There’s something extra special about giving Homemade Christmas Food Gifts during the holiday season. It’s a way to share a bit of your heart with family and friends while spreading joy through delicious treats. That’s why I’m excited to share my favorite holiday creations that are perfect for giving and sharing this season.
In This Post
Holiday baking and cooking have become a tradition for me. I love being in the kitchen making homemade food gifts for people that are important to me. Whether it’s the UPS delivery guy, the lawn crew, or anyone who’s done a home improvement project for me, I want to show them just how special they are to me.
Whenever I receive a gift that someone has made, my heart tends to skip a beat just knowing they took the time to make something for me. That’s why I’ve put together this collection of DIY Christmas gifts. From sweet to savory, spicy, and crunchy, there’s something for everyone on your list. Merry Christmas!
Let’s Make A Plan!
Before I dive into the kitchen, I like to make a plan. The “who, how, and how much” is important.
- People: Make a list of people on my gift list.
- Spending: Set a budget. This is important because I want to spread as much love as possible, and I don’t want to get carried away with overpriced ingredients and wrappings.
- Supplies: Shop for all the ingredients and packaging supplies I’ll need, including containers, ribbons, and tags.
How To Package Homemade Food Gifts Beautifully
Wrapping these foodie gift ideas is easy and fun! Whether you make a big batch of cookies a loaf, or two of bread, you’ll want to make your holiday gift special with a few festive touches. Here are a few of my favorite ways to wrap my homemade gifts:
- Cellophane bag – you can buy clear or holiday-themed bags and load them with cookies, candied nut,s or muffins. Tie on a pretty ribbon, and you are set!
- Reuse small bottles – I save small glass bottles and canning jars, then fill them with BBQ sauce and homemade spice blends.
- Cookie tins – most discount stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General sell cookie tins that are great for loading up with cookies, fudge, and nuts.
Muffins And Bread
Apple Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
Apple Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread made with warm spices and sweet apples layered in between buttery dough is a recipe sure to become a family favorite.
Easy Cranberry Orange Quick Bread
Easy Cranberry Orange Quick Bread, is full of tart, fresh cranberries and bright orange zest! This holiday favorite recipe is updated with rich buttermilk and pecans for an outrageously delicious Southern twist.
Eggnog Muffins
Make the holidays sweeter with Eggnog Muffins! Loaded with a double dose of eggnog, in the batter, and in the glazed icing, these cakelike muffins are full of warm cinnamon and nutmeg flavors.
Zucchini Cheese Quick Bread
Warm, savory Zucchini Cheese Bread is super delicious and so easy to make. This no-yeast, quick bread is loaded with cheddar cheese and tender zucchini with just the right amount of garlic. Slather on some butter or enjoy it plain. Either way, you’ll be smitten with this simple recipe!
Homemade Gingerbread Cake
This holiday season, indulge in the warmth and comfort of old-fashioned Homemade Gingerbread Cake! Rich, molasses-infused cake, with bold flavors of ginger and cinnamon, will bring back sweet memories of the holidays with each and every bite.
Blueberry Bread With Lemon Glaze
Loaded with juicy blueberries and topped with a bright, sweet glaze, this quick bread recipe is a welcome treat any time it’s served. Blueberry Bread with Lemon Glaze makes a great grab-and-go breakfast and is perfect for serving with coffee for an afternoon snack.
Glazed Orange Muffins
Glazed Orange Muffins are a sweet way to brighten your day! Made with fresh orange juice and zest, they’re tender and soft with just the right amount of sweetness. These scratch-made muffins are ideal for breakfast, brunch,
Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Bread
Homemade pumpkin bread with a sweet, crunchy pecan streusel topping is a favorite fall treat! It's loaded with warm pumpkin spice flavors and is tender and moist on the inside, making it out-of-this-world delicious.
Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins with Lemon Glaze
This easy, baked-from-scratch recipe makes the BEST Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins with a fresh lemon flavor.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is tender, super-moist, and incredibly delicious! This easy-to-make recipe is full of bananas, and chocolate chips with an added sprinkle of pecans, making it the ideal quick bread for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack, or dessert.
Tips for Making and Storing Edible Gifts
- Choose Recipes That Last Well: When stored properly, treats like spiced nuts, cookies, candies, or jams keep fresh for several days or even weeks. Avoid items that require refrigeration unless you’re delivering them right away.
- Use Airtight Containers: Store your edible gifts in airtight jars, tins, or resealable bags to maintain freshness. Mason jars, festive tins, and decorative boxes work well and add a personal touch.
