Perhaps you’re on a low budget? Or you love getting your hands dirty in the kitchen or crafting? Want to make present-making a fun activity for the kids? Or you simply love the thoughtfulness behind DIY Christmas gifts and handmade gifts. If this is you, this post is for you. This is the perfect time to check out my DIY homemade gift ideas! There are DIY gift ideas below for every level, whether you’re a first-time DIYer or a creative at heart. For many, you can even get your little elf helpers (aka children) involved. Even better, most of the below DIY gift ideas are super inexpensive to make. Some are even entirely made with items already in your home. And most of them fall heavily on the side of homemade food gifts because food gifts are my favorite to receive! Plus, between homemade preserves, hot chocolate mix, spice blends, or a homemade gingerbread house kit, there’s something for everyone and for every time of the year. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for friends and families, neighbors, colleagues, hostess gifts, etc., I’ve got you covered.
Why are homemade gifts so special
I love DIY Christmas gift ideas (which work just as well for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s day, and other special occasions) because they show you care. Anyone can go and buy something in a store. But taking the time to select and make something (especially if customizing it personally) shows the thoughtfulness the recipients are bound to love!
How do you make your DIY gift more personal
No matter which of the below DIY food gifts you choose, it’s very easy to make your gift more personal. You don’t even need any special equipment. You can easily package it as a jar gift or reuse a small box. Make sure to label and sign – you can even make a DIY card. Handcrafted gifts are so meaningful and personal. Your creativity shows you care and the gift will be memorable.
Homemade food gifts
Edible gifts are a perfect way to show someone you care. You might want to share classic gingerbread cookies, dried homemade pasta, or even pickled and preserved foods. There are tons of ways to share edible gifts this holiday season.
Cooking Essentials
If you’re looking for easy handmade gifts for foodies, they’re sure to appreciate some kitchen basics. Especially when you go to the effort of preparing them yourself. All you need is basic pantry staples, a glass container (like a mason jar or mini spice jjar, and labels.
Dried Rosemary
You could also make dried thyme and dried mint. Or homemade dried ground spices, like ground onion powder, garlic powder, and ginger powder.
Herb Salt
Flaky Salt (Plain and Infused)
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Chili Oil
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Extra-Virgin coconut oil
Avocado oil
Baking Essentials
Got a baker to cater to? They’re sure to appreciate any of the below handmade gifts. From homemade alternative flours to syrups, extracts, and sauces, you can pull together a little bundle as a gift. Or make just one for homemade stocking stuffing. Other spice options include: Chicken seasoning, taco seasoning, cinnamon sugar, French fry seasoning, Egyptian Dukkah, Lebanese 7 Spice, Mexican Spice, garam masala, shawarma seasoning, Everything Bagel seasoning, Falafel spice, Italian seasoning, Lebanese za’atar, etc.
Homemade Almond Flour
When you think of edible gifts, flour probably isn’t what comes to mind. But for a specialty/free-from baker, it will be much appreciated. Other DIY flour options include oat flour, lentil flour, cornmeal, homemade rye flour, or chickpea flour.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Powder
Simple Syrup
Have someone who loves flavored coffees or cocktails in your life? Why not make a flavored syrup (or even a syrup gift set)? You can choose from coffee syrup, ginger syrup, lavender syrup, vanilla syrup, peach syrup, date syrup, lemon syrup, etc.
Rose Water
Rose Extract
Vegan Dandelion Honey
Creamy Homemade Caramel Sauce
If you think the recipient would prefer a healthier option check out this healthy vegan caramel instead.
Sauces, Preserves, and Condiments
Pickled and preserved foods are perfect for a thoughtful, often low-budget edible gift for family and friends. Some of these DIY presents may need refrigeration. But there are also ways to “can” or “water bath” many to make them shelf-stable!
Red Chili Paste (Water Bath Canning Optional)
Turmeric Honey
Homemade Miso Paste
Simple Rose Petal Jam
Homemade Blackberry jam
A trio/selection of homemade jams makes for a wonderful homemade Christmas food gift. Present them alone or alongside crackers and other nibbles. Plus, there are plenty of jam recipes to choose from. Like raspberry jam, strawberry jam, fig jam, ginger marmalade, or even onion jam.
