As a total foodie, I’ve given my fair share of fun, food-related items as holiday gifts over the years. Sometimes, it’s a tasty, homemade treat, baked from scratch with an extra dose of TLC. Other times, I’ve gifted a favorite kitchen item or fitness gadget I’m crushing on. Check out the following ideas and consider adding one or more of these gems to your list.

 

Holiday gifts for foodies: Sip in style

Sip in style

Buy a pitcher (like this or this) and add all the ingredients to it (or place everything in a large gift bag if it doesn’t fit in the pitcher). You can offer it to a host at your next get-together or wrap it with a big, beautiful bow for a festive holiday gift. One of my favorite recipes is this Baby It’s Cold Out-Chai’d Tea, which is always a hit at gatherings! It’s a guaranteed party starter.

Holiday gifts for foodies: Pop the top

Pop the top

You can’t go wrong with a great bottle of vino—or an electric wine opener. There are many brands, at many price points, so choose the one that’s right for your budget. These two brands (Oster and Ozeri) are reasonable and reliable and they make it super simple. You can also gift a bottle of wine along with fun or funky wine glasses. There are many options with quirky or hilarious sayings. These allow you to create your own saying. As an avid dog lover and owner, these made me laugh. Or go for a plastic stemless version for durability.

Holiday gifts for foodies: Say cheese

Say cheese

Everyone who knows me knows I adore cheese. I love serving different varieties at parties. I love experimenting with different types in my recipes. And yes, I love sampling when I’m out grocery shopping, lol. So it might not come as a surprise that I have an ample supply of cheese trays in my pantry. For instance, I have one that lets you label the various options (no guesswork). And this one caught my eye on a recent shopping trip—I’m a sucker for the smart storage compartment and the all-in-one concept (crackers, knives, spreaders all right there). They make great gifts, too!

Holiday gifts for foodies: Jar it up

Jar it up

I’m a proud member of the mason jar craze. Whether it’s for salad, cookie mix, or overnight oats, these trendy and adorable jars are a perfect way to store, transport and enjoy all your favorite foods. They also are great for presentation. I’ve added the ingredients of a beloved recipe, wrapped it up with a pretty recipe card attached using festive ribbon and given them as gifts to co-workers, teachers, mail carriers, hair stylists and more. For example, this lentil soup recipe is a great gift idea: Seal the jar and attach a recipe card with an inside joke or special memory. These Mason Jar Banana-Peanut Butter Cookies are another go-to present that everyone loves to receive.

Holiday gifts for foodies: Give the gift of food

Give the gift of good food

I’ve been known to dole out wholesome food gifts, including a membership to a local CSA (find one near you), the gift that keeps giving, to a friend who loves to cook. Each month, she was surprised with deliveries from a local farm all year long. I’ve also purchased a gift card for a college friend to a favorite vegan restaurant where she loves treating herself on occasion, and to the friend who recently had a baby, a subscription to Netflix with a list of all my favorite foodie movies and shows (Ratatouille, Chopped, Chef, Julia & Julia, Mystic Pizza) so she and her little ones can enjoy while she’s on maternity leave.

Holiday gifts for foodies: Keep things popping

Keep things popping

Popcorn is one of my all-time favorite snacks—it’s whole grain, low in calories and high in volume. Plus, it’s easy to make and super simple to flavor it up. I’m always looking to share my love, so I’ve given out air poppers (there are so many brands at an affordable price), along with a container of popcorn kernels and a variety of yummy seasonings, including cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, garlic, cayenne, in addition to hot sauce, as gifts. Add a container of oil spray and you’ve got a ready-made snack pack!

Here are a few of my favorite recipes, if you’d like to also include recipe cards: Rosemary-Parmesan Popcorn; Fiery Popcorn; Balsamic Popcorn

Holiday gifts for foodies: Pickle their fancy

Pickle their fancy

Pickles are picking up steam among folks. They’re delicious, fun to eat and good for you, too. I make my own at home so I can vary up all sorts of favorite ingredients. They make a great gift—creative, colorful and unique. I start with a big mason jar, load up on different flavorings depending on who I’m giving them to (sometimes I make them super garlicky, other times, I make them really fiery and hot), and wrap them with a gorgeous bow. They’re always received with a big smile. Try my recipe, and feel free to make adjustments to the seasonings.

Holiday gifts for foodies: Get a little nutty

Get a little nutty

Nuts are a classic holiday food, and I personally love to toast them this time of year because they make my house smell delicious. I make big batches of spiced nuts and seeds, package them in festive containers and hand them out to teachers, co-workers and more. This Rosemary-Spiced Walnuts recipe is a favorite of mine, but you can experiment with any nut or seed as well as any spice or herb combo you like. Go nuts, lol!

 

Holiday gifts for foodies

As a total foodie, I’ve given my fair share of fun, food-related items as holiday gifts over the years. Sometimes, it’s a tasty, homemade treat, baked from scratch with an extra dose of TLC. Other times, I’ve gifted a favorite kitchen item or fitness gadget I’m crushing on. Check out the following ideas and consider adding one or more of these gems to your list.