At this time of year two things happen – you want to give great gifts and you run out of money. At least it happens to me. So the best thing to do is make as many of the gifts as possible. And make them easy gifts. Gifts with minimal ingredients. Here is my start to the holiday gifting season with vegan and gluten-free Holiday Gifting Two Ways -Chocolate  Peanut Clusters and Peanut Butter Balls.

Sometimes the best gifts are the homemade baked goods. But sometimes who has time for that? Sometimes you forgot and have to bring something to a potluck and you just have a few minutes to make something before hitting the road. In comes chocolate peanut clusters! Just three ingredients and that’s it. Pop the chocolate and coconut in the microwave to melt. Once melted add in the peanuts and mix well then spoon small amounts onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Pop into the fridge to firm up then place all of them into a festive tin and boom. Potluck treat done.

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The other peanuty treat is my all-time favorite. The beloved peanut butter ball … or at least beloved to me. My mom makes them almost every year as food gifts and I sneak as many as I can, because they are amazing. And fattening. But so amazing. And not vegan. So this year I wanted to try them mysel. They’ve always seemed to laborious for me to want to try, but with some easy ingredients I figured why not? This ones more time consuming only because of the wait time of the setting of the balls. Start by dumping the ball ingredients into a bowl and mix well then set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Take out and roll into one inch balls and place on way paper lined baking sheets, then pop back into the fridge to firm for about an hour. Then melt the chocolate and coconut oil and dunk the pb balls in the ooey goodness then place back in the sheets once covered. Put back in the fridge until chocolate is set. Put them all in a festive tin and there you go!

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Easy chocolate peanuty gifts!

Chocolate Peanut Clusters, 23 clusters

1 Bag Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks
2. Tbsp Coconut Oil
2 C Unsalted Peanuts

1. Melt chocolate and oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. While it’s melting line a baking sheet with wax paper.
3. Dump in peanuts and stir to coat all peanuts.
4. Spoon out peanut clusters onto the baking sheet.
5. Pop in the fridge until set.
6. Enjoy!

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Peanut Butter Balls, 29 balls

2 C pure Peanut Butter
1/2 C 100% Pure Maple Syrup
1 Box Nairn’s Gluten-Free Graham Crackers
1 Bag Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil

1. In a bowl mix the peanut butter, syrup, and crushed graham crackers.
2. Place bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Line two baking sheets with wax paper.
4. Take out bowl and roll peanut mixture into one inch size balls.
5. Place back in fridge for a minimum of one hour.
6. Melt chocolate and oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
7. Dunk balls one at a time letting excess chocolate drip off.
8. Place pans in the fridge until chocolate sets.
9. Enjoy!