Home-Made: Citrus Sugars

Sugar and spice make everything nice, but sugar and citrus make gift-giving delicious.

CONSIDER IT YOUR GO-TO GIFT for the season: citrus sugars in lemon, lime and orange, all packaged up in an old-fashioned milk-bottle caddy that’s as sweet as the homemade contents it carries. This refreshing sugar is simple to concoct whether you’re heading to Easter brunch at the in-laws, need a last minute get-well gift for a friend, or just want to say “Happy Spring” to someone you love. And it can be used by its lucky recipient in many yummy ways, from a topping on breakfast-in-bed-worthy pancakes to a substitute for plain sugar in a pound cake recipe, or as a surprising sweetener for iced tea. Then there’s the added bonus for you: The heavenly fragrance will fill your kitchen, making your effort feel downright delightful. The Recipe 2 cups granulated sugar Zest of 2 lemons, 2 limes or 1 orange Place the sugar and the zest of one kind of fruit into a food processor. Pulse until well blended. Spread the mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet for approximately 1 hour to dry. Repeat with zest from the other fruits. The Gift Fill diner-style sugar canisters ($1.04, katom.com) with the dried citrus sugars. Tie on coordinating ribbons and click here for free labels to secure on each jar with a dot of glue. Finally, fill up an easy-to-carry milk-bottle caddy with as many canisters as you decide to make. We say the more, the merrier! Click here for a recipe card to include with the delectable gift!