39 Homemade Food Gifts That Beat Store-Bought Presents Every Time

Brown-Sugar Chocolate-Chunk Shortbread

When everyone's drowning in holiday sweets and cookie swaps, you swoop in with the win: frozen cookie dough for friends to slice and bake whenever the desire strikes. The secret to this rich chocolate-chunk shortbread is a mix of sugars—brown for a caramel note and confectioners for melt-in-your-mouth texture. Wrap the dough tightly in freezer paper to keep it from drying out; then, when you're ready to give it, roll it in patterned waxed paper and secure the ends with twine. Our free printable tags make customizing them easy.

Easy Pistachio-Cranberry Nougat

Nougat is a classic Mediterranean confection made with egg whites, honey or sugar, and nuts, that requires fussing over a pot of molten sugar with a candy thermometer. Our express version is as simple as rice-cereal treats but so much more delicious. Nestle planks in a box lined with waxed paper so they don't stick.

Date Bon-Bons With Pistachio Paste

Plump Medjool dates are stuffed with homemade pistachio paste that's so easy to make. Then they're dipped in dark chocolate. The result is a sublime bite that deserves a place in your holiday box of homemade confections.

Fig and Ginger Granola

Customize this breakfast favorite to surprise all your friends this holiday season. To package, place the granola in clear plastic gift bags and seal it with a sticker. Pack the bag of granola in a box with honey or other favorite toppings if you like. We used handsome compostable wooden boxes lined with tissue.

Homemade Liqueurs

These infused liqueurs are the ultimate gift for a gracious host. Espresso martinis are back, and they're a lovely way to use our Espresso-Vanilla Liqueur. Kumquat-Tangerine Liqueur makes for a divine citrus drop, and it can be sipped on its own chilled like limoncello. And Cherry-Cinnamon Liqueur is fantastic in a spritz.

Each glass bottle (cork included) makes half a dozen cocktails. Use our free printable labels to customize them at home.

Chocolate-and-Nut-Crusted Candied Orange

Another fancy chocolate-dipped treat that's actually a cinch to make. If you've got 10 minutes, you can make these.

Mendiants (Chocolate with Dried Fruit and Nuts)

These French-style discs of chocolate look sophisticated but are easy to make and only take about 20 minutes to put together—plus 15 minutes to set. Balance the colors and flavors of the dried fruits and nuts you top the chocolate with for the best result.

Currant Jelly

Two ingredients are all you need to make this beautiful currant jelly. Feel free to use red, black, or white currants, or even a combination of all three. When canned properly, this sweet and edible gift will last for one year.

White Chocolate Fudge With Cranberries and Candied Citrus

Fudge is an old-fashioned sweet to give out around the holidays, so why not create this festive version? White chocolate lets ruby red dried cranberries and bright citrus pop in every single slice.

Peanut-Popcorn Balls

For anyone who grew up loving Cracker Jack, Crunch 'n Munch, or Fiddle Faddle, our caramel-coated peanut popcorn balls are like edible time machines. Wrap them in plain parchment and striped waxed paper for the full bonbon effect. One taste, and you're a kid again, feeling the warmth of the fire and the pure joy of opening gifts.

Plum Pates de Fruits

It doesn't get more sophisticated than these French fruit jellies. We used plum purée, but blackberry, raspberry, or even a combination of the three would be wonderful.

Coconut-Pistachio Biscotti

Shredded coconut, lemon zest, dried cherries, and pistachios make a lovely quartet of flavors in these classic Italian cookies. Cornmeal gives them a pleasant crumbly texture. As for the packaging, give a plain box a seasonal makeover with fresh pine. Arrange the leaves in a small ring and glue together the stems before securing the delicate wreath with ribbon.

Chocolate-Dipped Luxardo Cherries

Turn syrupy, aromatic Luxardo cherries into adorable truffles with a little tempered chocolate and some green cloth-wrapped floral wire for the "stems." Package with gold candy inserts and boxes.

Anisette

A classic ending to a Mediterranean feast is this rich liqueur. It has a shelf life of about six months, so no need to finish the bottle during the New Year's Eve party.

Whole Wheat Seeded Crackers

Whole-wheat flour and sesame seeds give these rustic crackers a nutty, earthy flavor that we can't get enough of. They would be a welcome addition to any cheese platter. To pack them up as a gift, find a small cheese board (we love the modern look of slate) and roll dough just a tad smaller than the board. Once crackers are baked and cooled, wrap them on the board with a tea towel, top with a spreader, and finish with a bow.

Peppermint Fudge

We love the peppermint candies peeking out of these bite-size squares of rich fudge. Use parchment or colored plastic wrap to package, or visit a crafts store for shiny, colorful foil squares. Twist the ends for a candy-like look, then stuff some stockings.

Seeded Honeycomb Brittle

Four kinds of seeds—pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, and poppy—give this crunchy candy extra oomph.

Snowball Truffles

You only need five ingredients to make these festive truffles: roasted cashews, shredded coconut, white chocolate, heavy cream, and salt. Package in paper candy cups. If you really want to lean into the winter wonderland theme, add some paper snowflakes.

