Spoil Your Superhero: Gift ideas for your child’s favourite teacher

Makes 10 Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 large egg white
• 2.5ml (½ tsp) lemon juice
• 125g castor sugar
• 2.5ml (½ tsp) almond essence
• 7.5ml (1½ tsp) orange zest
• 175g Montagu almond flour
• 50g Montagu cranberries, finely chopped
• 30g Montagu flaked almonds
• icing sugar, for dusting
• ribbon, for decorating (optional)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150ºC and line a tray with baking paper.
2. Whisk the egg white until foamy.
3. Add the lemon juice, then gradually whisk in the castor sugar. Whip for a further 2 minutes.
4. Add the almond essence and orange zest.
5. Stir the almond flour and cranberries together.
6. Fold the almond flour into the egg by hand in two parts and mix into a soft dough. (If the dough is extremely sticky add an extra tablespoon of almond flour.)
7. Divide the dough into ten balls and roll each ball into a 15cm log.
8. Shape the log into a circle and press the ends together. (Tip: if the dough is sticky, wet your hands lightly, this will make rolling easier.)
9. Arrange the flaked almonds on top of the circles.
10. Bake the cookies for 30 minutes until lightly golden.
11. Leave to cool. Dust with icing sugar and tie a ribbon around the top of each cookie.

2. No-Bake Muesli Jar

The perfect gift for the more health conscious teacher, this homemade muesli is yummy over oats or yoghurt (or eaten straight from the jar for a delicious energy-boosting snack)!

Makes 500g (approximately 3½ cups)

Ingredients

• 200g Montagu rolled oats
• 30g Montagu flaked almonds
• 35g Montagu coconut flakes
• 40g Montagu seed mix
• 5ml (1 tsp) ground ginger
• 1.25ml (¼ tsp) mixed spice
• 50ml peanut butter
• 15ml (1 tbsp) coconut oil
• 22ml (1½ tbsp) honey
• 5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence
• 50g Montagu banana chips

Method

1. Combine the oats, flaked almonds, coconut flakes, seed mix, ginger and mixed spice in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Place the peanut butter, coconut oil, honey and vanilla essence in a small pot.
3. Stir over a low heat until melted and combined.
4. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
5. Pop the muesli into an airtight jar.

3. Rocky Road Squares

This is a sweet treat that chocolate lovers will go nuts for! And what teacher doesn’t love chocolate? It’s a no-brainer!

Makes 16 squares

Ingredients

• 50g Montagu raw walnuts
• 200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 100g milk chocolate, roughly chopped
• 125g butter
• 100g Montagu cranberries
• 150g Montagu roasted and salted peanuts
• 100g Montagu caramel popcorn

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
2. Line a 20cm square tin with plastic wrap.
3. Arrange the walnuts in a single layer on a small baking tray and roast for 10 minutes.
4. Allow to cool, then chop up roughly. Set aside.
5. Place the dark chocolate, milk chocolate and butter in a saucepan.
6. Stir over a low heat until the chocolate and butter have melted.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cranberries, peanuts and walnuts. Mix well.
8. Add the caramel popcorn and stir until everything is well coated in chocolate.
9. Tip the mixture into the lined tin and press down firmly into an even layer.
10. Pop the tin in the fridge for 3 hours or until the rocky road has set.
11. Cut into squares.

We hope your child’s teacher loves these delicious treats! Baking up a storm is a breeze when you have everything you need in your pantry. You’ll find all those extra essentials at your nearest Montagu Branded store or via our online store.

Special thanks to Teresa Ulyate of Cupcakes & Couscous for these amazing recipes.

Sometimes handmade gifts aren’t always a realistic option, and that’s ok! How about treating your child’s teacher to a delicious Christmas Gift Box filled with really good snacks, delivered straight to their door? Even better, why not head to your nearest Montagu store and have our helpful assistants wrap up a yummy hamper filled with treats chosen by your kids. Thoughtful, personalised and hand-wrapped - the perfect teacher’s gift!