homemade holiday gift ideas: simple treats and crafts to share this season

Are you looking for gift ideas that showcase your care and attention without breaking the bank? If we’re not intentional, it’s easy for holiday gifts to slide into more and more expensive territory, and still it can be difficult to know if it’s exactly right for the recipient. When it comes down to it, the primary goal of gift giving is to give something of yourself and show the person you put thought and effort into finding something that would please them. What better way to accomplish all of that than to make your gifts? I’ve compiled an assortment of homemade holiday gift ideas to inspire you. Maybe you’ll find the perfect way to put your personal spin on gift-giving this year. No special culinary or crafting skills required!

Homemade holiday gift ideas from the kitchen

I love consumable gifts because they don’t add to anyone’s clutter. 🙂 When possible, I typically package food gifts in small cellophane bags tied with ribbon, but you could also use a cute container or jar. The container could be part of the gift. Some options to consider….

Peppermint bark

If your recipient likes mint and chocolate together, then consider making a quick batch of peppermint bark. So easy!

What you’ll need:

• 12oz dark chocolate chips
• 1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract, divided
• 12oz white chocolate chips
• ½ cup chopped peppermint candies

Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Melt the dark chocolate and stir in half of the extract. Pour over the foil. Melt the white chocolate and stir in the rest of the extract and the candies. Pour over the dark chocolate. Sprinkle the top with additional candies. Let cool and break into pieces.

Snack mix

I love making (and eating!) snack mix. You can customize a mixture for your friend’s taste, and it’s easy to make a large quantity to share. Any mix of pretzels, dry cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and small candies will work. I try to even out the sweet versus salty ingredients.

A nice mix for the holidays: chocolate-covered pretzels, white chocolate chips, wheat chex, dried cranberries, and almonds or cashews.

A favorite mix of mine: peanut butter m&m candies, goldfish crackers, life cereal, mixed nuts, and yogurt-covered raisins.

Spiced nuts

These are so good, and you can swap out the spices to customize it for a friend. Try a pinch of cayenne pepper!

What you’ll need:

• 4 ½ cups walnuts, pecans, and/or almonds (A mix is nice!)
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• Zest from 1 orange
• Juice from 1 orange with enough water to make half a cup
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch of ground cloves

Mix all in a skillet and simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the liquid evaporates and the nuts look sugary (about five minutes).  Remove from heat and distribute over a greased baking sheet.  Using two forks, separate quickly.  Cool.  Freeze leftovers. Delicious added to salads or as a snack on their own.

Cocoa mix

I’ve previously shared my homemade spiced cocoa mix, and it’s especially nice for the holidays. If you don’t want the spices, leave them out and you’ll still have a nice hot cocoa mix. Alternatively, you could buy the mix ready-made and layer it in a pint jar with chocolate chips and marshmallows. You could even put it together with other “cozy night in” gifts like popcorn and a blanket.

Infused oils and vinegars

What you’ll need for infused oils:

• High-quality olive oil
• Fresh herbs, spices, or aromatics
  • Herbal: tarragon, thyme, rosemary, basil, or sage (or a combination)
  • Citrus spice: orange peel + cinnamon stick + a pinch of chili flakes
  • Garlic and thyme: garlic cloves + fresh thyme (classic for roasted veggies or bread)
  • “Pine” and lemon: fresh rosemary + lemon zest
• Clean, dry glass bottle or jar

Wash and thoroughly dry herbs and/or aromatics. Gently heat the oil in a small pan over low heat for a couple of minutes. Don’t boil, just warm. This helps release the flavors. Place the herbs or aromatics into the jar and pour in the oil. Let it cool, then seal and let it sit in a cool, dark place for a week or two. Taste periodically. Remove herbs before gifting, or leave them in for a rustic look.

What you’ll need for infused vinegars:

• White wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or rice vinegar
• Herbs, fruits, and/or spices
  • Cranberry orange: fresh cranberries + orange peel
  • Apple spice: apple slices + cinnamon stick + clove
  • Pomegranate thyme: pomegranate seeds + fresh thyme
  • Citrus and star anise: lemon or orange peel + a star anise pod
• Clean, dry glass bottle or jar

Wash and thoroughly dry herbs and/or fruits. Slice or cut up any fruit. Place herbs, fruits, and/or spices into the jar and pour in vinegar until fully covered. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for several weeks. Shake gently every few days. Strain before gifting for clarity and a longer shelf life.

Flavored sugars

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Flavoring ingredient
  • Lavender
  • Mint
  • Rosemary
  • Zest from a lemon, orange, grapefruit, or lime
  • Cardamom pods
  • Vanilla bean
  • Cinnamon stick
• Airtight jar or tin

Prepare your ingredients. Lightly bruise any fresh herbs or lightly crush cardamom pods (about five) or a cinnamon stick as needed. Mix the sugar with the chosen flavoring in a small bowl. Carefully massage everything together. If you’re using zest or any fresh herbs, then spread the mixture out on a baking sheet and let it dry for a few hours. Transfer to a clean airtight container. Let them rest a day or two for the flavors to meld. Remove any stray pieces of herbs etc. as needed. Use within two to four weeks.

