Deck the halls with...homemade Food Gifts! My favorite kind of gift to give (and receive!) is the kind you can eat. This roundup of gluten-free, vegan, and naturally sweetened recipes is filled with options for edible gifting!
Homemade holiday gifts...nope, I'm not talking about the macaroni necklace variety, I'm talking about Food Gifts! Gifting food during the holiday season is so personal and thoughtful. It's a busy, hectic time of year for most families, and there's so much pressure to spend a lot and buy, buy, buy! Gifting nourishing, delicious food feels like a reminder for your loved ones to take a moment to care for themselves, and it's so special knowing that someone prepared something with your enjoyment in mind. This is also a wonderful option for teachers, neighbors, new friends, or families...people who might be a bit trickier to shop for!
A Jar of...
Gifting a functional, delicious, and homemade food in a Mason jar is one of my favorite things! Make a big batch of your favorite recipe, divide it up into jars, finish it off with a bow, and you're done. I love these beautiful, functional airtight storage jars, although classic wide-mouth Mason jars work perfectly as well! For smaller portions try the 8 oz. version or even adorable Mini Jelly Jars.
- DIY Vegan Hot Chocolate
- Easy Instant Pot Homemade Applesauce
- Healthy Homemade Nutella
- Homemade Raw Creamy Almond Butter
- Healthy Maple Candied Pecans
- Sweet and Salty Roasted Pepita Seeds
- Salsa Fresca (Pico de Gallo) - Gift this with a bag of your favorite tortilla chips!
- Spiced Lentil & Split Pea Soup in a Jar
Breakfast
It's the most important meal of the day, but it's also the easiest one to skip! With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, gifting a breakfast that your loved one can grab and enjoy without worry can be the greatest gift of all. Apple muffins, pumpkin bread, or a batch of granola would all be stellar breakfasts!
- Easy Vegan Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel Topping
- Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread (you can even divide up the loaf in these disposable loaf pans)
- Granola: Chocolate Granola, Easy Vegan Maple Pecan Granola, Nutty Granola with Hemp Seed & Flaxseed, or my classic Easy Cinnamon-Vanilla Granola Recipe.
A Plate of Cookies
I think a plate of cookies might be the most classic way to say "Happy holidays, neighbor!" These seasonal classics are my go-to, festive cookie recipes that everyone recognizes and loves. I think all four would look so beautiful arranged on a plate together! If you want to give cookies on a beautiful plate, these are my favorites.
- Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- Vegan Snickerdoodles
- Cranberry and Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
- Hanukkah Gelt Cookies
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Want more cookie options? Check out my Vegan and Gluten-Free Cookie Recipe Round-Up linked here:
Holiday Treats
I cannot tell you how meaningful an allergen-safe treat is to someone who's used to passing on holiday sweets! Whether it's a diet preference or a strict allergy, saying no to ingredients like dairy, gluten, soy, refined sugar, or peanuts can make things super complicated. I've spent my whole adult life with pretty specific dietary needs, and it makes it that much more special when someone makes a dish that I can enjoy without stress!
- Best Vegan + Paleo Vanilla Cupcakes with Easy Vegan Vanilla Frosting or Chocolate Sweet Potato Frosting
- No-Bake Vegan Paleo Pecan Pie Bars
- Olive Oil Sweet Potato Brownies with Almond Butter Swirl and Sea Salt
- Almond Butter Rice Crispy Treats or Chocolate Heart Rice Crispy Treats
- Granola Bark or, for chocolate lovers, The Best Chocolate Bark Recipe
- Fudgy Nut-Free Protein Brownies
- Hot Chocolate Bombs (paleo + vegan)
Candy
What's more impressive than a fancy box of expensive chocolates? The version you make yourself! I've made several candy recipes that I rely on every holiday season, from Halloween all the way through Valentine's Day. You could even gift candy in a Silicone Food Storage Bag, which they can wash and reuse!
Homemade Gifts
I know these aren't food gifts (although technically you COULD eat them!), but they are homemade and so nice to receive in the winter when everyone's hands are dry from the weather and repeated washing! Homemade sugar scrubs can be scented any way you like with essential oils or fresh citrus, although the simple 2-ingredient recipe is just as lovely. These would look beautiful in 12 oz. Tulip Jars that can be reused after the holiday season is over. I always make sure to make enough for myself, too!
Give the Gift of Smoothies
If you know someone who wants to eat healthier in the New Year, or maybe they're already a smoothie lover, you can't go wrong with my cookbook, Rock Your Blender! You can order it as a print copy on Amazon or, for last-minute gifting, instantly download it as an eBook (and have it immediately sent to your recipient). I would gift this cookbook paired with a Glass Tumbler or just a simple and functional pack of my favorite Glass Straws...unless you're going big, in which case I always recommend this KitchenAid blender!
I hope you found something on this list that will make gifting a little bit easier and a lot more delicious! Maybe you'll even find a new favorite recipe along the way. Please tag me on Instagram so I can see your food gifts all beautiful and ready to be enjoyed, and don't forget to leave a review below any recipes you try! I have hundreds of vegan, gluten-free, allergen-friendly, and refined sugar-free recipes on my site, so feel free to look around or check out one of the roundups below!
Lori Berges says
Wow so many to choose from. Thank you for all your hard work repairing this website. I'm going to be trying many of these. Merry Christmas!!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Lori! I'm so happy to hear this helped inspire you this past holiday season. Happy belated holidays and I hope yours were fabulous! Best, Elaine