14 Simple, Beautiful Homemade Holiday Gifts

Manchego Twists

Makes: 3 gifts (24 twists in all)
Total time: 25 minutes

What You Need

• 1 thawed sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounce box)
• 1 beaten egg
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1¼ cups finely grated Manchego cheese (about 5 ounces)

What to Do

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Brush the pastry with the egg, and sprinkle with the paprika, salt, and 1 cup of the cheese.
2. Cut the pastry into 12 ¾-inch-wide strips, then halve the strips crosswise.
3. Twist the strips and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup of cheese and bake until golden and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Keep at room temperature for up to 1 week.

How to Package Your Gift

1. Divide the twists among parchment-lined boxes. Try the Open Lid Brown Rib Gift Boxes available at jampaper.com (6 by 4½ by 4½ inches, $2.50 each). Wrap with decorative paper or fabric that is cut slightly narrower than the width of each box, leaving the ends open; secure with ribbon.