- Label With A Note: Include a label with the gift name, ingredients (for allergy awareness), and storage instructions. This makes your gift both thoughtful and practical.
- Plan Ahead: Prep your edible gifts a few days before gifting to ensure they are as fresh as possible. If freezing is an option, make treats ahead of time and thaw them before wrapping.
Christmas Cookies And Sweet Treats
Easy Oreo Truffle Balls
Get ready to be the talk of the party with these super easy, no-bake Oreo Truffles. Rich, decadent homemade chocolate cookie truffles are great for parties, a cookie exchange, and to give as a homemade gift.Â
Snowball Cookies
Sweet, lovely Snowball Cookies are the perfect Christmas cookie! Made with just 6 ingredients, these cookies are buttery, loaded with little bits of pecans, and are melt in your mouth delicious.
Ambrosia Macaroon Cookies
These delicious cookies have all the flavors of the classic holiday salad full of pineapple, coconut, and red maraschino cherries. Ambrosia Macaroon Cookies are not only beautiful, they are also an outstanding treat for friends, and neighbors, and perfect for the holidays!
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookies
Soft, chewy with a magical sugary cinnamon topping these Snickerdoodle Cookies are the absolute best! This time-honored recipe is easy to make, too. These cookies are the perfect afternoon treat with a glass of milk, excellent with a cup of coffee or tea, and a wonderful sweet treat for friends and neighbors.
Peanut Butter Balls (Simple And Easy)
Simple and Easy Peanut Butter Balls are a holiday favorite homemade candy! Made with creamy peanut butter and coated in chocolate, they are perfect for serving at parties, on cookie trays, and always a welcome gift for neighbors and friends.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are big, chewy, and bursting with peanut butter flavor! Perfectly baked with oatmeal, butter, cinnamon, and an extra helping of peanut butter, these cookies are seriously delicious.
Coconut Date Balls
Coconut Date Balls are a classic, must make cookie at Christmas. This easy, no-bake, recipe made with dates, pecans, rice cereal, and coconut has just the right amount of sweetness that makes them totally irresistible! They’re the
Kitchen Sink Cookies
Sweet meets savory and brings crunchy along for fun in these ultimate Kitchen Sink Cookies! Crispy edges with a chewy center make these cookies unbelievably delicious. Add a sprinkle of sea salt to finish them off for the perfect unexpected treat bite after bite.
Coconut Macaroons
Beautiful flakes of coconut and four other ingredients is all you need to make these incredible cookies! They are sweet, with a soft, tender center and crispy on the outside. Making a yummy dessert has never been
Savory Snacks
Candied Jalapeños
It doesn’t matter if you call them Candied Jalapeños or Cowboy Candy, this sweet and spicy concoction is downright irresistible! With just a few ingredients, fresh jalapeños are turned into something extra special and perfect with burgers, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, or anything else that suits your fancy.
No-Bake Ranch Fire Crackers
Ranch seasoning and red pepper turn ordinary saltine crackers into a favorite snack. Made in less than 30 minutes, they are an easy no-bake savory treat everyone will love.
Fresh Tomato Relish
Fresh Tomato Relish is full of bright, sweet, and tangy flavors, making it irresistible! Serve it as an appetizer with crunchy bread and cheese, or as a dip with chips. It’s super versatile and makes the best topping for grilled burgers, sausages, chicken, and fish.
Air Fryer Roasted Nuts
Crunchy and perfectly seasoned, Air Fryer Roasted Nuts are a delicious snack, perfect for sprinkling on salads and great for entertaining. Toasting nuts in an air fryer takes a few minutes and is the best way to bring out the most flavor in these heart-healthy treats.Â
Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce Recipe
Tangy, peppery, and loaded with a punch of flavor, Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce will take anything you slather it on to a whole new level! With a beautiful golden color from mustard and a slight sweetness from brown sugar and honey, this sauce takes only 10 minutes to make.
Cheddar & Chive Cheese Ball
It's just not a party without a cheese ball, right? Whether you're having a small gathering or a large get-together, this Cheddar and Chive Cheese Ball is sure to be hit. Serve it with your favorite crackers or fresh veggies for an appetizer that is sure to impress your guests!
Spicy Cheese Cracker Snack Mix
Spicy Cheese Cracker Snack Mix is a homemade treat that’s perfect for parties, game day, or movie night! It’s crunchy, salty, cheesy, and full of flavor with a kick of heat. It’s so much better than store-bought and super easy to make.
Easy Homemade Burger Seasoning
Add the BEST flavor to burgers with this easy-to-make burger seasoning recipe. It only takes a few pantry ingredients and 5 minutes to make a blend that takes a burger from ordinary to extraordinary!
