Easy last-minute baked gifts

Christmas is just around the corner and maybe, like me, you've left some things until the last minute, or had some unexpected additions to the guest list. 

Easy baking is great way to whip up some budget-friendly, sustainable gifts.

From super-quick shortbread to fun-filled gingerbread men, your guests will be delighted to take home something they will actually use eat.

Middle-Eastern shortbread biscuits with pistachio and rosewater

With just five ingredients, these rich, buttery shortbreads take less than 30 minutes to make.

They look gorgeous popped in see-through bags or recycled jars finished off with ribbon and will keep for a couple of weeks, so you can make them a little ahead of time.

Earl Grey shortbread biscuits

These bikkies are perfect for the tea lover in your life and while they're simple to make the addition of icing and aromatic petals make them a little bit special.

They're an easy afternoon project — quick to make and bake with just a little extra time to add the finishing touches once cooled.

Giant chocolate chunk cookies with spelt, oat and olive oil

These ones are for the kids (or kids at heart). Nothing says fun like a biscuit as big as your head!

The dough needs some chilling time after mixing but otherwise the process is quick.

They spread as they bake, resulting in thin, chewy, chocolatey cookies with crisp edges that are big enough to gift just one, or stack and wrap them.

Chocolate ganache biscuits

For a decadent treat, it's hard to beat these chocolate ganache biscuits. 

They're surprisingly simple to make, look impressive and the inclusion of ganache makes them luxurious to eat.