50-Plus Edible Holiday Gifts That Are As Fun To Make As They Are To Give
Ready or not, the holiday season is here in full force — even if it's celebrated over Zoom this year instead of in person. We may not be able to gather with friends and loved ones, but gifts from the kitchen — and the heart — are a tangible and delicious way to show you care. Whether your purse strings are tight and you're looking for affordable gifts or you just don't know what to give your grandpa who buys everything he could ever need (or want) for himself, these 50-plus edible holiday gifts are here to save the day.
Caramel Pecan Fudge
What can make decadent chocolate pecan fudge even more scrumptious? An ooey, gooey layer of caramel sitting right on top. Serve on a platter and wrap up with a bow for a thoughtful gift.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract is an essential ingredient for loads of popular homemade desserts. Give the baker in your life some vanilla extract you made yourself in a pretty brown bottle. Just note you need three weeks to make this extract.
Peppermint Crunch Popcorn
Few flavors encompass the holiday season quite like peppermint, which is infused in this festive and colorful white chocolate popcorn recipe. Package it in a pretty tin for a budget-friendly holiday gift.
Limoncello
Want to bring some sunshine to your loved ones in the middle of the winter? Gift them some homemade limoncello. This classic Italian liqueur will make even the grayest days feel bright.
Quick Pickled Garlic Jalapeños
Have a pepperhead in your family? Make them a batch of these quick pickled garlic jalapeños, which they'll surely add to everything from the best bowls of chili to Mexican food.
Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge
Mint and chocolate are a classic holiday-time combination, making this festive fudge a perfect edible gift for the gourmand in your life. Tint it green for an extra dose of holiday spirit.
Fennel And Garlic Taralli
Winter is stew season. These Italian fennel and garlic crackers are the perfect crunchy addition to any hearty bowl of soup.
Stollen
A traditional German Christmas recipe, stollen is a bread chock full of dried fruit and nuts. A generous dusting of powdered sugar on top completes the treat.
Cranberry Ginger Granola
Cranberry is a classic holiday flavor, and it shines alongside punchy candied ginger in this nut-free granola. It's a great gift for the healthy eater in your life.
Vanilla White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge
Festive green pistachios and red cranberries make this white chocolate fudge picture-perfect for the holiday season. You won't even need a bow to dress up the presentation.
For the Vanilla White Chocolate Pistachio Fudge recipe, click here.
Chocolate Truffles
With just four ingredients, a basic chocolate truffle recipe is a great thing to have in your back pocket for the holidays. Roll these in cocoa powder, crushed nuts, powdered sugar or sprinkles to make a box of chocolates fit for royalty.
Mexican Hot Chocolate Gift Mix
No winter is complete without hot chocolate. Give the gift of coziness with this homemade hot chocolate gift mix. Pair it with some adorable holiday mugs to complete the present.
Sweet and Spicy Nuts
Nuts are great for snacking between big holiday meals. Here, the warm flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg are countered by a kick of pepper and seasoned salt for a zippy anytime bite.
Plant-Made Peanut Butter Fudge
Struggling with what to give the vegan in your life? This plant-based peanut butter fudge uses tons of peanut butter, giving this easy holiday treat a dreamy, creamy texture.
Homemade Honeycomb Candy
Need a last-minute gift? This honeycomb candy uses four pantry staple ingredients (ironically none of which are honey) and is ready in under 30 minutes.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Granola
Cookies for breakfast? Here, the oatmeal raisin cookie — a classic childhood dessert — is transformed into a delicious granola, perfect for the hiker in your life or that uncle who really, really loves his morning yogurt.
Peppermint Truffle Cookies
Truffles and cookies each make excellent gifts; here, the two combine to create one unforgettable treat. A simple peppermint-flavored chocolate cookie dough envelopes a chocolate kiss so that once they are baked, there is a sweet surprise inside each one. Roll the cookies in red, green and gold sanding sugar for a stunning holiday presentation.
Red Velvet Truffle Fudge
Red velvet cake is a classic dessert, and this rich chocolate fudge translates those flavors well. The dark red fudge and white chocolate on top also mimic the colors of Santa's signature coat.
Cinnamon Trail Mix
Who says trail mix has to be eaten on a hike? This holiday-flavored mashup is chock-full of nuts, cereal and pretzels, so it's perfect for snacking on while watching your favorite Christmas movies at home.
Fruitcake Mug Mix
Wanting to jazz up that adorable mug you found for your cousin? Add in the ingredients to make fruitcake in said mug. After all, microwavable mug desserts are vastly underrated.
Vanilla Fudge With Almonds
Vanilla fudge is far from boring, as this recipe with cream cheese and toasted almonds proves. A perfectly placed almond in the center of each piece of candy creates a pretty presentation for any platter.
Almond Cherry Granola
Granola is a fun and simple gift to make and looks pretty in a cheery jar. While this recipe calls for dried cherries and almonds, it's totally customizable — so feel free to adjust to the preference of your giftee.
Muddy Buddies
While called muddy buddies (or puppy chow), this chocolate and peanut butter treat is covered in powdered sugar, making it look like Christmas Day snow.
Dark Chocolate Butter Toffee
Toffee may seem like a particularly difficult treat to make, but with a candy thermometer, it's surprisingly simple and will delight any sweetie in your life.
Caramel Almond Popcorn
If you're looking for a big batch treat you can portion out and drop off on friends' doorsteps, then check out this sweet and nutty treat.
Mixed Berry Jam
Homemade jams and jellies don't cost a lot of money, but the effort behind them makes them a thoughtful and welcome gift.
