21 Christmas Food Gifts to Make This Holiday

Have you made a list of what to give your loved ones this holiday season? Coming up with original gift ideas they'll cherish is often the hard part. These Christmas food gifts are bound to get you inspired—and to make the day of any foodie in your life.

Perfect Christmas food gifts for your loved ones

Edible Christmas gifts need to be easy to make, appealing to the eye, and not go bad quickly. These 21 ideas check off all those boxes.

1. Candy cane fudge

This candy cane fudge is as festive as they come. Whip up a batch, cut it into small squares, and pack them in a beautifully wrapped paper box.

2. Peppermint-surprise brownies

These peppermint brownies are also Christmas-appropriate. The sharp contrast between the sweet chocolate and minty squares is irresistible.

3. Chunky cheesecake brownies

The sweet tooth in your life would surely appreciate these chunky cheesecake brownies. They're soft, fudgy, and melt in your mouth.

4. Peanut butter and pretzel truffles

These peanut butter and pretzel truffles are the ultimate Christmas food gift. They look sophisticated but are surprisingly easy to make.

5. Classic butter toffee

If you have a candy thermometer, you can make this delicious butter toffee. Crack the toffee into odd-shaped pieces and stuff them in a clear mason jar to gift.

6. Cinnamon-swirl bread

Cinnamon swirl bread is one of the best Christmas baking gifts out there. It will last up to a week—that is, if your loved ones somehow don't eat it all in one go.

7. Chocolate crackle cookies

These chocolate crackle cookies can be enjoyed year-round but are even better during Christmas. The powdered sugar on top looks like freshly fallen snow and the peppermint extract is a lovely holiday touch.

8. Cranberry-cornmeal Linzer cookies

What could be more old-fashioned than Christmas Linzer cookies? This version uses cranberries for a pop of color and a burst of flavor.

9. Pretzel candy cane cookie kit

Instead of baking cookies yourself, why not gift a cookie-baking kit? Fill a mason jar with the dry ingredients for a simple cookie recipe (flour, sugar, and so on). Then, sprinkle chopped pretzels, crushed candy canes, and chocolate chips on top. Don't forget to attach a little card with cooking instructions!

10. S'mores chocolate bark

This s'mores chocolate bark is a fun, innovative twist on a classic. The softness of the marshmallows and the crunchiness of the graham crackers go together perfectly.

11. Peppermint bark bites

Alternatively, you could make peppermint bark. Use a combination of intense dark chocolate, sweet white chocolate, and peppermint candy pieces.

12. Gingerbread biscotti

Biscotti make the perfect Christmas food gifts. Because they're already dried, they keep well in an air-tight container. Gift these gingerbread biscotti so your loved ones can enjoy the holiday season for a little longer.

13. Simple spiced gingerbread men

Speaking of ginger-flavored treats, these gingerbread men are bound to be a success with kids. Use cookie cuttersand a piping bag with frosting to make your life easier.

14. Better-than-boxed spiced pancake mix

Mix together the dry ingredients for your favorite pancake recipe and throw in some seasonal spices (for example, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg). Then, give your loved ones a set with instructions so they can make their pancakes whenever they want. It's a great gift for children, too.

15. Homemade apple cider jam

This apple cider jam is a unique gift that won't run out any time soon. It keeps for weeks in the fridge and goes along well with pancakes, waffles, and dolloped on yogurt.

16. Honeyed-peach pancake syrup

Another long-lasting edible Christmas gift, this honeyed-peach pancake syrup is fork-licking-good. It's the perfect pancake and French toast topping to bring some summer flavors into the dead of winter.

17. Make-it-yourself hot cocoa bombs

Hot cocoa bombs make coveted Christmas gifts. They're easy to make, can be fully customized, and are fun to watch dissolve into a warm cup of milk. Oh, and they're deliciously comforting, of course.

18. Mixed spiced nuts

These mixed spiced nuts are also worth a try. Sprinkle in some tajín powder or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick to complement the sweetness.

19. Mix-it-yourself barbecue spice rub

Gift the avid party host in your friend group a barbecue spice mix. The combination of mustard, black pepper, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, and brown sugar is perfect for ribs.

20. Cheese tasting platter

Everyone has a cheese lover in their lives, right? A cheese platter is bound to wow them. Choose a variety of interesting cheeses. Gouda, camembert, gorgonzola, goat, and smoked cheddar make a great combo.

21. Lemon-pepper cooking salt

The last of our edible Christmas gifts is perfect for anyone who loves to cook: flavored cooking salts. In this case, lemon-pepper salt. Simply add lemon zest and cracked black pepper to flakey sea salt and bottle in a spice vial.

Ideas for wrapping edible Christmas gifts

Half the fun of Christmas food gifts is how they're wrapped. 

Bow-wrapped clear mason jars

Mason jars are perfect for gift-giving. They're clear so you can display your beautiful creations and can be used time and time again by whoever gets the gift. Add a festive touch by wrapping a bow around it.

Festive paper boxes

Upcycle whatever paper boxes you have at home (why not repurpose a tissue box?). Either paint or cover in festive wrapping paper for a unique, quirky vessel for your gift.

Unique baking dishes

Alternatively, you can give 2 presents at once: the edible gift you made and a special baking dish. There are plenty of baking dishes out there that look vintage and hand-painted but are completely safe to use.

Shop online to beat the holiday rush

You might still come across the holiday rush even if you're making all your gifts at home. The best way to beat the queues and still get all the ingredients for your handmade gifts is to shop via Instacart.

Add to your cart everything you need with just a few clicks. Thanks to same-day delivery, a professional shopper will drop off your groceries at your doorstep same-day. In the meantime, you can plan what to make and how to make it.