40 Creative Food Gift Ideas For Christmas

The holidays are a time to indulge. From egg nog to gingerbread to holiday ham, there’s no shortage of sweet and savory delights. Not only are these foodie favorites perfect for the dinner table—but they make equally great gifts. Putting the time and effort into baking or cooking a dish that will soothe their soul can be thoughtful (not to mention inexpensive).

We gathered 40 of our favorite holiday treats—from easy mason jar granola to decadent sweet bread. Once you’ve picked the perfect recipe, choose your favorite custom Christmas card to tie the gift together. The best part? No culinary degree required!

1. Whiskey Caramel

A jar of this rich caramel sauce adds depth to a variety of sweet treats—perfect for any chocolate lover in your life!

2. Thankful For You Neighbor Gift

Bring the love into your community this holiday season with a sweet homemade gift that your neighbors are sure to appreciate all year long. You can use a custom gift tag or include a Christmas photo card to add a bit of holiday charm.

3. Salted Chocolate Pistachio Shortbread

This sweet and salty shortbread is the perfect gift for co-workers. Make a huge batch to bring to the office or next neighborhood cookie swap.

4. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Peanut Butter

Not sure what to get someone who loves both salty and sweet treats? Look no further. This gift is the perfect mash-up of deliciousness!

5. Eggnog and Almond Scones

Help your loved ones channel a Christmas celebration every morning with a batch of these festive and comforting breakfast treats.

6. Cherry Almond Jam

Delight the PBJ connoisseurs in your life with a unique new jam to add into their rotation. This tart spread pairs wonderfully with a smear of almond butter.

7. Five Spice Fig Jam

Got a bagel lover in your life? This holiday jam pairs great with cream cheese or leftover turkey for a sandwich that’s truly out of this world.

8. Frozen Cookie Dough Gift Jars

Frozen Cookie Dough Gift Jars christmas gift

Source: No. 2 Pencil

Gift a sweet friend a future full of cookies with these easy freezer treats. They’ll thank you now- and thank you again later! You can even host a Christmas cookie exchange so all of your family and friends walk away with treats. Don’t forget to include a DIY Christmas card to thank everyone for coming.

9. Homemade Cornbread Mix

This is the perfect present for the busy chef that loves home cooking but is short on time. Give the gifts of both deliciousness and convenience with a beautifully packaged homemade bread mix.

10. Homemade Marshmallows

These gooey treats are the perfect stocking stuffer for campers and hot cocoa lovers alike. You can make a big batch to give alone or pair it with a custom photo mug and cocoa mix.

11. Shake and Bake Buttermilk Waffle Mix

Gift a busy family the comfort of a Sunday morning breakfast, minus the hassle and mess, with a big jar of buttermilk waffle mix.

12. Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Movie lovers will be delighted with a big tin of this crunchy treat to snack on during their favorite flicks.

13. Billionaire Bars

Make everyone in your life feel like a million bucks with a big batch of these heavenly treats chock full of caramel, chocolate, shortbread, and peanut butter. Pair it with a DVD or gift card to their favorite streaming service.

14. Amish Friendship Bread

Gift your neighbors a thick loaf of this sweetly spiced quick bread, and watch the holiday cheer blossom all year long.

15. Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter

Give your caffeine lovers a new way to get their daily fix with this deliciously buzzy butter. It pairs perfectly with oatmeal, apples, ice cream, graham crackers…the list goes on and on!

17. Lump of Coal Snack Sacks

Lump Of Coal Snack Sacks christmas gift

Source: Eighteen 25

This is a silly and sinful treat for all the rogues and rascals in your life who can’t seem to stay off the naughty list! Make it using just four ingredients (and one isn’t coal). This food idea can also double as a prize idea for a variety of Christmas party games!

18. Homemade Holiday Lollipops

Homemade Holiday Lollipops christmas gift

Source: Just A Taste

These gorgeous glass-like lollipops are the perfect classroom favor. With only two ingredients, they are super easy to make, and children can help customize them for a truly original touch. These also make perfect gifts for stuffing family Christmas stockings.

19. Flavored Finishing Salts

Gift the budding chef in your life this flavorful palette to paint with in the kitchen. Try different flavors and include pairing cards so they know which salts work with meat, poultry, and fish.