Ranch Dill Pickles (TikTok Recipe)
Ranch Dill Pickles have been blowing up the internet! Turn a jar of dill pickles into something ridiculously good with a packet of ranch seasoning mix. For snacking, appetizers and a must for any summer cookout or party.
How To Make Red Wine Vinegar
Turn leftover wine into a delicious vinegar that's perfect for salads, side dishes, and recipes that need an extra splash of flavor!
Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball
All the incredible flavors of jalapeño poppers rolled into a cheese ball is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s totally scrumptious! Made with cream cheese, cheddar, jalapeños, bacon, ranch seasoning, and chives. This is a simple-to-make appetizer that’s
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce
Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce is tangy, spicy, and is the ultimate sauce when you’re serving pork! Originating in North Carolina, this sauce is easy to make with just 6 ingredients. This traditional sauce is for anyone who takes their pork BBQ seriously.
Sweet And Spicy Roasted Nuts
Irresistible, Sweet And Spicy Roasted Nuts are a terrific appetizer, snack, and a must-make at the holidays! Made with just 6-ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes, these sweet and savory bites are perfect to serve at any gathering.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
Better than anything you can buy in the store, this Homemade Taco Seasoning can be mixed up in minutes! This easy, DIY recipe has deep, savory flavors perfect for tacos, and nachos, grilled meats, and chicken, rice, beans, or anytime you want a punch of flavor.
Honey Mustard Sauce
This homemade Honey Mustard Sauce, made with just 6 ingredients is absolutely THE BEST! It's creamy with a spicy kick that's great as a dip for veggies, wings, fries, or just about anything you can think of. It makes a terrific spread on sandwiches and delicious served with a holiday ham.
Pineapple Bacon Cheese Ball
Crushed pineapple, smokey bacon, and loads of cheese are all turned into a sweet, savory cheese ball that's irresistible!
Hot Honey
Sweet honey, infused with spicy peppers, is easy to make and totally addictive! If you love sweet and spicy flavors, then I’m giving you fair warning…after one taste, you’re going to want to drizzle Hot Honey on just about everything!
Southern Soul House Seasoning
To bring out the best flavor in a dish, cooks around the world know that proper seasoning is essential. Adding flavor to your food can be somewhat intimidating but here’s a trick that I’ve used for years
Yummy Extras To Make And Share
Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet, fluffy Easy Cinnamon Rolls made with a brown sugar cinnamon swirl, and topped with a vanilla cream cheese icing are outrageously delicious!
Candied Pecans
These hard to resist Candied Pecans are easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. They're great for serving as an appetizer with drinks, at parties and are perfect on top of salads, side dishes, and desserts. They also make a wonderful homemade gift for the holidays or when you want to share a little love.
Tiger Butter Fudge
Chocolate, vanilla and peanut butter all swirled together in one beautiful bite! Tiger Butter Fudge is a mix of most everyone’s favorite dessert flavors and is a splendid gift to give friends, neighbors and people you love
Christmas Snack Mix
Christmas Snack Mix is a sweet and salty treat that's so easy to make and is always a favorite at any holiday party! This festive treat is loaded with crunchy ingredients along with just the right amount of chocolate. It's a no-bake goodie that's ideal for gift-giving, movie night and get-togethers.
Mom’s Homemade Fudge
Mom's Homemade Fudge is a rich, chocolaty tradition that everyone loves! It's simple to make with just 5 ingredients and the best treat to enjoy or to give for the holidays!
Blueberry Lemon Scones Recipe
Warm and buttery Blueberry Scones, made with lemon zest and a sweet citrusy glaze, are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast or snack any day of the year! Fresh out of the oven in less than 30 minutes, these scones are mouthwateringly delicious and are hands down better than your local bakery or coffee shop!
Crock Pot Chocolate Pecan Candy
Made with just five simple ingredients, Crock Pot Chocolate Pecan Candy is the perfect sweet treat to make this holiday season. It's easy to prep with a quick cooking time, making it an excellent homemade gift for teachers, neighbors, and special people you can't live without!
Cj
Wanted to make the sausage and cheese bread in smaller loaves for Christmas gifts how long should I cook the bread in mini loaves
I would start checking to see if the loaves are done around the 35 minute mark. Hope this helps. Let me know!
Merry Christmas,
~Donya
Kathi Brill
Thank you so much for your gift to us all. I appreciate all of the recipes and food gifts. This year I have so many family and friends that your gifts are my answer to not having enough money for all of these super family members. Merry Christmas to all.
Thank you so much!
Merry Christmas,
~Donya