian gingerbread pudding recipe.
3. Durian Yule Log Cake
Ah, yule log cake. You might see tons of them during Christmas season. Like gingerbread dishes and shortbread, yule log cakes are also a traditional Christmas dessert.
Yule log cakes came from France. The ‘yule’ in yule log cake actually refers to the darkest time of the year (for France) where the days are short, and nights are long. In the medieval era, families used to burn decorated logs during winter to keep warm. The ashes of these logs were also believed to have medicinal properties and could ward off evil spirits.
The yule log symbolises the sun’s emergence from the southern reaches of France as well as the rebirth of the land. They gave warmth and security to those who had to brave the harsh winter conditions.
Today, yule log cakes are enjoyed across the globe. You can find numerous variations from chocolate to durian yule log cakes.
If you want to make them from scratch, check out this durian yule log cake recipe.