45 Homemade Holiday Food Gift Recipes
Not feeling crafty? Whip up something extra special for friends and family with our recipes for sweet or savory scratch-made treats.
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December 20, 2018
By:
H. Camille Smith
Gift a Healthy Treat Wreath
Make your homemade gift stand out from the sweet pack this year by gifting an edible that doubles as a colorful holiday decoration. Clementines are a favorite seasonal snack that are doubly hard to resist when packaged as a colorful wreath. Learn how to craft your own.
Rum-Soaked Mini Bundt Cakes
The holidays are a time for indulging, right? And, what better way to indulge everyone's sweet tooth than with a moist mini cake that combines seasonal flavors — with a boozy twist. One of our faves? These mini rum-soaked bundt cakes with a butter-rum glaze. Yum! Get the recipe.
Snowman Chocolate Bark
Delicious, adorable and easy to whip up even for a big group of people, these sweet snowmen will delight everyone on your Christmas gift list. Get the recipe.
Surprise Them With a Snowy Cottage
Seriously, how cute is this gingerbread house?! Our step-by-step instructions and quick video will show you how to turn a storebought gingerbread house kit into an entirely edible rustic retreat.
Easy Bourbon Balls
A holiday tradition, bourbon balls are a Christmas classic that combine the kick of bourbon with all the savory sweetness of nuts and chocolate. Give our recipe a try, then package them in colorful card stock cones for a pretty way to package up these sweet-meets-savory mini booze bombs.
Coffee Cupcakes To-Go
Bake coffee-flavored cupcakes in paper to-go cups then top with rich homemade frosting and dash of nutmeg, cinnamon or sprinkles for a morning pick-me-up lookalike that is sure to hit the spot any time of the day. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Monogrammed Shortbread Cookies
Part ornament, part personalized treat, this cookie is almost too pretty to eat — which would be a real shame because our shortbread recipe can't be beat! Get the recipe.
Cookie Cutter Peppermint Fudge
Cookie cutters aren't just great for baking, they also make cute containers for decadent fudge you can gift to friends, coworkers, neighbors or any sweet-tooth on your holiday gift list. Get the recipe.
Christmas Ornament Cookie Pops
Festive and oh-so-tasty, these colorful ornament cookie pops are almost too pretty to eat -- almost! But, with a gooey chocolatey filling, we bet you'll want to give eating them a try. Get the recipe.
Mulled Wine Jar
Jarred food kits are just as much fun to assemble as they are to receive. Delight a foodie on your gift list with one of these 3 gourmet gift jars.
Raspberry Mousse-Filled Chocolate Cookie Shots
A decadent treat for kids and adults alike, these mini cookie cups are a tasty mess-free container that can be filled with anything you'd like but we're partial to piping them full of our rich raspberry mousse. Get the recipe.
Greeting Card Cookie
Homemade chocolate chip cookies are always a favorite goodie. Embellish CD tins with our free printable templates to turn this tasty treat into a clever holiday card. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
A Sweet Snow Globe
Looking for a unique homemade food gift? Well, look no further! This sweet surprise is a Christmas decoration they can display, then devour! Get the recipe.
Cranberry Pistachio Sablés
French for sand, sablé cookies are essentially shortbread with a signature toothy texture. This version ups the ante of a classically delicious shortbread with the addition of chewy cranberries and crunchy pistachios and the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Get the recipe.
Glitzy, Tipsy Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Friends and family will flip for these decadent, dark-chocolate-dipped strawberries with a surprise: an inserted pipette is filled with champagne which slowly soaks into the strawberry to make them extra juicy (and boozy)! Get the recipe.
Chocolate-Covered Peppermint Crispies
A year-round favorite treat gets a delicious update for the holidays. Add the flavors of chocolate and peppermint to crisp rice treats before packaging them as homemade gifts for family and friends. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Rugelach With Raisin-Walnut Filling
These classic Eastern European pastries are known for their crescent-roll shape, and can be filled with nuts, fruit preserves and spices before baking. Get the recipe.
Hazelnut Hot Cocoa
Chocolatey hot cocoa knocks the chill off even the coldest of winter days. Share the warmth this holiday season by packaging the rich ingredients in a canning jar so the recipient can whip one up whenever they need a warm and creamy pick-me-up. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Cranberry Orange Linzer Cookies
Sweet and tart, these artful cookies combine two favorite seasonal flavors -- cranberry and orange --and are as pretty as they are yummy. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Ginger Date Chews
Chewy and not too sweet, dates are a foolproof cookie ingredient. These are so delicious that you'll want to bake several batches so you'll have plenty to give away without depriving your own cookie jar. Get the recipe.
Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies
Honestly, who doesn't love a moist chocolate cookie? These are definitely moist and chocolatey but with the added kick of peppermint, they're a holiday treat that peppermint fans will gobble up. Get the recipe.
Holiday Breakfast Kit
The holidays are a harried, stressful time for most of us. Give a friend a (delicious!) reason to relax with a cup of coffee or tea before hitting the malls for another marathon shopping day by boxing up homemade cinnamon biscuits and a flavorful spread. Get the recipe.