20. Homemade Barbecue Sauce Bottles

There’s no better way to show your love for your favorite pitmaster than a gift of tangy, sweet, and spicy sauces, which will have him eagerly anticipating the return of grilling season!

21. Cinnamon Honey Butter

When it comes to finding an easy, delicious hostess gift for the holiday season, this cinnamon honey butter is the bee’s knees!

22. White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn and Cashews

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn+Cashews christmas gift

Source: Foodie Crush

Skip the generic store tins of popcorn this season and surprise everyone with a delicious homemade version that’s sure to please. For a fun gift basket, include a matching Christmas card design with colorful popcorn.

23. Hot Chocolate Truffles

All the cocoa lovers in your life will be delighted with this unique take on the classic drink. Just drop the balls into a cup of warm milk and sip away the winter chill!

24. Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce christmas gift

Source: Whitney Bond

Surprise a pasta lover with a distinctly different sauce to pair with his next spaghetti dinner. The creamy butternut squash adds an extra layer of comfort perfect for the winter months.

25. Strawberry Chia Jam

Spread joy this holiday season with a vegan friendly jam that tastes like summer in a jar. Swap for any favorite berry or try a winter version like boysenberry.

26. Brown Sugar Pound Cake

This tasty cake is bursting with blueberries and is the perfect way to say thanks this season to teachers and caretakers.

27. Homemade Granola Gifts in a Jar

Show your workout buddies how much you appreciate them with these homemade granola jars. Healthy and flavorful, it will give them a perfect jumpstart to the new year.

28. Southwest Blend and Taco Seasoning Mixes

With these zesty spice blends, your gift recipients will be able to live every day like it’s Taco Tuesday—and who could ask for anything more?

29. Easy Vegan Almond Joy Fudge

Vegan and non-vegans alike will go wild over this creamy and gooey fudge that tastes just like the beloved candy bar.

30. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter

Keep pumpkin spice latte lovers happy after autumn with this heartwarming and delicious butter. Pair it with homemade biscuits or savory crackers do they can dive right in.

31. Easy Winter Chili in a Jar

Easy Winter Chili christmas gift

Source: Weelicious

This is the perfect quick and easy gift for football lovers. They can throw it in the pot on a chilly Sunday and enjoy the game as the scent of yum wafts through the house.

32. Friendship Soup

Show your friends how much you care with this hearty soup mix that will feed them well during the cold winter months.

33. Homemade Honey Graham Crackers

Make your office a little more merry by gifting colorful afternoon snack boxes of this classic treat. Wrap them in simple brown paper and twine for a rustic look that’s easy to put together. These make for the perfect personalized Christmas gift.

34. Spicy Salsa Gifts

Chile enthusiasts and pepper heads will delight in these spicy salsas bursting with fresh ingredients. Make them in a variety of heat levels so you can please every tastebud on your shopping list.

35. Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread christmas gift

Source: Chef Savvy

A hearty loaf of homemade bread chock full of cinnamon is the perfect rise and shine treat for breakfast lovers to enjoy.

36. Chocolate Pudding in a Jar

Chocolate Pudding In A Jar christmas gift

Source: Whipperberry

For the chocolate lover who needs a quick fix, having these decadent desserts in the fridge will be a dream come true.

37. Fig Vanilla and Cardamom Infused Vodka

Impress even the most discerning cocktail aficionado with a bottle of this uniquely spiced vodka. Make a simpler version by using orange rings, berries, or other single ingredients.

38. DIY Hot Cocoa Gift Set

Hot chocolate with toppings in mug

These rustically wrapped gift sets will be the perfect hostess present this holiday season. Gifting loved ones with everything they need for a hot chocolate bar is an easy and thoughtful gift idea. Pair it with a tea towel and personalized Christmas cards for the gourmand in your family.

39. Spiced Candied Orange Peel

For the friend who loves sweet treats but isn’t crazy about chocolate, this candied orange peel is a colorful, flavorful alternative.

40. Peppermint Bark Chocolate Chex Mix

Crunchy? Check. Chocolatey? Check. This snack mix is a perfect stocking stuffer for everyone on your list. Add in some salty with pretzels or salted peanuts so you nail every layer of flavor.

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a decadent treat? Pair your goodies and stocking stuffers by creating photo Christmas cards online. This makes for the perfect care package for friends, in-laws, or coworkers.