Bio
Kalyn Denny is a former third grade teacher from Salt Lake City, Utah, who discovered blogging when she wanted a place to share her recipes online....
 
 
 
 

What’s Hot on BlogHer.com

Ten Great Homemade Food Gifts, and No Cooking Required for Some!

  • Share This Post
  • submit
  • 18
  • Sparkle (
    )
     

It's that time again when you need to get your kitchen into full production line mode if you're planning to turn out loads of holiday goodies to give away. Most people know someone who loves to make elaborate holiday sweets for family, friends, and co-workers. If that sounds like you, I've got a few recipes for cookies, candy, and fruitcake that might make make you smile.

But what if you're not really into holiday sweets that much, or perhaps a bit baking-impaired (like me!) Not to worry because my list of ten holiday food gifts has a few other interesting ideas such as gifts that don't need cooking or holiday treats for pets. Read on and see if there's something that sounds right for a few of the folks on your list, and if you have your own ideas for gifts from the kitchen, let us know in the comments.

Photobucket
Photo of Christmas Cookies
from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

1. Cookies must be the most universal holiday treat, so no wonder there are recipes galore for tasty variations. Here are a few places to find some cookie recipes which are really special.

Eat Christmas Cookies (Season One) at Food Blogga
Eat Christmas Cookies (Season Two) at Food Blogga
Eat Christmas Cookies (Season Three) at Food Blogga
30 Favorite Christmas Cookies and Recipes from Brown-Eyed Baker
My Favorite Christmas Cookies from The Pioneer Woman Cooks
Stained Glass Cookies from Simply Recipes
Holiday Baking Ideas from Laura Rebecca's Kitchen
Vaniliekranse (family recipe) from Food and Thoughts
Matcha Cookies from Nami Nami
Lemon Glazed Christmas Wreath Cookies from Barbara Bakes
Brown Sugar Buckwheat Thumbprint Cookies from Gluten Free Goddess
Italian Christmas Cookies and Recipes from Talk of Tomatoes
Five Delicious Sugar-Free and Flourless Christmas Cookies from Kalyn's Kitchen
Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie Recipe Roundup from Ginger Lemon Girl

2. Fruitcake is the holiday tradition people love to hate, but when you see some of these recipes (and photos!) you'll may be inspired to try making some, even if you think you're not a fan.

My Family's Traditional Fruit Cake at What's for Lunch Honey
Patricia's Holiday Fruitcake from Simply Recipes
Chocolate Cherry Fruitcake from David Lebovitz
Mum's Fruit Loaf from Tinned Tomatoes
Figgy Christmas Fruit Roll from Under the Highchair
Drunken Fruitcake from Eclectic Recipes
Butter Fruitcake from Carol Egbert
Fabulous Fruitcake from Cookie Baker Lynn

Photobucket
Photo of Tootsie Roll Fudge
from Food Blogga

3. Candy is always popular for holiday gifts. Here are some classics, and a few new ideas.

Tootsie Roll Fudge from Food Blogga
Almond Roca Recipe from Simply Recipes
Chunky Turtle Monkey Love Bars from Not Eating Out in New York
Espresso Caramels from 101 Cookbooks
Honey Nut Caramels from Dessert Candy
Fabulous Five Minute Fudge from Technicolor Kitchen
Pistachio Black Currant Truffles from A Mingling of Tastes
Coffee Toffee from Smitten Kitchen
Grandma's Fudge from White on Rice Couple

4. Bread. Biscotti, or Crackers are a good option if you'd like something more unusual than cookies or candy.

Homemade Beer Bread Mix with Baking Pan from Farmgirl Fare
Chocolate Chestnut Biscotti with Candied Clementine from Vegan Visitor
Cherry Garcia Biscotti from Baking Bites
Gluten Free Milti-Grain Crackers from Gluten Free Goddess
Homemade Whole Wheat Pita Bread (no oven needed) from Just Hungry
Gluten-Free Chickpea Crackers from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Gluten Free and Vegan Herb Crackers from Elana's Pantry
Greek Christmas Bread from Andrea Meyers
Christmas Yeast Bread from A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen

5. Chutney or Relish is something that can be made year round and it makes a great gift. Many of these can be frozen so you can make them in advance.

