Homemade food gifts are fantastic for Christmas—or any time of year, for that matter. It's a wonderful way to say thank you, show your love, and make someone feel special.
Our favorite thing about homemade Christmas food gifts is how much people appreciate them. They're not just a treat to eat—they're an affirmation of how much others care about you. And they make a beautiful presentation, too, especially when you package them in glass jars or other attractive containers.
So, if you're looking for homemade food gifts for Christmas, here are our favorite ideas for what to make and where to find recipes.
1. Sauerkraut For New Year’s
Looking for authentic, delicious Christmas food gift ideas to bring to your family's get-together? Make some sauerkraut. It's healthy, tastes great, and is an easy recipe anyone can follow.
What's more, it's a tradition in Germany that you eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's to bring good luck. Many Germans migrated to the Midwest (Ohio and Pennsylvania) in the 17th and 18th centuries, and they brought their traditions with them. One of these traditions is eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year's. So, if you know someone from the Midwest, giving them a jar of Sauerkraut would be a wonderful gift.
Give this Sauerkraut Recipe a Try! 》
2. Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Skip the trips to the bakery and make your own easy batch of red velvet cookies! They have all the great flavors of red velvet cake in a pretty little cookie. Bonus, you can whip up these tasty treats in under 30 minutes. The ingredients are simple and easy to find, the recipe is quick, and best of all—these little guys bake perfectly!
With a rich red velvet color and delicate chocolatey flavor, these cookies are the perfect gift for Christmas day.
Give this Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies Recipe a Try! 》
3. Candied Pecans For Christmas
Want to make a homemade gift that looks impressive but doesn't take all day? These candied pecans are the perfect solution! They're the perfect blend of sweet and salty goodness, and a million times better than any store-bought kind.
You can whip up these sweet, crusted nuts with just six ingredients, including brown sugar, salt, butter, and pecans. Plus, the recipe takes less than an hour to make for a Christmas gift or for your own holiday table.
Give this Candied Pecans Recipe a Try! 》
4. Christmas Morning Blueberry Jam
Do you want to give something memorable and personal? Blueberry jam is one of the best homemade food gifts for Christmas! It’s inexpensive, can be customized to suit any taste, and the recipient will always remember how much thought went into making that jar just for them.
However, the process of making a blueberry jam can be a bit tricky and challenging for first-timers. To save you time and effort, we've created this simple recipe for a delicious homemade blueberry jam packed with probiotics that you can make at home by following our easy step-by-step instructions.
Give this Blueberry Jam Recipe a Try! 》
5. Lebanese Garlic Sauce (Toum)
Looking for the best Christmas food gift ideas for your foodie friends? Try Toum! It’s creamy, garlicky, and absolutely irresistible. And it just so happens to be a Christmas favorite, too.
Toum is an incredibly popular Lebanese condiment that’s used as a sauce and spread. It's made from garlic, oil, lemon, and salt. It’s so simple to make and tastes amazing with grilled meats and Middle Eastern dishes. We guarantee your friends will love a jar of Toum!
Give this Toum Recipe a Try! 》
6. Christmas Biscotti
Still trying to figure out the right Christmas food gift idea for your friends? How about Biscotti? It is a sweet, crunchy, twice-baked Italian cookie that’s perfect for any event. They have been enjoyed by people in Italy for over 500 years.
Biscotti make an excellent Christmas gift because they travel well and keep for a long time. Ship them in a decorative tin or hand-wrought cookie jar—or even just in snack-sized cellophane bags—and they'll arrive in perfect condition. Bonus—you can even customize your biscotti cookies with add-ins to suit any taste or to make a special treat for any holiday season.
Give this Biscotti Recipe a Try! 》
7. Peppermint Bark
On the hunt for an easy-to-make yet delicious treat to bring to all your holiday parties? Peppermint bark is the solution you've been looking for. It has a smooth chocolate layer that complements the crunchy peppermint, which adds a nice little kick. Peppermint bark is easy to make and can be made in bulk, which is why they're great last-minute gifts during the Christmas season.
Simply combine some candy canes, chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips. It's that easy! This sweet treat will make you feel like you're getting much more than your real holiday cheer.
Give this Peppermint Bark Recipe a Try! 》
8. Blueberry Muffins
The smell of freshly baked muffins is a comfort that brings back memories of childhood Christmases. That's why blueberry muffins are one of the best homemade food gifts for Christmas. For many people, they're a symbol of the season: fresh, warm, and homey.
Moreover, homemade blueberry muffins are simple enough to be made by someone who isn't a trained chef, but special enough that you know they were made with love. They also have the advantage of being able to be made on short notice!
Give this Blueberry Muffins Recipe a Try! 》
9. XO Sauce
XO sauce is a versatile Asian condiment that offers an instant flavor boost and subtle complexity. The perfect amount of ginger adds a spicy warmth to each bite, while the richness comes from soy sauce, dried seafood, aged ham, and oil.