From:
Michelle Edgemont
Cranberry Dacquoise
Fluffy white chocolate mousse layered between light-as-air homemade meringues give this gorgeous dessert a dreamy texture. Hand-deliver this impressive treat to wow the foodies on your gift list. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Coffee and Caramel Pep-Corn
Give crunchy, sweet caramel corn a flavorful kick with the addition of espresso. Package the "pep-corn" in tubes covered with our free printable template for a one-of-a-kind homemade gift. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Maple Nut Toffee
Take the traditional taste of toffee up a notch with the addition of real maple syrup. Topped with a layer of semisweet chocolate, this toffee is so irresistible that you'll want to box it up as gifts quickly before you're tempted to keep it all for yourself. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Tangy Citrus Marmalade
Marmalade is surprisingly simple to make and, canned in pretty jars, it's a holiday gift they'll enjoy for many months to come. Pair your homemade marmalade with a basket of freshly baked croissants or scones for a treat they'll never forget. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Walnut-Rosemary Olive Bread Recipe
Everyone will love this simple yeast bread that's studded with olives, walnuts and fresh rosemary. Once the loaves have cooled, slide them into a paper bag embellished with a stamped tag. Get the recipe.
Lemon-Filled Honey Shortbread
These honey cookies are no ordinary shortbread. They have all the makings of a classic shortbread, but include a textural bite from the corn meal and subtle sweetness of honey. The tart tang of the lemon curd adds a refreshing finish. Get the recipe.
Gooey Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Delight chocoholics on your gift list with these soft-centered cookies that are a snap to bake. Get the recipe.
Salted Caramel Bars
With a crumbly crust topped by rich, gooey caramel, these sweet-meets-salty treats are destined to become a comfort-food favorite. Get the recipe.
Homemade Baked Churros
Treat health-conscious friends to this baked version of the typically fattening (but oh-so-yummy!) Spanish pastry. Get the recipe.
Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies
For many people, classic oatmeal cookies are a nostalgic treat. For holiday gift-giving, try our recipe for a thick, hearty cookie that pairs the clean taste of citrus with chewy dried cranberries. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Simple Homemade Fudge
With just 5 ingredients and 5 steps, this decadent fudge is a snap to make -- and so irresistible that friends and family will ask for more. Get the recipe.
Lemon Lavender Pound Cake
Lemon and lavender taste divine together and the sweet, tart icing adds a wonderful finishing touch. This cake is moist and totally fork-worthy. Make it anytime or save its tangy sweetness for special occasions. Get the recipe.
Chocolate-Dipped Kettle Chips
Coat super-crunchy, salty kettle-fried potato chips with semisweet chocolate and a thin layer of caramel and chopped nuts to create a sweet-meets-salty snack that satisfies all your cravings at once. Get the recipe.
Coconut Hot Chocolate Spoons
Gift friends with a colorful coffee mug and silver teaspoon they just swirl in hot milk to create a delicious homemade hot chocolate. Our free printable tag adds the perfect finishing touch. Get the recipe.
From:
Michelle Edgemont
Herb-Infused Olive Oil
Make your own flavor-infused oils and package in vintage bottles for a personalized gift aspiring chefs will appreciate. Get the recipe.
White Chocolate Truffles
Surprise friends and family with a box-full of these decadent little mouthfuls; they'll think you spent hours slaving away but they're actually easy to make. Get the recipe.
Ale Pretzel Caramels
Brown or pale ale lends these caramels a complex flavor while salty pretzels add just the right amount of crunch. Get the recipe.
Mincemeat Thumbprint Cookies
Mincemeat -- which, don't worry, doesn't actually contain meat -- is a centuries-old holiday favorite. Made with a variety of diced fruits, the flavor is complex and spicy. Surrounded by a rich, crumbly cookie, these little goodies are a perfectly balanced, not-too-sweet treat. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Pear and Fig Tart in a Jar
These fruit-and-cream tarts are simple enough for novice chefs to make, thanks to a pie crust shortcut. Individually portioned in clear glass jars, they're just the right size for holiday gift-giving. Get the recipe.
Tuxedo Cookies
Friends and family will flip for these crunchy, chocolatey cookies filled with rich mascarpone cream and then rolled in mini chocolate chips. The mascarpone cheese makes these cookies unsuitable for shipping; they're best for treating guests in your home or for local delivery. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
Chocolate Stout Pudding
Featuring the rich, complex flavors of Ireland's favorite brew, fill lidded jars with this thick and creamy chocolate dessert to treat friends who enjoy a good pint. Get the recipe.
Tasty Pecan Tassies
These tart-like goodies are the perfect mix of nuts and cookies. Make this traditional holiday treat with real maple syrup; friends and family will love the homey taste. Get the recipe.
From:
Sam Henderson
S'mores Kit
Creatively package scratch-made marshmallows, cookies and chocolate with handmade skewers in a campfire-ready tin. Outdoorsy types will be sure to thank you when they're enjoying hot, gooey s'mores. Get the recipe.
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