Dried Cranberry and Pear Chutney from The Perfect Pantry
Hot Mango Chutney from Tinned Tomatoes
Green Raisin Chutney from Food and Thoughts
Beetroot Chutney from Cook (almost) Anything At Least Once
Cranberry Apricot Ginger Chutney from Christine Cooks
Cranberry Apple Ginger Relish from Jugalbandi
Onion, Cilantro, and Lime Juice Relish from For the Love of Cooking
Pickled Mustard Green Relish from Food Mayhem
Pear, Date, and Cinnamon Chutney from Jane Spice Recipes

Photobucket
Photo of Rosemary and Garlic Herb Rub
from Kalyn's Kitchen

6. Herb and Spice Blends or Pastes will be a big hit with serious foodies on your list. These range from simple-to-make to a

  • 18
  • Sparkle (
    )
     

Comments

Post comment as twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Kalyn Denny 7 pts

Emma, thanks for letting me know that you're enjoying my blog. Hope you have fun with some of these ideas!

emmacooks 5 pts

im 14 and i cook with my great grandma who is almost 88. We love Kalyn Denny's blog for so many different reasons. Thanks for all the genius ideas!

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

I agree, those meal-in-a-jar gifts would be good for so many different people!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

swirlingnotions 5 pts

Fantastic list, Kalyn. I especially like the bean soup mix idea -- it looks gorgeous, it's healthy, and you don't have to do any complex canning!

Happy holidays,
Lia

Lia Huber
{ www.swirlingnotions.com ( http://www.swirlingnotions.com ) : experiential wine education and real conversation }

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

Janelle, thanks, especially for the Sangria recipe!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

talkoftomatoes 5 pts

oh, I almost forgot! (It has been awhile): my sangria! Here: http://www.talkoftomatoes.com/2006/09/14/brandied-...

Cheers Kalyn!

talkoftomatoes 5 pts

Kalyn: I adore sending gifts from my kitchen. Just today I handed out a new one: spoons. Those fancy spoons with a ribbon on top and chocolate melted-then-hardened on the spoon. GREAT for stirring in coffee or hot chocolate. (I will have to post on it! Thanks for the reminder!).

MY all time favorite gifts to give: my limoncella, peppermint bark and blueberry chutney. BUT I am always looking for new, great ideas and this is a great resource... time to go peek at a few...

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

HI Susan,
Glad you like the list! I have to admit a tropical island sounds great about now!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Susan Wolfe Bittle 5 pts

Dear Kalyn,

Thanks for the panch phoron mention and this great collection of clever gifts. Next year I want to run away to a deserted tropical island and feed people from afar w/ treats like these. Oh, I am soooo tempted!

Warm Wishes for a Very Merry Christmas!

Susan

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

And you are very welcome. Your chutney sounds great!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Christine Cooks 5 pts

This is a very helpful list for holiday gifts.
And thanks so much for the link!
Cheers,

Christine

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

Sounds like a fun holiday tradition!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

steamykitchen 5 pts

My dear friend K,

You've just made my day. Every year my friends and I exchange home made gifts- easy for me but not for some of my friends. But now they have no excuse! Theyve got a treasure trove of recipes to explore.

yippee! i might be getting more than just a box of cake mix this year from my friends!!! hee hee!

xoxo,j

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

I can't take credit for the idea, since Blogher gave me a homework assignment to write about homemade food gifts, but it was fun deciding what the categories should be and finding the links!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Mimi 5 pts

Kalyn, you have once again come up with a graat idea for a post here, and I can appreciate how much work it was to collect and set up all those links.

I will find a way to link to this over the weekend. And thank you for the link to my site.

Mimi

jugalbandi 5 pts

thanks, kalyn, for compiling this wonderful list. it has been bookmarked.

http://jugalbandi.info

Kalyn Denny 7 pts

that was definitely my goal!

You're welcome!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )

Andrea Meyers 5 pts

There is so much variety here! I have to try Ilva's limoncello sometime. Thanks for sharing all of these, Kalyn. And thanks for the shout-out, too. :-)

Andrea
Andrea's Recipes ( http://www.andreasrecipes.com )