Giving away homemade gifts is one of my favourite things about the holiday season, especially if they're consumable!
I live in a small apartment with three wild animals, all of whom have a lot of stuff. Ok, and I've got an entire bookcase dedicated to cookbooks and food photography props. The point is, many of us don't need more junk in our homes. This is why I love homemade gifts, and especially edible gifts. You give them, they get enjoyed, and they're gone! Yay!
You know what else is awesome about edible gifts? They're usually fairly inexpensive to make, not all that time consuming, and you get to be in charge of quality control. Plus you can feel good about sticking it to the man and giving someone a gift that's from the heart, rather than some bogus consumerist junk you bought in a state of complete panic.
There's still plenty of time to roll up your sleeves and make some fabulous edible gifts this holiday season, so let's get down to business!
18 Easy Edible Gifts
1. Homemade Vanilla Extract
Homemade Vanilla Extract is easier than you think. Unless you think it's really ridiculously easy, in which case, you're correct. It needs a bit of time, but there are some tips in the recipe post to get your homemade vanilla extract gift ready. Get into it!
2. Vanilla Salt
Looking for a homemade gift idea that requires two ingredients and about three minutes of your time? Make Vanilla Salt! For real folks, this stuff is amazing. A little sprinkle on top of your favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe will change your life.
Pro tip: you can make vanilla salt with spent beans from making vanilla extract. Two homemade gifts for the price of one!
3. Peppermint Extract
If you think making your own vanilla extract is pretty badass, check this out: my friend Sarah makes her own Peppermint Extract as well! She also includes instructions for making homemade peppermint extract in the Instant Pot, which means you can make it in time for Christmas.
4. Preserved Lemons
My friend Kellie has an incredible Preserved Lemons Recipe that's a super easy gift idea for anyone who loves to cook. They take no time to make, look super impressive, and have lots of delicious uses.
5. Salted Coconut Caramels
If you are looking for a recipe that's vegan, free from refined sugar, and absolutely the bomb dot com, look no further. These Salted Coconut Caramels are made with a triple whammy of coconut, and they are chewy, creamy, and deliciously caramelly. You'd never know they're also vegan; that's just a bonus.
6. Salted Chocolate Honeycomb
I'm a sucker for anything salted (hello, Vanilla Salt!) so of course this Salted Chocolate Honeycomb by Kate of Veggie Desserts jumped right out at me. It's easy to make and an impressive edible gift to give!
7. Turmeric Latte Mix
Overpriced coffee shop turmeric lattes are for suckers! Help your friends live their best lives with this super easy Turmeric Latte Mix. It will take just a couple of minutes to stir together and is an inexpensive and delicious homemade gift. Boom!
8. Double Chocolate Peppermint Cups
Calling all chocolate-mint lovers! These Double Chocolate Peppermint Cups from Trish of Rhubarbarians are a dream come true!
9. Dark Chocolate Bark
This Dark Chocolate Bark is a little bit sweet and a little bit salty. Studded with roasted pistachios and goji berries, it's a festive treat your friends will love to get.
10. Candied Ginger
Have you ever tried making your own candied ginger? It's way easier than you think, and it's a beautiful homemade gift if you ask me! This recipe is from fellow Stockholmer Emmeline of Always Use Butter.
11. Maca Latte Mix
Make your own superfood Maca Latte Mix to cozy up with at home or give away as edible gifts. It's packed with the adaptogenic benefits of maca, naturally sweetened, and totally vegan. Also: delicious.
12. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Dark chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven, and you can bring it to life with these homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Or use an alternate nut butter like pumpkin seed or homemade almond butter!
13. Spicy Roasted Cashew Nuts
Who doesn't love roasted nuts? Nobody, that's who! These Spicy Roasted Cashew Nuts by Bintu from Recipes From a Pantry make a fantastic edible gift.
14. Homemade Granola
Don't forget about granola! Granola makes for an awesome homemade gift or hostess gift this holiday season. I love this Maple Apple Granola, or you could make this Healthy Pumpkin Granola for a seasonal riff. Just stick it in a cute jar, put ribbon on it, and pow! Your edible gift game is strong!
15. Healthy Vegan Nutella
Got a Nutella lover in your life? Make a batch of this amazing Vegan Nutella recipe! Made with roasted hazelnuts, sweetened with dates, and lots of deep, dark cocoa, this stuff is nothing short of amazing.
16. Vanilla Almond Butter
Homemade nut butters are easier than you think, and this Vanilla Almond Butter is one of my faves. It only takes about 10 minutes to make and minimal effort on your part, so it's a perfect edible gift!
17. Pumpkin Seed Butter
Since we're talking nut butters, I definitely have to mention this bright green Pumpkin Seed Butter. It's deliciously different, and allergy-friendly to boot.
18. Oven Roasted Almonds
And lastly, why not keep things super simple with a batch of Oven Roasted Almonds? Sometimes the things that seem so simple they're silly actually make the best gifts.
