In a last-minute gift panic? Catherine Woram’s new book, Homemade Gifts with Love, is full of ideas for handcrafted presents that won’t require you to leave the house. We especially love her recipe for candied orange peel — a bite-size present.

You’ll Need
4 lg. oranges
Chopping board and sharp knife
Bowl
1 l water
Saucepan
300 g dark chocolate
Parchment paper
275 g caster sugar
1.5 m gingham ribbon
Scissors

1. Making sure not to damage the peel, cut the oranges into quarters and remove as much of the pith as possible using a sharp knife. Cut the peel into strips approximately ½ inch wide.

2. Pour the water and sugar into a saucepan and boil for five minutes. Add the orange peel strips and let simmer about two hours. Remove from heat, drain and let cool.

3. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Dip each strip approximately halfway into the chocolate and place on parchment paper to cool.

4. Tie together in bunches of three with gingham ribbon. Trim the ribbon ends diagonally to prevent fraying. Present in a box.

Feeling generous? Homemade Gifts with Love is available online at amazon.co.uk, £11.

Photo: Courtesy of CICO Books