It’s that time of year to be thinking about homemade food gifts. Honestly, I think they are the best kind! Sharing your favorites is one way to show you care.
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When time allows I love making homemade food gifts for gifting.
Each year I bake a bunch for my neighbors, but the truth is I love gifting food all year long.
If we are invited to someone’s home I love bringing something I’ve made-whether from fresh garden produce or from my oven.
Why I Love Homemade Food Gifts
Homemade food seems such a luxury on busy days.
I don’t know about you but I love pulling something from the fridge or cupboard that someone took the time to make.
Not only does it tell me I should have them over again soon it reminds me of their thoughtfulness.
Whether it’s a homemade food basket or just a simple jar of pickled jalapenos, everything can be jazzed up to make an extra special gift.
Table of Contents
Homemade Food Gifts for Mexican Food Lovers
With the pickled jalapenos add in a jar of pickled red onions.
Make it extra special and add homemade tortillas, avocados and maybe even a bottle of tequila. Lalo is a great brand to use for Margaritas. For that matter buy some coarse salt and add some limes, orange bitters and agave syrup, and you have just made someone’s day.
Make a big batch of red chile and green chile. Ladle into jars and you have a gift for royalty. Don’t forget the tortillas with this! Or this tortilla warmer!
Homemade Food Gifts for Breakfast Lovers
Who doesn’t love breakfast? Drop any of these off before the weekend and you have just given the gift of luxury to your favorite recipient.
Buy a container of the freshest orange juice and some fresh ground coffee and your gift will never be forgotten!
If you really want to amp up the love, throw in a jar of my most loved granola!
Cranberry or Cherry Chocolate Scones
I’m lucky enough to have this old muffin tin but this one would be perfect for delivering muffins in. And it’s so cute!
Quick breads are an entire category. Whether you lump them under breakfast or give them as a solitary loaf, no one will be disappointed.
Deliver them in this white loaf pan-just make sure it’s the right size for the recipe.
Or use these paper pans and tie a bow around them before delivering! And please forget about those mini loaves. That always feels like cheating to me!
Strawberry Rhubarb Bread gets rave reviews and looks just like Christmas!
Banana Bread with Streusel is also good, plus there are many more quick breads to choose from!
Belgian Dark Chocolate Waffles
Who wouldn’t want a stack of these with real maple syrup? Easily reheatable!
Homemade Food Gifts: Snacks
Semi-homemade Korean Hot Honey Butter Potato Chips
Snacks can serve many purposes whether after school or while watching tv or for a crowd to munch on before dinner. Good snacks require a pretty bowl or basket, a napkin or two, and someone to manage portion control!
Seasoned Salt Biscuit Chex Mix
Homemade Food Gifts: Candy
Chocolate Covered Orange Peels
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Homemade Food Gifts: Cookies
I have over 75 cookie and bar recipes here at TIHIC but these are the most popular.
Original Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies
And my favorite high altitude chocolate chip cookie.
Better Than Pecan Pie Bars
Cranberry Pistachio Shortbreads
Best Shortbread For Decorating
Best Mandel Bread Or Jewish Biscotti with Apricots and Earl Grey
Tips for Cookie Storage:
Allow cookies to be cooled before storage. All baked cookies can be frozen. Do not store crisp cookies with chewy cookies. Store in airtight containers. Use seperate containers for each cookie flavor to prevent flavors from transferring from one cookie to another. Read here for how to freeze cookie dough.
Homemade Food Gifts: Bonus!
Copycat Sweet and Hot Hickory Farms Mustard
Make now because this should cure 5 days. It is so good! Serve with a log of sausage!
Almost 5 Minute Raspberry Rose Jam (No thermometer required)
Easy and Decadent Hot Fudge Sauce
Olive Biscuit Scourtins (Deliver with a great round of cheese and some fresh olives!)
Copycat Effie’s Gluten Free Oatcakes
Mexican Salsa Macha with Cranberries and Pecans
Homemade Food Gifts: Baking Projects
Best Ever Homemade Bialys (Better than Bagels!)
No Knead Cranberry Walnut Bread
Panforte (An Italian fruitcake with cherries, hazelnuts and chocolate! Perfect with some Scotch!)
Any of the baking projects would be wonderful gifted on a wooden board. Perhaps with a bread knife.
Homemade food gifts are so fun to put together. Start with a list, because you don’t want to forget anyone. And then consider Amazon your best friend. They have loads of packaging ideas.
I love these cellophane bags with the sticker saying “handmade”
These clear treat bags are always in my drawer so I have them when needed.
Want something more festive? These boxes with gold stars are perfect for small cookies.
Hope these homemade food gifts inspire you and get you into your kitchen! Have a great holiday and I’d love if you passed this post on. Because, especially in this case, sharing is caring!
I’d love to hear if you make this recipe! Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
David @ Spicedblog
Sunday 8th of December 2024
Wow - what a great collection! I want them all - from the breads to the cookies to the bars. A one stop shop for Christmas deliciousness right here!
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
Friday 6th of December 2024
What perfect gifts, all of them!