If you’re eschewing the more commercial aspects of the holiday season, or you just love making, food gifts are always a good idea.
Here are 22 to make for any holiday gifting—and which to embark on depending on how much time you've got on your hands: an hour or less (below), an afternoon, or a whole day.
Salt, sugar, and spice blends
Sweet or savory, these sugar and spice blends are quick, easy, and endlessly customizable based on your tastes (or what you’ve already got in your pantry).
Spicy sauce
Simply assemble, blend, and enjoy this peppery Sriracha-esque sauce on everything.
Infused honey
Okay, so technically this honey takes about two weeks to infuse. But! You can still make it in under an hour, then simply add “ready to eat on [date two weeks from now]” on your gift tag.
Curry powder
If sugar or salt blends aren’t going to cut it, mix up a unique curry powder.
Cookies & Cream Bark
Two ingredients. Not just for Halloween!
Tapenade
The best recipes aren’t recipes. The best tapenade is gifted tapenade.
Mario Batali's grandma's biscotti
You know it's going to be good.
Spicy, chocolate-covered tortilla chips (!)
An unexpectedly perfect spicy-sweet-crunchy combo.
Grenadine
Pro tip: Save a little money by skipping the orange flower water, and by juicing your own pomegranates.
Marshmallows
A little bit of an intense process, but fun in a science-meets-magic way.
Italian grape jam
Two words: ONE ingredient. Five more words: Syrupy, dense, and sugar-free!
Fennel seed crackers
Pair them with a cheese (or the tapenade above!) for the perfect host gift.
Dragées
Do not be intimidated by the fancy name (it’s pronounced “druh-ZHAYS”). These are seriously snackable sweet treats that are best shared freshly-made.
Bitters sugar cubes
The perfect finishing touch for Champagne cocktails. Just in time for toasting in the New Year!
Peanut butter cups
Try using dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate; sprinkle the tops with a little sea salt or cayenne; or make them vegan by using dairy-free chocolate, vegan sugar, and, instead of butter, coconut oil.
Fresh mozzarella
Can you imagine pulling apart a hunk of still-warm mozzarella?!... Sadly I have to, because no one has ever gifted me amazing homemade cheese.
Fresh farfalle
There is nothing more comforting than pasta. And for farfalle, no pasta-making machine required!
Chocolate caramels
Chocolate + caramel = the best of both dessert worlds.
Peppermint chocolate bark
A holiday classic. The multiple chocolate layers are worth the wait.
'nog
Another holiday classic—with suggestions for various booze + sweetener pairings. Try ‘em all.
Homemade Cheez-its
A favorite childhood afternoon snack. (Speaking of, kids might enjoy helping to cut the dough or poking a hole in each square.)
Homemade oreos
Another childhood favorite—with an optional bourbon-licious adult upgrade.
What are your favorite, last-minute, DIY food gifts? Take to the comments.
This article originally appeared on December 22, 2016. We're re-running it now because, uh, Valentine's Day is tomorrow and perhaps you just haven't gotten around to getting a gift yet?
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