15 Easy Recipes for Delicious Homemade Food Gifts (2024)

There are few gifts you can give that are more thoughtful than something you made from scratch—and if it's edible, even better. The great thing about homemade food gifts is that they've got mass appeal: A sweet treat is perfect for parents, friends, teachers, and colleagues alike.

Food gifts also check lots off your list at once. You can bake a big batch of biscotti or blondies, drop them in baggies, and seal them with bows in less time than it would take you to find a parking spot at the mall during the holidays. With homemade edible gifts, everyone gets taken care of with minimal money spent—though there are free gift ideas if you're low on cash.

Whether your loved one likes homemade granola and hot cocoa mix or prefers a skillet cookie cake or spice rub, there are several delicious food gift recipes here we know they'll devour.

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Chocolate-Oat-Date Bars

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There are so many reasons to gift these sweet treats, but first and foremost, know that these bars can stand up to being shipped in the mail without breaking. The date center won't get soggy, either. Whatever you do, make sure to bake an extra batch for yourself—they're just that good!

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Blueberry Jam

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This sweet spread will taste delicious on Christmas morning. Prep it ahead of time so you can drop a jar in everyone's stocking. And if strawberry is more their jam (get it?), go for it.

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Almond Biscotti

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These biscotti treated are studded with almonds and make the perfect Christmas present cookie.

Cheese Platter

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Cheese and crackers arranged on a platter make a great pre-dinner nibble with a glass of something bubbly.

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All-Purpose Spice Rub

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For the pitmaster in your life, this is the perfect present. It's sweet, salty, and smoky, and making it from scratch means no preservatives or additives.

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Sugar Cookie Dough

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You can give this edible gift all season long—start with a Hanukkah-party host. You can give the sugar cookies already made, but you don't even need to bake the dough. Shape it into a log, wrap it in wax paper, and refrigerate or freeze overnight before packaging and presenting.

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Easy Toss-and-Bake Granola

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This easy-to-make food gift recipe for almond and coconut granola is delicious, nutritious, and only takes 10 minutes of hands-on time. Bake, let cool, then toss into baggies and tie with a bow for a sweet stocking stuffer.

Italian Thumbprint Cookies

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The name says it. This cookie dough recipe makes the best thumbprint cookies (fill them with fruit jam or chocolate). You could also use this recipe to make biscuits, slice and bake cookies, drop cookies, or even cut-out cookies. Grab some festive jam or frosting and go to town decorating!

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Pan Roasted Olives

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Infused with lemon, these olives jazz up a martini or spice up an ordinary appetizer platter.

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Spicy Parmesan Crackers

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You'll have fun watching these Parmesan crackers brown in the oven. A sprinkle of paprika and cayenne makes the crackers a spicy, gift-worthy treat. To add a custom flair, break the crackers into uneven pieces, stack them, then wrap them in bunches to give with your favorite cheese.

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Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

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Kids and adults alike will go gaga for this chocolatey treat. Warn your loved ones: the satisfying crunch (and super sweet flavor) of these rice crispy treats are seriously delicious.

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Skillet Cookie Cake

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This cookie cake is deliciously forgiving, which is to say, you can mix in any type of chocolate, caramel, nut, or confection your loved one likes. Customizing the candy to their personal preferences is a sweet way to show how much you care.

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co*cktail Simple Syrup

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The sweet simple syrup is a great base for co*cktails (vodka, gin, or bourbon), especially an old fashioned. To make a holiday version, add 1/2 ounce of the syrup, a piece of grapefruit zest, 3 dashes of bitters and 3 ounces of bourbon to a shaker full of ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass, and then top with 1 tablespoon of club soda and garnish with a piece of zest from the syrup jar.

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Honey Nut Popcorn

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This sweet, salty honey nut popcorn's just the thing for holiday gifting. They can serve this food gift as an appetizer, dessert, take-home treat, or all of the above—or keep it for themselves.

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Ginger-Apple Chutney

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Sweet and tangy ginger-apple chutney works well with chicken and seafood and keeps for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

15 Easy Recipes for Delicious Homemade Food Gifts (2024)

FAQs

What are good foods to give as gifts? ›

Popular food gifts under $50 might include a box of chocolates, a trio of jams or sauces, special honey, or a truffle-infused oil. If you're open to spending over $50, you can gift luxurious options, including a complete NYC brunch spread, a box of specialty foods, or a collection of high-end olive oils.