Lamington Thumbprint Cookies

For a homemade gift that's easy to customize, make these darling thumbprint cookies. Mini sponge cakes are combined with fruit preserves, melted chocolate, and shredded coconut for a delectable treat.

Citrus Salt

Gift a jar or two of these salts infused with the essential oils of lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. They boast a bright flavor and can be used for finishing everything from dark chocolate to pastas, salads, and roasted vegetables.

Hazelnut Puppy Chow

Give everyone reindeer food for Christmas this year! Also known as muddy buddies, our grown-up version calls for doctoring toasted rice cereal with Nutella, bittersweet chocolate, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Box them up in gold takeout containers to make the treat feel extra-special.

Caramel Candies

Want an edible gift that feels extravagant? These buttery, salty, and deliciously chewy confections are just the thing. They're easy to make and fun to give away—that is, if you can stand to part with them!

Gingerbread Loaves

Molasses, buttermilk, vanilla, candied ginger, and a trifecta of spice—cinnamon, allspice, and cloves—give this holiday quick bread its complex flavor.

Chocolate Tortoises

How adorable are these? Our turtles have cashew legs, hazelnut heads, and a delicious shell made of chocolate, caramel, and pecans. Package them in colorful paper cupcake liners, then box them up and add some festive baker's twine.

Meyer Lemon-Orange Bitters

Crafting this intense cocktail elixir is like undertaking a fun science experiment. Vodka, citrus zest, spices like fennel seed and coriander, and the bitter root gentian steep in a jar for a few weeks, resulting in a heady, complex flavor. To make yours truly gift-worthy, pour the bitters into dropper bottles and garnish with citrus zest. Label with a white paint pen and tie at the neck with a ribbon.

Dark Chocolate Vegan Truffles

These rich truffles are as good as anything you'd get from a chocolatier. Even more amazing: They're vegan. (Coconut oil, not heavy cream, gives them their buttery richness.) Finish with cocoa powder or roll in toppings like crushed pistachios, Marcona almonds, and shredded coconut. Mini cupcake liners are just the right size to cradle these little flavor bombs. Pack the finished product in a shallow box to keep them from rolling around.

Bacon Jam

A heavenly, sweet and savory mixture of brown sugar, bourbon, maple syrup, shallots, and vinegar help transform a pound and a half of bacon into approximately 10 gifts. Add a gift tag with serving suggestions: spread on a burger, stir into a dip, or eat straight off a spoon.

Chocolate-Almond Wood-Grain Bark

White chocolate meets bittersweet in this striking faux-bois (wood-grain pattern) bark. Wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon for a gift that'll really stand out beneath the tree.

Caramelized Sesame Chickpeas

A delicious, tree nut- and peanut-free alternative to the typical candied nuts. These salty-sweet treats are made without any sugar and are a healthy treat. Pack them in individual bags tied with ribbon.

Rocky-Road Bites

Once you master tempering chocolate (it's easier than it seems) all you have to do is add almonds, marshmallows, and pretzels to make these crowd-pleasing treats.

Seasonal Fruit Leathers

These are so much better than the snack you ate as a kid, we promise! All you need is fresh fruit (we used pineapple, mango, and persimmon), honey, and a couple of hours in the oven. Roll each piece of leather in a strip of parchment of equal size and then in a larger parchment square. Seal with printed tape and tie with baker's twine.

Nut Brittle

Use any variety of nuts that tickle your fancy—or even a nutty combination—to make this family-size slab of brittle. Wrap the finished brittle block with cellophane and include a small hammer and bow.

Lavender-Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce

Take it from us: Fancy caramel is always in vogue. We elevate ours with lavender and fleur de sel—it makes a delectable topping for cakes, ice cream, you name it. To make it a gift worth giving, tie lavender sprigs around the jar with twine or ribbon to hint at the unexpected floral essence within.

Candy-Cane Marshmallows

We can't think of anything more festive for your hot chocolate than these peppermint marshmallows. They're also delicious on their own—pack them in clear bags with red string for a crowd-pleasing holiday gift.

Pickled Peppers

Give the pepper enthusiast in your life a share of your garden's bounty with these pickled peppers, which take just 15 minutes to prepare. Once the pickles are ready (let them sit for three days for optimal flavor), add a gift tag to let the recipient know what's inside each jar.

Hibiscus-Ginger Syrup

The combination of citrusy hibiscus, spicy fresh ginger, and aromatic cloves in this DIY syrup brings welcome flavor to any cocktail or mocktail. Plus, the vibrant color will look beautiful when displayed on a bar cart.

Basic French Macarons

Who wouldn't love opening a gift box to find a display of stunning French macarons? With just five ingredients, our foolproof recipe takes the guesswork out of making these dainty confections.

Hot-Pepper Jelly

This pepper jelly gets a lot of mileage in the kitchen. Its spicy-sweet flavor is delicious when drizzled over soft cheeses, such as goat or Camembert, as well as crackers or crostini. Beyond hors d'oeuvres, the jelly is delicious as a glaze for chicken or pork.

Butter Mints

For the friend who is always asking if you have a mint to spare, put together an adorable tin of homemade butter candies. They're easy to prepare, and the colors can be customized (for example, blue and white for Hanukkah or red and green for Christmas spirit).