Joyce
This list reminded me of the stuffed dates my mother-in-law used to make and the tradition I've tried to continue. I forgot about them last year and my oversight had to be quickly rectified. Fortunately, it is easy to do. We always use the smaller pitted deglet dates. If you want more, just eat another one, but with so many other goodies to pick on, I go with the smaller size. Certainly, the larger medjool dates could probably also be used. Directions: pry open the date, insert peanut butter of choice, and then roll the stuffed date in sugar. We are going to our daughter's in Columbus, Ohio this year (an 8 hour drive), so I must make a batch to take.
Katie Trant
Yum, those dates sound delicious! I bet they'd be good dipped in chocolate too!
Emmeline
I LOVE this list - so many great recipes (and thanks for including my candied ginger!) - especially so obsessed with the preserved lemons, need to try my hands at thoat one day or another...
Loved to hear that you're in Stockholm as well - hope you're enjoying the pretty snow we got yesterday. I'm crossing my fingers that it stays over Christmas 🙂
kellie@foodtoglow
We are rather stripped back in our approach to Christmas too. No small kids in the house anymore so we are no longer knee deep in torn paper on the big day. But even when I felt compelled to buy loads of stuff I always made gifts too. Such a wonderful feeling to make things up, wrap them nicely (or as nice as I can manage given my terrible fine motor skills) and give them to people you love. This idea of sharing your fellow bloggers healthy edible gifts is such a terrific one. Thanks so much for including my very humble sweet and spicy much mix. I LOVE the look of everything and will perhaps decide on something from here to add to the preserved lemons and limes, pomegranate vodka and Middle Eastern spice mix kits I am making up this year.
Katie Trant
Oooooh, pomegranate vodka! Middle Eastern spice kits! How I wish I was on your gift-giving list! I hope you'll be posting recipes for some of these treats on your site, which is the next best thing!
Ceri@naturalkitchenadventures
Fab list Katie - thanks for including mine! Lots of lovely healthy ideas for gifts this year! Love it!!
Katie Trant
Love the looks of your chocolates, Ceri!
Erika
Ahh Katie all of these are so good!! I've been meaning to try Kylie's black bean mix and omg that raw chocolate! Vegan hot chocolate! Lemon cranberry loaf! Chai granola! And I really HAVE to get on your homemade vanilla extract--such a great gift. This is all such excellent gift-giving inspiration--thanks so much for including me!! <3 <3
Erika
Oh by the way--Janet let me know that the macaron link didn't work for her, and it's not working for me either. I think it's the only one though--all the other ones I tried worked 🙂
Katie Trant
Thanks for letting me know! I'm not sure why it wasn't working, but I've fixed it now!
easyfoodsmith
Fabulous edible gifts...i too believe in giving edible gifts to my friends and family. I am especially fond of giving pickles and preserves. I will soon be sharing a winter vegetable preserve recipe on my blog 🙂
Emma @ Bake Then Eat
What a great list, I love giving and receiving foodie gifts and you have some great ideas here 🙂
Katie Trant
Thanks Emma! Lots of inspiration for myself as well!
Jess
What a great list! I LOVE Gena's hot chocolate mix!
Katie Trant
Doesn't it look fabulous?!
Deena Kakaya
The ALL look so good! I almost smacked my forehead at the sight of the macaroons. I need them now. I really, really do. x
Katie Trant
Don't those look fab? And she makes them seem so easy too!
Alissa
Every year I find myself seeking out homemade gift ideas, and edible ones are my favorites too! Lots of awesome ideas here - I hope to put a few of them to good use. Thanks so much for including my red wine cranberry nut bread.!
Katie Trant
Your bread looks so great! I never would have thought to include red wine in a sweet bread, but there you go!
Kylie @ immaeatthat
Oh yummm for all of these. Especially that hot chocolate mix with nutmeg and cinnamon. AND the pancake mix...love that idea! Thanks for including me!!
Katie Trant
So many great ideas! Thanks for sharing your cookie dough gift, Kylie!
Linda @ Veganosity
Thank you for including our cranberry bread in this amazing list!!! I'm definitely trying your homemade vanilla extract, and the flax macarons, oh my gosh, Alex will be sooooo happy! 🙂
Katie Trant
Love your loaf, Linda!
The flax macarons aren't vegan so not sure Alex will be into them, but if egg whites are okay then definitely make them. They look so good!
Linda @ Veganosity
Oh darn!!! My brain was thinking vegan so I must have glanced past that ingredient. Oh well, there are plenty of other great recipes I can try. Thanks Katie.
Jess
What a great list, Katie - so glad to be included! I love all these ideas, and I'm with you, I'd much rather have something homemade to enjoy through the holidays. Mmmmm...and you remind me that I've been meaning to try that Better Than Nutella....
Katie Trant
The Better Than Nutella is sooooo good! I've been eating it out of the jar with a spoon!