Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, and what better way to thank your host than with a unique, handcrafted gift? Imagine presenting a beautifully decorated mason jar filled with vibrant dehydrated fruit, aromatic cinnamon-maple sugar cubes, and a recipe for a festive Cinnamon Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned. It’s thoughtful, delicious, and sure to impress.

But let’s be real—making something like this from scratch requires time, patience, and a few tricks to get everything just right. If you’re up for the challenge, we’ve got you covered with step-by-step instructions. And if you’re thinking, there has to be an easier way, well… there is. But we’ll get to that. 😉

Step 1: Dehydrated Fruit – The Perfect Garnish

Dehydrated fruit is not only beautiful but adds a delicious burst of flavor to any cocktail. Here’s how to make your own:

What You’ll Need:

• Oranges (ad lemons, limes, apples, or pears for a twist)
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet
• Time

How to Do It:

1. Prep your oven: Preheat to 200°F. This is about as low as a standard oven can go, but be prepared for some uneven results.
2. Slice your fruit: Thinly slice your fruits (about 1/8 inch thick) and remove any seeds.
3. Arrange and bake: Place the slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 4-6 hours, flipping them every 2 hours to ensure even drying.
4. Cool and store: Once dry but still pliable, let the slices cool completely and store them in an airtight container.

It sounds simple, but the process is finicky ensure you have extra to pick out the perfect fruit for presentation. Too much heat? Your fruit browns and loses its color. Not enough time? It stays sticky.

We started in home ovens too as we were learning, today at Hive Craft Cocktails, we dehydrate our fruit in commercial ovens at low temperatures to preserve their natural colors and enhance the flavors, ensuring every slice is as beautiful as it is delicious.

Step 2: Cinnamon Maple Sugar Cubes – A Sweet Touch

A handcrafted sugar cube adds a little something special to any drink. For Thanksgiving, cinnamon and maple bring the cozy, festive vibes.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Silicone molds (small cube or decorative shapes)

How to Do It:

1. Mix it up: In a bowl, combine sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Stir until it resembles wet sand.
2. Mold it: Pack the mixture firmly into silicone molds.
3. Dry or bake: Let the cubes air dry for 24 hours, or speed things up by baking at 200°F for 15-20 minutes.
4. Store: Gently pop the hardened cubes out of the molds and store them in a mason jar.

Ensure your consistency is feels like damp sand to ensure your cubes don't crumble or stick to the molds.

Hive Craft Cocktails takes the guesswork out with perfectly balanced sugar cubes within our kits. No stress, just flavor. Through a little trial and error we have perfected our process, you can too!

Step 3: Craft the Cocktail – Cinnamon Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

Now it’s time to put your ingredients to work. This Cinnamon Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned is warm, festive, and everything Thanksgiving should be.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 cinnamon-maple sugar cube
• ½ oz water or club soda
• Dehydrated orange slice
• Fresh rosemary sprig

How to Make It:

1. Muddle the sugar cube: Place the cube in a rocks glass and muddle it with water or club soda until dissolved.
2. Add bourbon: Pour in the bourbon and stir well.
3. Ice and garnish: Add a large ice cube, then garnish with a dehydrated orange slice and a sprig of rosemary for that festive touch.

Pro tip: Add a few drops of bitters to enhance the complexity. It’s an optional but highly recommended step! Or use herbs, fruit juice, to create your own simple syrup or bittes. We can't give away our recipes, but we encourage you to get into the kitchen and simmer your own flavor enhancements.

Step 4: Assemble Your DIY Gift

Once your fruit is dried, your sugar cubes are molded, and your cocktail recipe is written, it’s time to pull it all together.

Here’s how to make your gift shine:

1. Fill a mason jar: Layer your dehydrated fruit and sugar cubes inside for a colorful display.
2. Decorate: Tie a ribbon or twine around the jar, and attach a sprig of rosemary for an aromatic accent.
3. Add the recipe: Handwrite or print the cocktail recipe on a card and attach it to the jar.

With a little time and creativity you will be able to craft your own unique gift. Each mason jar if sealed properly can be stored for up to 2 years, no excuse not to have a cocktail on hand.

We are currently crafting our next cocktail kit, the Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned for 2025. We are always looking for 'tester' connect with us on social for your chance to review our next cocktail kit @hivecraftcocktails.

Hive Craft Cocktails: The Ultimate Hostess Gift

Hive Craft Cocktails makes gifting (and creating) craft cocktails as easy, fun, and consistently delicious. Our cocktail kits include everything your host needs to make bar-quality drinks at home—dehydrated fruit, expertly crafted sugar cubes, natural enhanced flavors, and foolproof recipes.

What's Included?

• Beautiful Dehydrated Fruit: Our fruit is dried in commercial ovens at lower temperatures than standard home ovens, preserving vibrant colors and natural flavors.
• Perfectly Balanced Ingredients: Our sugar cubes are crafted for taste and consistency—no trial and error required.
• Ready-to-Gift Packaging: No mason jars to fill or ribbons to tie. Our kits are beautifully packaged and ready to impress.
• Effortless Elegance: Just add the alcohol, and your host can enjoy premium craft cocktails with zero hassle.

Skip the Stress, Keep the Wow Factor

Whether you want to go all-in on a DIY project or keep it simple with a Hive Craft Cocktail kit, your Thanksgiving hostess will feel the love. But if you’d rather spend your holiday enjoying the company of loved ones instead of babysitting your oven, we’ve got you covered.

Visit HiveCraftCocktails.com to shop our cocktail kits and give the gift of effortless sophistication this Thanksgiving. Cheers! 🥂