Biscotti or other cookies

I’m a biscotti fan, and I find that it is easier to make and get consistent results than other kinds of cookies. This is a sensational recipe. It’s a great gift on its own, but you could also pair it with tea, cocoa mix, or coffee.

Any cookie you enjoy baking makes a lovely gift. If you’re not much of a baker, you can always try dipping pretzel rods or oreos. For pretzels, dip halfway in melted chocolate and then roll in sprinkles or crushed candies. For oreos, dip halfway in melted white chocolate and then roll in crushed peppermint candies. Delicious! Set them out on parchment paper until they’re cool and then package them in cellophane bags. (You can find cellophane bags specifically for pretzel rods.)

Other homemade holiday gift ideas

I am not especially crafty, so my suggestions here will emphasize thoughtfulness rather than crafting skill! If you’re more talented, use these as a springboard for more involved gifts.

Bath salts and sugar scrubs

What you’ll need for bath salts:

• 2 cups Epsom salt
• 1 cup coarse sea salt
• ½ cup baking soda
• 10–15 drops essential oil (total)
  • Lavender + chamomile
  • Peppermint + eucalyptus
  • Rose + vanilla
  • Or whatever combination sounds good to you!

Mix together the salts and baking soda in a large bowl. Add oils a few drops at a time, stirring to distribute evenly. Transfer to airtight jars.

What you’ll need for a sugar scrub:

• 1 cup sugar (white for fine texture, brown for coarser texture)
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 10–15 drops essential oil (lavender, orange, peppermint, etc.)
  • Lavender
  • Citrus
  • Peppermint
  • Or experiment with mixtures!

Mix sugar and coconut oil together thoroughly. Add essential oils and stir well. Transfer to airtight jars.

Personalized photo gifts

Print photos of you together and frame them or make a collage. I’ve used Shutterfly and CafePress for cards, collages, and photo gifts. You can make a photo book, calendar, or whatever strikes your fancy. You can even have a photo put on a mug, thermos, or T shirt.

An embellished journal

I love this idea! Find a nice blank journal, or it could be a themed one if that’s your preference. Spend some time writing a few notes of encouragement scattered throughout it. Jot down a fun memory. Maybe make a personalized bookmark using pretty papers and stickers. Get a nice pen to go with it. When your friend uses the gift, they’ll find tokens of your friendship peppered throughout.

Sunshine jar

This one would take some time, but it’s such a fun idea! Cut dozens of small strips of paper. On each one, write down a line of encouragement or a Bible verse. Draw a silly picture. Share an inspirational quote. Write down what you appeciate about them or what their special gifts are. Then fold them all up and put them in a small jar. Your friend can pull one out when they need a dose of positivity.

Recipe binder

Get a notebook or folder and fill it with your favorite recipes. Include stories about how you found the recipes or who inspired them. Maybe you have memories of making some of the dishes with a grandparent. This can be handwritten or typed, whatever fits your style (or your penmanship). Include blank pages for them to add to the collection.

Pass-along platter

Another fun idea! Ok, technically this is a food gift too, but the emphasis is on the plate. Find a pretty one–I’ve actually had good luck finding some at the dollar store. Better yet: see if there’s a pottery place in your town where you can paint one yourself. Place your favorite homemade treats on the plate, use some from a bakery, or arrange a charcuterie assortment. Cover and give as a gift. The tag (shown below) instructs them to enjoy the treats, refill, and pass along to another recipient.

Free printable gift tags

All five tags are in a single pdf. Print and trim as needed.

You might want to print and laminate the “pass-along platter” tag so it can travel with the gift from person to person. I tried to make all of the tags holiday-neutral so they would work for any occasion.

Do any of these homemade holiday gift ideas resonate with you?

Is there anything you’d like to try? Did this give you any additional ideas? Please let me know in the comments! I encourage you to pick one or two things that seem doable and see where they take you. Remember, the result doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to show you care.

Other seasonal posts:

• holiday traditions from around the world
• cozy calendar: fun fall checklist
• Advent study: light in the margins
• the best holiday romance books for comfy and cozy reading
• gratitude practices

Other posts you may like:

• Reese’s book club: what an adventure!
• centering prayer: be still and know
• self-care gift ideas to encourage and comfort
• reflections on Psalm 23
• grilled pineapple: sweet simplicity
• cultivate contentment: biblical wisdom for a full life
• examen prayer: guidance and growth
• The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel: five stars!
• Three Sisters by Heather Morris: five stars!

Fondly,

Crysti