It’s my favorite time of year, which means baking is in full gear! There’s something so meaningful about giving out homemade goodies during the holidays. I ordered a bunch of groceries from Walmart for pick-up the other day (which is so convenient, by the way) and I accumulated a few easy sweet treats that are the perfect way to say “Happy Holidays”! Needless to say, these Instant Pot DIY gifts have been quite the hit! They’re easy, simple, and tasty — plus, you don’t have to break the bank for holiday gifts for your friends and family.  Another reason why I love these Instant Pot DIY Gifts is that they’re QUICK! I’m using a box brownie mix for one and you could even use leftover apples for another.  Give these recipes a go and let me know your thoughts in the comment below!

3 Instant Pot DIY Gifts

Instant Pot Candied Nuts

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Turn Instant Pot onto sauté. Add pecans, syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Sauté ingredients until pecans are tender (your home will smell amazing!). Make sure to stir consistently so nothing burns.
2. When pecans are tender, turn Instant Pot off. Add 1/2 cup of apple cider. Select manual pressure cook and set the timer for 10 minutes.
3. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees while pecans are cooking under pressure.
4. When instant pot is done, quick release the pressure.
5. Pour pecan mixture onto a baking sheet and arrange in a single layer.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes then take out and flip. Bake for another 5 minutes. Be careful as to not to burn them, since they toast pretty quickly!
7. When toasted, take pecans out and allow them to semi-cool.
8. Add your sugar and brown sugar in a bowl and mix. Sprinkle mixture over the semi cooled nuts and toss them.
9. Once fully cooled, bag ’em up!

Instant Pot Pumpkin Apple Butter

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 pounds of granny smith apples, cored, chopped, & peeled
• 1 15-oz can of pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup maple syrup (this is optional, if you want it tart, I’d skip the syrup — if you want it sweet, I’d add the syrup)
• pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot.  Close lid Manually Pressure Cook for 10 minutes.
2. Once done, naturally release for 10 minutes and then manually release the remaining.
3. Jar it up!
4. optional: mixture should be chunky, but if you prefer smooth, just take an immersion blender and blend it up!

Instant Pot Fudge Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Betty Crocker Supreme Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg

note: just follow the instructions on the back of the box! The ingredients can change based off type of brownie mix!

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large mixing bowl, gently whisk together all of the ingredients.  Don’t overmix!
2. Grease an Instant Pot Springform Pan and pour brownie mixture in.
3. Cover springform pan lightly with foil.
4. Place trivet in Instant Pot, and pour a cup of water at the bottom. Set cake pan on trivet.
5. Close lid and manually pressure cook for 40 minutes.  Once done, naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, and then manually release the remainder.
6. Remove cake pan carefully and release spring. This accessory helps with removing bakeware from the pot!
7. Let brownie cool! Cut and serve.

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post.  All opinions are my own.