![Holiday Food Gift Ideas To Make](https://www.nutritionbyrachel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1_college2Bnutritionist2Brachel2Bpaul2Bholiday2Bfood2Bgifts2Bto2Bmake.jpg)
‘Tis the season. The holidays are always filled with so much joy. I love spending time with those that I love and one of the best ways to show that love is through thoughtful gifts. There is a lot of pressure to spend a certain amount on people or to ensure children have lots of presents to unwrap. But for me, some of my most fondly remembered gifts are those that have been handmade by my loved ones. So why not consider making some of your gifts this holiday season?
One great idea is to give edible gifts this holiday season. This means less waste as people will actually consume their holiday gifts, rather than just putting them away in a cupboard somewhere. And food can bring so much joy, it makes the perfect gift. It’s also great for those distant relatives that you don’t know much about. How many people don’t like hot chocolate? It’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll be able to make something delicious that they’ll love.
Another consideration during the holidays is the amount we spend. From gifts to people we don’t see the rest of the year, expensive wrapping and unwanted gifts, the costs add up. Making, rather than purchasing, your gifts this year will not only make your gifts more personal, it can save you a lot of money. Simple ingredients, beautiful gift tags and a festive ribbon come together to make the ultimate gift without the expensive price tag.
Speaking of wrapping, once you’ve decided what you want to make, think about how you’ll present it. A lot of things can be done with a mason jar and some beautiful ribbon! But also consider getting some brown paper, twine, even twigs of holly to add to parcels! Keep a consistent color theme throughout with red, white and neutrals will help make the gifts look extra special.
Stuck for food gift ideas? I’ve pulled together a list of holiday treats that you can make giveaway as food gifts to your nearest and dearest. It’s a great idea to have a test run on these first and share with your friends before making the actual gifts. Remember, you want to wow your friends and family with these gifts, so spend a bit of time making sure you understand the recipe, you’ve got the right ingredients and tools and that you like the results! Time to get creating and baking!
Holiday Food Gift Ideas To Make
Macaron Baubles
Try this recipe to make stunning baubles that are actually delicious macarons! These are a great idea for kids or to cheer up any room as you can make them bright and colorful. Or bring the ingredients with you and have fun with the kids making and piping them with beautiful designs. It might take some time to get a hang of the piping but enjoy the process or get some practice in first.
Homemade Dog Treats
Don’t forget your furry friends either. They’re a part of our lives, so they should be a part of our festive season too! You can try making these simple dog treats to give to the four-legged family members on Christmas day. Make sure you store them in an airtight container or the family pet might take a sudden interest in all the packages under the tree!
Festive Gin
You can easily infuse your own festive gin to bring the party atmosphere to your house this holiday season! This is a great recipe here. You can either give this as a gift or offer to make festive cocktails for everyone. Make sure you’ve got plenty of snacks on hand and that no one is driving home after a few of these. Let’s all stay safe this holiday season!
White Chocolate Lollipops
White chocolate is a festive favorite. The white just reminds me of making snowmen! These lollipops are a great way to bring the crisp snow inside without the chill in the air! Make sure you seal them and keep them cool. Nothing worse that watching lollipops or snowmen melt! You can use a variety of clear and colored cellophane as well as mixing up the ribbons to personalize each gift.
Polar Bear Cookies
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a pastry chef who’s handy with piping icing, you’ve got to try these cookies. It might take some time to perfect the faces but you can have a lot of fun designing different festive sweaters for each one! You family will also appreciate the time and effort you put into their gifts even more when they see these intricate treats.
Sweet Onion Jam
It can be tempting to give lots of chocolate gifts when making your own, but you can do things that are more savory as well. A small mason jar of jam can be a great way to fill out a basket if you choose or to give something a little different. This Sweet Onion Jam is so good in burgers. Alternatively, add it to your cheese board or grazing platter for a little twist on the classic.
Hot Chocolate
Who doesn’t love a hot chocolate, curled up in front of the fire, listening to Christmas tunes? That’s why a mason jar of homemade hot chocolate mix is such a great idea! I love this recipe. You can include some mini marshmallows or chocolate chips in the mason jars for people to add. And don’t forget the festive ribbon around the jar!
Gingerbread Men
Cooking these will soon have your home smelling like Christmas! I love making these as they’re such a holiday classic that aren’t too sickly sweet. Wrap them up tightly in cellophane or stack in little piles and wraps with brown paper. Finish off the basket with some twin or red ribbon for additional festiveness.
Jam Sandwich Cookies
Sweet little parcels of goodness! There’s a great template on this recipe to show you how to make a small envelope for each little cookie as well. These make great additions to place settings for the big family meal. If you’re having designated seating, you can add names to each so that everyone knows where to sit. Delicious and practical!
Dark Chocolate Granola
Yes, you can have chocolate in your granola! You may want to make a double batch of this and keep half for yourself. Make sure you’ve got some air-tight jars to store it in to ensure it doesn’t go soft.
Peppermint Slice
There’s something so festive about anything peppermint that I can’t go past a good peppermint slice. And they don’t have to be totally unhealthy for you. Good quality ingredients are built into this version so that’s fairly healthy but still has the sweet, minty hit.
American Flag Grahams with Yogurt
I love these treats as a nod to our American culture. They look decadent, but with yogurt and berries as toppings they’re not as unhealthy as you might think. These contain 229 for a serve of two. But make them in bulk and hand them around to share the patriotic festivities!
Ingredients:
2 Graham crackers – 118 calories
¼ cup Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2% Greek – 50 calories
¼ cup Pomegranate seeds – 43.5 calories
¼ cup Blueberries, fresh – 17.5 calories
Instructions:
Spread yogurt evenly over graham crackers.
Top with blueberries and pomegranate seeds in American flag pattern.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free yogurt.