Creamy Almond Butter
Check out my guide to nut and seed butters for the full list of recipes you could make, including options like hazelnut butter, pistachio butter, sunflower seed butter, etc. I’ve also shared recipes for a super omega seed butter or granola butter (oat-based).
Coffee Peanut Butter Spread
Homemade Healthier Nutella
Choose from any of the spreads found in this category to make a homemade DIY gift basket. Combine 3-4 spreads with crackers, cookies, nuts, olives, cheese, etc.
Honey-Fermented Ginger and Lemon
Honey Fermented Garlic
Preserved Lemons
Pickled Red Onions
Pumpkin Preserves
Other Homemade Food Gifts
Homemade Floral Pappardelle Pasta
Homemade Vegan Pasta
You might also enjoy this naturally-colored rainbow pasta, red lentil pasta, green pasta, chickpea flour pasta, or oat pasta. Here are some other great pickles to make: Pickled Green Tomatoes, Pickled Asparagus, Quick Pickled Garlic, Pink Pickled Turnips, Pickled Jalapeños, and Pickled Cucumbers.
Black Garlic
Sun-Ddried Tomatoes
Cookies
While there are more sweet homemade DIY gift ideas below, I thought cookies deserved their own category as a great gift to bundle and even post. Christmas cookie boxes are simple to prepare, can be made as beautiful as you like, and are never not appreciated.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Vanilla Pinwheel Cookies
Easy Gingerbread Cookies
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Looking for more cookie ideas to add to edible gifts or create a Christmas cookie/treat box? You might also enjoy these homemade digestive Biscuits, almond pistachio thumbprint cookies, or maamoul cookies (Middle Eastern cookies).
Other Snacks and Sweet Treats
For all the sugar and sweet treat lovers in your life, here are some great ideas to curb their cravings most deliciously with these simple DIY holiday gifts.
Homemade Milk Chocolate
Not a big fan of milk chocolate? Perhaps you’d like to make dark chocolate or white chocolate instead?
Homemade Granola
Homemade Almond Paste (Vegan Marzipan)
Vegan Coconut Bliss Balls
Hazelnut Truffles (Vegan Ferrero Rocher)
If you want to create a selection of different bite-sized treats as a DIY food gift, you might also enjoy these Turmeric Energy Balls or Cacao & Almond Protein Balls.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Vegan Chocolate Candy (Filled)
White Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Easy Candied Pecans
Candied Ginger
Candied Orange Slices in Syrup
Homemade Caramel Fudge
Also check my Chocolate Fudge recipe for those chocolate loving individuals!
Dried Strawberry Slices
Healthy Homemade Muesli
Fun Baking Mixes and Kits
Sure, you can pick up baking kits as a cheap stocking filler or gift fairly easily. But I love to make them from scratch and adapt them to my guests’ dietary and flavor preferences (i.e., gluten-free, sugar-free, etc.). These DIY gifts show the recipient you care, PLUS gives them a fun activity to do.
Homemade Pancake Mix
Homemade Gingerbread House
Brownie in a Jar (GF)
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
Golden Milk Powder
Homemade Kombucha/ Scoby
Crafty DIY gifts
Finally, here are non-edible easy handmade gifts perfect for including as stocking stuffers or part of a homemade gift set. I quite often make bundles of similar items to make a mini kit (I.e., several homemade soaps with the skin balm).
Hair and Body Homemade Gift Ideas
All-Natural Soothing Skin Balm
Simple Homemade Soaps
Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub
Other Easy Homemade Gifts
Beginner Candles
Homemade Coconut Bowls (Food Safe)
Natural Non-Toxic Citrus Cleaner
Filled Glass Ornaments
With these homemade filled tree ornaments, you can hang these cute stocking stuffers directly onto the Christmas tree. Better yet, this simple gift is super versatile. Load them up with some of the DIY Christmas gifts we’ve already mentioned above. Like hot chocolate mix and mini marshmallows and homemade seasoning blends, or perhaps sprinkles or bath salts, etc.
Personalized Apron
If you’re looking for an easy but thoughtful kitchen gift for mum (or dad), why not make them a personalized apron? Using iron-on transfer letters, you can monogram the apron with their initials or find other iron-on transfer options to add the words/design of your choice. You can use this same method for beautiful personalized tea towels! If you make any of these homemade gift ideas, let me know how it goes in the comments below. And I would love to see your creations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