XO sauce can be used to add an extra dimension to soups, sauces, rice, noodles, steamed fish, dumplings, congee, and—you name it! This flavor bomb of goodness is one of the best food Christmas gifts for foodie friends who have probably never tried it before and will absolutely love it.
Give this XO Sauce Recipe a Try! 》
10. Sourdough Starter
This holiday season, give the gift that keeps on giving. Our sourdough starter makes delicious, tangy bread that people love, and it costs less than a case of beer.
It's a great gift for anyone who loves baking sourdough, or wants to try baking it but isn't sure how to start. You'll love watching their face when they receive such a thoughtful present! If you want to take it to the next level, start our San Francisco sourdough starter at home and it can become multiple gifts. Giving a friend a fresh-baked sourdough loaf and a jar of live starter is a foodie Christmas gift that’s hard to beat!
11. Russian Tea Cakes (Snowballs)
If you're looking for a quick, easy recipe to make this Christmas, then the Russian tea cakes are perfect. The Russian tea cake cookies are a classic Christmas cookie recipe with a simple ingredient list and easy-to-follow instructions. They'll melt in your mouth for a delectable finish that's sure to please even the pickiest foodie friends.
Give this Russian Tea Cakes Recipe a Try! 》
12. A Traditional Christmas Fruit Cake
What could be more festive than a fruitcake at Christmas? It's one of those classic Christmas food gift ideas. This traditional food gift has its roots in ancient Roman times when the Romans used to bake sweetened bread with dried fruits and nuts. While the reputation of fruit cake has taken a hit these days, we guarantee that they’ll love this well-baked Christmas fruit cake when they try it.
Fruitcakes are still popular today, but they have changed a lot over time. The original fruitcakes were heavy on fruits and light on nuts, but now they are often made with nuts only or a combination of fruits and nuts. This recipe uses fresh and dried fruit, making it extra festive!
Give this Fruit Cake Recipe a Try! 》
13. Your Own Custom Hot Sauce
Wouldn't it be great if your loved ones could enjoy homemade hot sauce all year round? Unlike store-bought hot sauces, homemade sauce retains the natural ingredients, nutrients, and flavors that are lost in industrial production. This is exactly why our hot sauce makes a wonderful Christmas food gift. Our hot sauce kit contains everything you need to create tasty bottles of hot sauce. All you need to do is add your own fresh ingredients. Bonus—this kit is also great for making sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented vegetables! And you can gift everyone you know bottles of tasty, custom hot sauce for a fraction of the cost of traditional Christmas gifts.
Buy Our Hot Sauce Kit Today! 》
14. Christmassy Pumpkin Pie Spice
Pumpkin Pie Spice is one of the best Christmas food gifts. It’s easy to make, and it keeps well for months in an airtight container—so you can make it weeks ahead of time. And there’s a good chance that your friends and family have only ever had a store-bought mixture. Your custom pumpkin pie spice is sure to wow them.
The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves has been around for centuries. You can use it to make a variety of dishes that are sure to impress anyone on your list.
You can buy pumpkin pie spice in most grocery stores, but making your own is really quite simple. All you need is a jar (or two) of ground spices and a few minutes.
Give this Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe a Try! 》
15. Baechu-Kimchi (Easy Traditional Kimchi Recipe)
Looking to add a little culture to your holiday celebrations? Try baechu-kimchi! It's a traditional Korean kimchi that's spicy, sour, and fermented, which means it's packed with probiotic goodness.
The word kimchi means “soaked vegetable” in Korean. Although there are many different types of kimchi, baechu-kimchi (cabbage kimchi) is the most famous type of kimchi. The main ingredient in baechu-kimchi is Napa cabbage (Baechu). Other ingredients include green onions, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and sea salt.
You don't have to be a Korean grandmother to make your own kimchi. And you don't even need to spend all day stirring in the kitchen—make kimchi the easy way with our Fermented Vegetable Kit!
Give this Baechu-kimchi Recipe a Try! 》
16. Christmas Chocolate Fudgy Brownies
Chocolate fudgy brownies are one of the best Christmas food gifts. They’re so easy to make, and they’re always a hit!
We know we're not alone when we say brownies are our favorite cake. It’s just perfect for every occasion, even if it’s not a special occasion. Whether you want something sweet or want to surprise someone special with a homemade treat, brownies are sure to please everyone!
Give this Chocolate Fudgy Brownies Recipe a Try! 》
17. Gingerbread Man Christmas Cookies
Gingerbread man cookies are the ultimate treat for the holiday season. These delicious, homemade treats are shaped like gingerbread men, so they're almost too cute to eat. Almost.