Chewy Salted Vanilla Caramels
Looking for a stocking stuffer? Homemade vanilla caramels are a great choice. Experiment by adding spices or other flavors to the molten caramel like cinnamon, cayenne or a bit of bourbon.
Mango Fruit Leather
'90s kids will remember Fruit by the Foot. Channel that childhood nostalgia with a homemade fruit leather made from delicious fresh mangoes.
Peppermint Biscotti
Biscotti goes wonderfully with a giant cup of homemade espresso drinks. Gift the caffeine fiend in your life these treats along with a bag of their favorite java and a giant new mug.
Jamoncillo de Leche
Also known as Mexican milk fudge, jamoncillo de leche is one of the best Mexican recipes you didn't know about but need to start making.
Easy Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Truffles
A simple no-bake recipe, these raspberry chocolate truffles feature crumbled cookies and another family-favorite holiday ingredient: marshmallow creme.
For the Easy Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Truffles recipe, click here.
Gingerbread Pecans
Gingerbread is a classic holiday flavor, but you don't need to bake cookie people to get the signature taste. Instead, use cinnamon, cloves and ground ginger to coat these candied pecans.
Eggnog Popcorn Balls
Eggnog is a classic holiday cocktail, but the flavor is great in sweet treats, too, like these easy eggnog and marshmallow popcorn balls.
Homemade Caramel
Ice cream may be a summertime snack, but if there's someone in your life who loves sundaes all year round, they'll truly appreciate this homemade caramel sauce, which comes together in just 20 minutes.
Orange-Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries are seriously underappreciated. Jazz up this wintery fruit with some orange and ginger and decorate your jar with festive ribbons for a beautiful yet practical present.
Strawberry White Chocolate Fudge
A combination of two favorite flavors, white chocolate and strawberry, this sweet fudge recipe is sure to make anyone smile, especially when wrapped on a pretty Christmas platter.
For the Strawberry White Chocolate Fudge recipe, click here.
Pears in Ginger Syrup
Delicate pears in ginger syrup look so sweet in a decorated jar and taste even sweeter when spooned over a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Strawberry Maple Granola
Whether you make your own dried berries or just want to use some store-bought ones, your family will love this granola, reminiscent of a favorite cereal.
Three Ingredient Paleo Chocolate Truffles
If someone in your life is following a vegan or paleo diet and you're not sure how they can still enjoy holiday sweets, then whip up a batch of these truffles, which use coconut cream, vegan chocolate and maple syrup.
For the Three Ingredient Paleo Chocolate Truffles recipe, click here.
Vanilla Honey Fudge
Looking for something sweet to give the honey in your life? Well, this vanilla honey fudge has two favorite flavors in one bite.
Apricot-Jalapeno Jelly
This sweet and spicy jelly is a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys a good charcuterie board — it pairs perfectly with cheese and cured meat.
Peppermint Christmas Puppy Chow
Who doesn't love candy canes around Christmastime? This peppermint-infused puppy chow is ridiculously festive and just enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Homemade Tootsie Rolls
Tootsie Rolls in a tiny bank are an iconic stocking stuffer. Recreate the timeless candy with this recipe and put them in a ceramic piggy bank for a thoughtful twist on a classic.
Chai Spiced Toffee
Chai, with its notes of vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, is one of the coziest cold-weather beverages. Add those flavors to some homemade toffee for a satisfying snack.
Butter Pecan Fudge
Butter pecan ice cream is a favorite ice cream flavor, and anyone who can't get enough of that treat in the summer will adore this fudge in the winter.
No-Bake Cherry Granola Bars
If you're sick of baking cookies and holiday pies but still want to give a handmade treat to someone you love, these cherry granola bars are pretty and practical.
Coconut Macarons
If you're a whiz in the kitchen, your family and friends will surely be impressed when you give them these holiday-colored coconut macarons in a Christmassy cardboard box.
Cocoa-Coated Truffles
Made with high-quality dark chocolate and a strongly brewed cup of coffee, these cocoa-coated truffles are rich and decadent — perfect for the holiday season.
Chocolate Cherry Fudge
Chocolate and cherries are a dynamic duo, and those complementary flavors are highlighted in this crowd-pleasing fudge recipe.
Chocolate-Drizzled Popcorn
This chocolate-drizzled popcorn is easily customizable for any occasion. For Christmas, use red and green M&M's, spiced gumdrops, peppermints or your kid's favorite seasonal treat.
Red Currant Jelly
Red currants are a fun, tart fruit that make for a phenomenal jelly. Keep one jar and give another away as a gift.
Strawberry Mango Fruit Leather
Looking for a healthy snack to make for the kids in your family? This strawberry mango fruit leather is made from pure fruit but tastes like pure candy.
Fruit and Nut Dark Chocolate Bark
Why make normal peppermint bark when you can class up the recipe with this dark chocolate bark, which is sprinkled with dried fruit and mixed nuts?
For the Fruit and Nut Dark Chocolate Bark recipe, click here.
Penoche Candy
Somewhere between fudge and caramel, penoche is a classic Christmas candy. Anyone will enjoy it, but it may be extra special for the older people in your life.
Gingerbread Biscotti
Filled with nuts and oats, these gingerbread biscotti are the perfect thing to go with a wintertime cup of hot cocoa.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge
Edible cookie dough is one of the biggest food trends of the past 10 years. Show your family you keep up with the times by gifting them this homemade chocolate chip cookie dough-inspired fudge. And if this recipe has you feeling more traditional, consider pairing this fudge with some of our best cookie recipes for the holidays.
For the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge recipe, click here.
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