Whether you're gearing up for the holidays or planning ahead for birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebratory moments, my latest guide is your go-to resource for thoughtful, food-centric gifting that won’t break the bank. Stay tuned as we dive into a world where flavor meets frugality!
While my love language is time spent, I derive great joy in treating my friends and family to treats — sometimes for no reason at all, other than to say "I love you!" Here's a wide array of my favorite handmade gifts that blend thoughtfulness with affordability.
Whether it's freshly baked breads, sweet candies, savory preserves, or comforting soup mixes, there's a homemade gift for everyone (and every skill level!)!
But it's not just about the tangible treats; gifting your time can be just as precious. From preparing a meal together to sharing a crafting session, these little moments of togetherness are what make up a beautiful life. This guide aims to spark your creativity and get you excited about making or doing something awesome for the people you love.
Homemade Gifts
When it comes to giving someone you love a gift, nothing compares to the personal touch of a homemade present. Each hand-crafted item carries a piece of you – a gesture that store-bought gifts rarely match. The following economical gifts are treasured not just for their taste but for the love infused in every bite!
Think beyond the expected cookie platters to more interesting projects – personalized liqueurs for aspiring mixologists, herbal tea blends (from your garden?!?!), or even a jar of homemade coffee chocolate ganache alongside a pint of homemade ice cream.
Giftable Drinks
Get ready to sip, savor, and celebrate! Let's explore how you can bottle up joy, one homemade drink at a time.
Homemade Savory Gifts
Perfect for those who lean towards the savory spectrum, these homemade creations celebrate the rich, umami, and herb-infused wonders of the culinary world.
Homemade Candies & Confections
This section is dedicated to those who revel in Willy Wonka's world of pure imagination (not the sad quasi-Fyre fest one 😬). Let's unwrap the joy of making and gifting these sugary wonders, sure to sweeten any moment.
Jams, Preserves, & Nut Butters
It’s easy to spread the love with these homemade jams, preserves, and nut butters. I love to make a batch of home-canned peaches every season to preserve the last of my favorite Peach Truck bounty, then bring them home to my family in California so they can make this yummy peach tartine.
To take your homemade yumminess up a notch, pair your jar with a side of homemade bread.
Breakfast Gifts
Homemade granola is a deliciously crunchy and customizable gift that caters to all taste preferences, from sweet and fruity to nutty and savory. Let’s explore how you can bake up batches of this delightful, crunchy goodness, perfect for gifting a little breakfast magic.
Cleaners & Non-Edible Gifts
Venture beyond the realm of culinary treats with homemade goodies that enhance the heart of every home — the kitchen. These gifts offer a different kind of warmth and comfort, one that lingers in the air and adds a touch of homemade charm to any kitchen space.
- Linen or Room Spray: Create a delightful linen or room spray with a blend of water, a little alcohol, and a few drops of essential oils. Choose scents like lemon, lavender, or mint for a refreshing kitchen ambiance, or evergreen, cinnamon, or clove for the holidays.
- All-Purpose Cleaning Mix: Combine natural ingredients like vinegar, water, citrus peels, and/or essential oils to create an all-purpose cleaning mix. Present it in a stylish spray bottle for a practical and eco-conscious gift. If you're feeling generous, these microfiber towels make an excellent side-car!
- Homemade Candles: Craft homemade candles using soy wax and natural fragrances. Choose scents that will refresh the kitchen, like citrus or rosemary.
- Simmer Pot Gift Jars: Assemble jars filled with dried fruits, spices, and herbs that can be simmered in water on the stovetop or in a slow cooker for a modern take on potpourri. Ingredients like cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, cloves, and star anise not only smell wonderful but also look beautiful in a glass jar, making for a visually appealing and fragrant gift. Include instructions for how to use the simmer pot mix to fill a home with inviting scents.
- Cross-Stitched Kitchen Signs: Design and cross-stitch charming kitchen signs with witty quotes or classic kitchen imagery. Don't forget to frame your designs to protect from kitchen splatters. The Dollar Tree has lots of inexpensive options!
- Embroidered Tea Towels: Embroider tea towels with custom designs, monograms, or culinary motifs. These functional yet beautiful towels add a personal touch to any kitchen.
- Knitted Scrub Towels: Sponges can get pretty gnarly, and there’s only so many times you can disinfect them. Make a homemade version that can easily be tossed in the wash after each use, ensuring your kitchen is both kitschy and clean.
Perfect Packaging
In this section, we explore creative and beautiful ways to package your homemade gifts, ensuring they look as good as they taste or function. Here are some tips and ideas to inspire your packaging:
- Use Mason Jars for Edibles & Mixes: Mason jars are practical (pest-free storage, can be reused over and over, and have measurement markings) and are aesthetically pleasing. They’re perfect for packaging edible gifts like granola, preserves, or layered baking mixes. Embellish with a ribbon, fabric, or custom labels for a personal touch.
- Kraft Paper is the Jam: Brown kraft paper is my go-to wrapping paper because it's super cheap and you can customize it for any occasion. Tie with kitchen twine for a simple, rustic charm. Add a sprig of dried herbs, a flower, or a cinnamon stick for an extra special touch. Use rubber stamps, paint pens, sharpies, or other fun crafty items to personalize it to your giftee.
