Chestnuts-A-Roastin: A Delicious & Cozy Gift for the Season

For most of my life, chestnuts were a mystery to me. We’ve all heard that song before…”chestnuts roasting on an open fire….”. But, until my late 20s, I’d never actually eaten, let alone seen, a chestnut before. I guess they just weren’t a big thing growing up in Southern California.

On a trip to NYC several years ago, though, a friend stopped at a street vendor to pick up a bag of roasted chestnuts, claiming they were her fav-o-rite. From just the smell alone, I was anxious to get a taste, and they proved to be just as warm, cozy, and toasty as the song proclaims. Now they are a fun part of my annual Christmas tradition and a fun gift to share as well. Here’s a fun way to package them up for gifting this season…

During the holidays, it’s usually pretty easy to find chestnuts at your local market. One pound is a good place to start, but, for a larger family, you could definitely be more generous.

Roasting chestnuts in the oven couldn’t be easier. All it takes is about 30 minutes of roasting in a 425 degree oven. For this gift, I included a cute tag with simple roasting instructions, which you can download here. And you can find a tutorial for printing on the tags here.

Start by dumping those chestnuts into a simple clear cello bag.

Then the top gets secured with a twist tie. I usually have a few of these floating around the house, but you can also find them at your local craft store. Once you wrap the tie around the top, twist it a few times. Then snip off the ends to remove the excess. This will hold the plastic securely in place while you attempt to tie a pretty bow around it.

For the ribbon, you can use whatever you like, but I think we all have a soft spot in our holiday hearts for festive twine…am I right?

After looping the twine through the tag, give it a twirl around the top of the bag, and secure it with a pretty little bow.

Try this as a fun gift to tote along to your next holiday shindig!

Melissa is the blogger behind Serving Seconds, a food blog dedicated to the yummy and the beautiful. When she’s not in the kitchen, you can find her wandering the aisles of the craft store, instagramming at the dinner table, or exploring every foodie nook she can find in her beloved city of San Francisco. She’s got a penchant for anything mini, modernized comfort food, and stellar hospitality. In her “Setting the Table” series, Melissa will share unique and creative ways to add a little fun to your table and make your guests feel extra special. From a weeknight dinner to a girls’ night in, there’s always a reason for theme parties, signature cocktails, and gathering with friends.
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