The recipe is quick and easy to make, and kids will love helping you roll out the dough, cut out shapes and decorate with icing! Gingerbread men might not be the most original Christmas food gift idea, but there’s a reason they’ve been beloved for so long.. Gingerbread men are the epitome of quaint Christmas memories.
Give this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe a Try! 》
18. Buttery Soft Pretzels
Give the gift of a homemade soft pretzel this Christmas. Homemade pretzels are another level of yummy from store-bought ones. They're soft, buttery, and sweet enough to eat plain.
The best part—you can make the perfect homemade soft pretzels from scratch with only a few ingredients, like oil, flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and water. These will be a bit sweeter than typical pretzels and are best dipped in melted butter after baking.
Give this Buttery Soft Pretzels Recipe a Try! 》
19. Kombucha BBQ Sauce
For your next holiday gathering, surprise your loved ones with a new twist on traditional barbecue sauce inspired by the flavors of kombucha. They’ll be thinking of you at every barbecue.
You can make this unique fermented barbecue sauce with some leftover kombucha and our easy-to-follow recipe. This savory sauce is a change from the tomato-based barbecue sauce your friends might be accustomed to. It's sweet, spicy, and savory, and you don't have to use refined sugars or preservatives.
Give this Kombucha BBQ Sauce Recipe a Try! 》
20. Brownie Mix in a Jar
One of the best food gift ideas for Christmas is brownie mix in a jar. It's as delicious as it is easy—all you need is a basic brownie mix and some jars (preferably some cute vintage ones!).
You can put it together in just a few minutes and include easy-to-follow directions for how to bake them. Then, when your friend or family member is ready for dessert, all they have to do is add eggs, butter, and water, stir it up, and wait for the delicious smell emanating from their oven!
Give this Brownie Mix in a Jar Recipe a Try! 》
21. Kefir Cheese Sandwich Spread
We've been experimenting with different recipes for spicy sandwich spreads for a while, and we've finally got one that's just right for this Christmas. It's a simple process that takes about an hour from start to finish, and it will probably surprise your recipients with how good it is.
The only ingredients you need are kefir cheese, fermented hot sauce mash, garlic, onion, and some herbs if you want to make a fancy variety. It'll be the tastiest addition to someone's holiday meal—or even their everyday routine—because they just can't get enough of this savory spread. It’s perfect as a gift or on the Christmas cheese board.
Give this Kefir Cheese Spicy Sandwich Spread Recipe a Try! 》
22. Salmon Rillettes
If you know any Francophile foodies, this is the perfect gift for them. Salmon rillettes is a French spread similar to pâté, but uses shredded salmon instead of meat. The spread is made with fresh herbs and mayonnaise, then blended with lemon juice. This spreadable hors d'oeuvre is perfect on toast or crackers with cornichons (French gherkins).
Give this Salmon Rillettes Recipe a Try! 》
23. Cinnamon Sticky Buns
The next best food gift to give at Christmas is cinnamon sticky buns. They are warm, sweet, and gooey, and the smell alone can make you feel like you're on your own private little holiday. These sweet treats are fairly simple to make at home if you have access to a few basic kitchen supplies. The dough is made with yeast, milk, sugar, and a handful of other ingredients.
The aroma of cinnamon and pecans topped with light corn syrup and unsalted butter is sure to put a smile on anyone's face. It's almost too good to eat—but don’t let that stop you!
Give this Cinnamon Sticky Buns Recipe a Try! 》
24. Homemade Pickles
Homemade pickles are one of the best food gifts to give at Christmas. As foodies, we've tried many different types of pickles over the years, and as food lovers, we think pickles make a great gift. Not only will they add zest to any appetizer, but they also can be used in sandwiches, burgers, and even on their own. They'll provide the perfect crunch and flavor to any meal.
The best part about making them at home is that you can customize your gift to fit your budget and the person you're giving them to.
Give this Homemade Pickles Recipe a Try! 》
25. Chocolate-Dipped Holiday Strawberries
When it comes to giving edible Christmas presents, nothing beats chocolate-dipped strawberries. The combination of sweet strawberries and rich chocolate is the perfect balance of flavors. Strawberries are available year-round, making it easy for you to plan ahead. Plus, the presentation is an added bonus. The plump red berries are just as fun to give as they are to receive. Add some ribbon and a tag, and you've got a really cute homemade gift that's all ready to go!
Give this Chocolate-Dipped Holiday Strawberries Recipe a Try! 》
The Takeaway On Food Gift Ideas for Christmas:
Gifting is a great way to show someone you care. All it takes is a little bit of thought, and you're off to the races! Our favorite things to gift at Christmas are homemade food gifts; they're practically free and make everyone feel like they're visiting home for the holidays. So let's get started with the above easy homemade food gifts for Christmas that are sure to put a smile on anyone's face.
