This holiday season, consider giving the gift of homemade food! Food gifts are delicious, most importantly, yet also a frugal way to show your family and friends how much you love them!
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Food gifts are like getting a care package under the Christmas tree… or in birthday wrapping… or whatever the occasion may be.
That’s not the only reason food gifts are so special. They’re consumable and don’t contribute to clutter or waste. They are economical and thrifty, especially for those of us with tight budgets amidst soaring inflation. You can also make a big batch at a time, gifting goodies to many loved ones all for the price of ingredients and one afternoon (or less!) in the kitchen!
Finally, food gifts are easily suited to dietary restrictions, as you will notice in the recipes below.
I don’t know about you, but it feels like a luxury surpassing all luxuries to enjoy homemade, delicious food without making it myself. Image may be NSFW.
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How to Package Your Food Gifts
The thrift store is your friend!
- Pretty much everything looks lovely in a jar! Save your mayo and jam jars year-round, and you’ll have plenty for holiday gifting.
- In a plastic baggie (not the zip-top kind), tied with a ribbon or twine.
- Save brown paper bags throughout the year to repurpose as gift bags. Attach a sprig of greenery, cinnamon sticks, a beautiful Christmas-themed photo, or a dried orange to the front or one of the handles.
- Load up secondhand baskets from the thrift store with goodies. The recipient will enjoy their treats, and a basket! You can do themed baskets, too, like a movie night basket with popcorn seasoning and movie tickets!
- Thrifted mugs and vases can also make good gifting containers, depending on the size and shape.
- Check your local thrift store for festive tins and fill them with cookies!
Here are other sweet packaging ideas.
Food Gifts
I’ve labeled each recipe according to its special diet so you can easily choose the right recipe(s) for your loved ones.
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Meals (Breakfast or Dinner)
- 5-Minute Soaked Muesli Recipe — Make a large batch of muesli with all your favorite add-ins, and package the dry mix in individual servings for gifting! The recipient will simply add water and soaking acid the night before they want to enjoy some. Gluten-free if using gluten-free oats, with dairy-free and nut-free versions.
- Chocolate Paleo Granola (raw with living enzymes!) — Gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free if the recipient uses dairy-free milk.
- Soaked Granola Recipe (raw & enzyme-rich!) — Gluten-free if using gluten-free oats, dairy-free.
- 12-Bean Soup Mix for Gifts — Choose the options that suit your dietary needs. This mix can be completely grain-free or only gluten-free.
Sweet Treats
After perusing the selection of goodies below, you might take a look at these 60+ homemade candy recipes or these 25+ homemade marshmallow recipes!
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Candies, Fudge, Truffles, Etc.
- Chocolate Nut Butter Cups — Dairy-free, grain-free, GAPS.
- Sea Salt & Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds— Grain-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free depending on the chocolate chips used.
- 3-Ingredient Homemade Honey Candy Recipe — GAPS, Paleo.
- Homemade White Chocolate Candy — Grain-free with a sugar-free variation.
- Marbled Fudge — Dairy-free, grain-free.
- Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles — These grain-free truffles are hand-rolled and charmingly rustic!
- Chai Chocolate Truffles — Nut-free, egg-free.
- Coconut Oil Chocolate Fudge Recipe — Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto, vegan.
- Peppermint Pattie Coconut Bark (plus, Almond Joy Version!) — Grain-free, dairy-free, nut-free (if making the peppermint pattie version).
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Cookies
- Allergy-Friendly Cookies {1 Dough, 16+ Variations!} — Paleo, grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, with an egg-free version.
- Chewy Chocolate Coconut Cookies (Oh-So-Dippable!) — Grain-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and easily dairy-free. Paleo and GAPS-friendly.
- Allergy-Friendly White Chocolate Peppermint Snowballs — No nuts, peanuts, dairy, eggs, soy, grains, or gluten in this recipe!
- Cocoa Almond Crumbles — Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free.
- Sprouted Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies — A Tollhouse copycat recipe! Dairy-free with an egg-free version.
- Orange Ginger Cookies — Dairy-free option.
- Spicy Chocolate Gingersnaps — Gluten-free, egg-free.
- Fruit and Nut Christmas Cookies — WAPF-friendly.
- Maple Cookies — WAPF-friendly.
- Mama’s Pecan Tarts — WAPF-friendly.
- No-Bake Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Cookie Bites — Grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free.
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Marshmallows
- Naturally Sweetened & Nourishing Chocolate Marshmallows— Grain-free, dairy-free, Paleo.
- Chocolate Honey Sweetened Marshmallows — Grain-free, dairy-free, Paleo.
- Chai Spiced Maple Marshmallows — Grain-free, dairy-free, Paleo.
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Savory Snacks
- Sprouted Spelt Crackers — WAPF-friendly.
- Soft & Chewy Pretzels — Can you imagine receiving a giant soft pretzel for Christmas?! The stuff of dreams!
- Homemade Sprouted Spelt Biscuits — WAPF-friendly.
- Grain-Free Almond Sunny Seed Crackers — Grain-free, dairy-free, GAPS-friendly.
- Just-Like-the-Movie-Theater Homemade Popcorn — Gluten-free, dairy-free.
- 26 Sourdough Bread Recipes — Some of the very best sourdough bread recipes. I guarantee you will find one to love.
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Seasonings & Flavorings
A perfect gift for those cooks who love to add a little pizzazz to their dishes.
- Dry Brine Turkey Mix — Gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo.
- Homemade Za’atar Seasoning (Middle Eastern Spice Blend)
- Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
- Homemade Herb Seasoning Salt (Similar To Herbamare)
- Traditional Chinese Five Spice Powder
- Herbal Vinegars
- Homemade Vanilla Extract (best flavor & cost effective!)
- Homemade Vanilla Extract — An alcohol-free version!
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Condiments
- Homemade Chestnut Jam — Gluten-free, vegan. Here’s the easiest way to peel chestnuts!
- Garlic Chili Sauce — A perfect blend of garlic, spice, and a touch of smokey sweetness!
- Fermented Honey Jalapeño Hot Sauce — Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free.
- How To Make Cinnamon-Infused Honey — Just two ingredients, honey and cinnamon!
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Drinks
- Hot Chocolate Mix with Honey-Sweetened Marshmallows — This recipe includes a FREE printable page for gift tags! Gluten-free and Paleo.
- Pumpkin Spice Creamer — Gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo.
- Warming Turmeric Ginger Latte Mix (Golden Milk Latte)— Creamy, sweet, and gently spiced, this turmeric latte mix is the perfect cozy drink for bedtime or chilly days! Dairy-free, Vegan, Paleo, and even Whole30 friendly!
- Chai Tea Gift Mixes
What are your favorite foods to give as gifts? Or the most memorable food gifts you have received? Please share in the comments below!
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