What food gifts don't go bad? ›

Low-Acid Canned Goods. According to the FSIS, canned foods with a low acid content, like meat, beans, peas, soups, or vegetables (or our favorite, canned tuna), will keep anywhere from two to five years. High-acid canned goods like tomato sauce and canned fruit will keep up to 18 months.

Do you think homemade food is a good gift to give? ›

Homemade gifts help to create a personal attachment that comes from the heart. Perfect for any occasion, it's easy and safe to give and carries a lot of love and emotions with it. No matter how expensive and rare a gift is, it can never beat a delicious dish made with love.

How to make easy gifts at home? ›

Start creating your perfect DIY project now:
  1. Photo Book. A photo book is the ultimate DIY gift. ...
  2. Custom Cheese Board. Have a friend who loves to host dinner parties? ...
  3. Photo Puzzles. ...
  4. DIY Tote Bags. ...
  5. Playing Cards. ...
  6. DIY Birthstone Bracelet. ...
  7. Photo Blanket. ...
  8. Reusable Shopping Bag.
Oct 4, 2023

What is the most sought after handmade item? ›

Jewelry. If you check any popular handmade marketplace, you'll consistently find jewelry among the most popular handmade items. There are so many things that make custom jewelry appealing to both sellers and buyers.

What is the number 1 most loved food? ›

popularity is the % of people who have a positive opinion of a american dish. Find out more
  1. 1 Mashed potatoes86%
  2. 2 French Fries86%
  3. 3 Hamburgers85%
  4. 4 Cheeseburger83%
  5. 5 Grilled Cheese82%
  6. 6 Steak and Baked potato82%
  7. 7 Hash browns82%
  8. 8 Fried Chicken82%

What are the 5 things to gift? ›

What is the five gift rule? In the five gift rule, the first four gifts are pretty straightforward - something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Then, the last gift is where you can really have fun.

What is the most loved food item? ›

Pizza has rightfully earned its place as the world's most beloved food. This Italian creation has become a staple in numerous countries, with endless variations to suit every taste bud. Whether you prefer thin crust or deep dish, classic Margherita, or loaded pepperoni, pizza has something for everyone.

What are the 6 foods that never expire? ›

A closer look at 6 foods that never expire:
  • Honey.
  • Sugar.
  • Vanilla Extract.
  • White Rice.
  • Salt.
  • Vinegar.
4 days ago

What is not a good gift? ›

Bad Gift #1: The Too-Practical Gift

Practical presents such as basic clothing, personal hygiene products or utility items like ironing boards and toasters aren't necessarily bad (you did pay attention to your loved one's needs, after all), but they definitely won't be talked about for years to come.

What food is worth making at home? ›

Bread but not butter: which foods are worth making from scratch?
  • Pickles and preserves: worth making. View image in fullscreen. ...
  • Salami: buy it. ...
  • Stock: worth making. ...
  • Ice-cream: buy it. ...
  • Yoghurt and fresh cheese: worth making from scratch. ...
  • Butter: buy it. ...
  • Hummus: worth making from scratch. ...
  • Puff pastry: buy it.
Mar 12, 2024

Why handmade gifts are the best? ›

Items that are handmade often use less energy and natural resources to produce than items made on a mass-production assembly line. Keeping the process small and local ensures that the footprint of a handmade item is minimised. This year it also means your Christmas presents are not stuck in a container!

Do people appreciate handmade gifts? ›

It requires time and effort, and that shows how much you care. Even if you're not the one making the item, you have put thought into the gift, and anyone is sure to appreciate that. They're Unique- In contrast to objects made by machines, items made by a real person are always different from one another.

What is the most common gift to give? ›

These are the top five most popular gift categories this year:
  • Clothing.
  • Gift cards.
  • Toys.
  • Books, video games and other media.
  • Food and candy.
Dec 21, 2023

What is a good gift to gift someone? ›

To help you out, we've curated a list of the most thoughtful gift ideas for any recipient or occasion—including useful gadgets like high-tech coffee mugs and headlamps; entertaining puzzles and custom astrology books; and subscription boxes that deliver new treats month after month.

Why DIY gifts are the best? ›

Handmade gifts are the perfect way to show that special someone just how much you care for them without having to spend a lot of money. Not only do they demonstrate your creative skills, but handmade items can be tailored specifically to the receiver's individual preferences and style.

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