- Custom Labels & Tags: Design your own labels and tags with a personal message or instructions for use. This adds a pretty, professional touch to items like linen sprays, cleaning mixes, or simmer pots.
- Fabric Wrapping for an Eco-Friendly Touch: Use fabric scraps to wrap your gifts, a technique known as furoshiki. This is not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly, plus it's a great way to repurpose items that might otherwise be destined for the garbage or donation bin (e.g. old curtains, scarves that aren’t your style, torn shirts, etc).
- Decorative Baskets or Boxes: Place your gifts in a decorative basket or box, especially for a collection of items like a spa kit with candles and room spray, or a kitchen cleaning set with homemade cleaners and dish towels. Pssst! You can grab free "flat rate" shipping boxes from your local post office and decorate them to save some $$$.
- Glass Bottles for Liquids: Use glass bottles for liquid gifts like homemade syrups, infused oils, or homemade cleaners. Make sure the bottle makes sense for the application (e.g. a drizzle spout for syrups, a spray nozzle for room spray, a swing top for liqueurs). Decorate with ribbon or twine and a custom label to add elegance.
- Cellophane Bags, Kraft Bags, or Bakery Boxes: Package candies or granola in inexpensive, food-friendly gift bags tied with a colorful ribbon or string. It’s a simple way to showcase the treat inside while keeping it fresh. Bakery boxes are great for larger items like muffins, cookies, or homemade breads. Opt for plain designs (e.g. brown kraft paper or pink bakery boxes) rather than seasonal ones so you can dress them up to fit any occasion.
The Gift of Time
In a world where material gifts often take center stage, this section is a gentle reminder of the profound impact that time spent is often the best gift. (It is for me!) Gifting your time is about creating memories, fostering connections, and showing love through shared experiences and/or thoughtfulness in a time of need. It's priceless — time holds more value than anything that can be wrapped!
Here are a few ways to meaningfully gift your time:
- Cooking Class: Share your joy of cooking by offering a personalized cooking class. Teach your loved ones how to make their favorite dish, or explore new cuisines together. Go the extra mile and print out instructions, plus set your phone up to video the experience. When the party is over, everyone will be able to revisit the instructions to make the dish again and again!
- Be A Cleaning Machine: If you have an elderly or infirm family member (or maybe a buddy who is up to her ears in diapers), gift them a house cleaning. As someone who used to clean houses to make extra scratch, I can attest to how much coming home to a clean house can really brighten someone’s day.
- Meal Prep Party: If you have a friend or family member who's always on the go, offer to spend a day meal prepping with them. (This is also a great way to tackle big-batch, time-intensive recipes like Polish pierogies or Mexican tamales!) Come up with a menu that you'll both love, then do the grocery shopping and bring everything to their house. Don’t worry — you can still split the grocery bill! It's a thoughtful way to spend time together while also easing their weekly workload.
- Recipe Book Scrapbook: Create a personalized recipe book scrapbook. Fill it with favorite family recipes, add photos, and anecdotes. This is a gift that tells your family story, and can be passed down through generations. My Mom's handwritten cookbook from all the recipes we had growing up is priceless — and it's bent, covered in spills, filled with notes. You know, loved, like only the best cookbooks can be.
- Dinner Party Host: Hosting a dinner party (or the holidays!) is a meaningful way to show you care. Prepare a special meal for your loved ones, setting a cozy and intimate atmosphere for you and your favorite people to chat and catch up. If you’re feeling broke, make it a potluck or ask for a contribution from your guests. After all, all they have to do is show up and enjoy!
- New Parent Meal Delivery: The closest I'll get to having an infant is raising my fur babies from pups. I can't even imagine the insanity of new parenthood — Mom has just been through warrior-level physical trauma, both parents are completely sleep-deprived, and then you have to figure out how to care for a completely helpless little nugget that DOESN'T come with an instruction manual, all while trying to keep yourselves fed and awake? Hats off to you, parents. Either drop something off on their doorstep that they can heat and eat, grab this awesome box from Zingerman's, send a gift card from their favorite delivery spot, or go a step further and...
- Set Up a Meal Train: When $#1+ goes south for someone in your community (death, new parenthood, sickness, etc) food is always the best way to show support. When life is tough, letting your own needs fall by the wayside is easy. But if you have friends on a meal train schedule, you don't have to worry about nourishing yourself. Feel free to set up a plan that works for your team (e.g. deliveries on M, W, F between 6-8). Don't forget that gift cards or restaurant food are also welcome!
Remember: the best gifts don't come from a store, rather, they come from the heart (and sometimes the oven!). Whether it’s a jar of homemade apple butter, a candle, or simply the gift of your time, what truly matters is the thought and love put into it.
So, roll up your sleeves, unleash your imagination, and let your gifts tell a story as unique as the love between you and your people. Until next time, keep spreading joy, one homemade masterpiece at a time!
More DIY Money-Saving Adventures
- Top 12 Tips For Hosting The Holidays On A Budget (Without Feeling Stressed)
- Don't Buy It, DIY It! 12 Budget-Friendly Breakfast Hacks So You Can Save $$$ and Ditch the Packaging for Good
- How to Host a Soup Swap + Over 20 Yummy Soup Recipes
- Surprising Secrets Revealed: 13+ Unconventional Ways & Places to Slash Your Grocery Bill
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