Handmade Holiday Gifts

Give your favorite food lovers what they really want for the holidays: homemade fudge and brittle, freshly baked holiday breads, jarred jams and more handmade and edible gifts from the heart.

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Photo By: Evan Sung for The New York Times

Spiced Ginger Rum Balls

Chrissy Teigen's colored-sugar-flecked chocolate balls are as spicy as she is sassy, and with 1/4 cup of dark rum, are delightfully boozy –– perfect for holiday parties.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Ginger Rum Balls

Triple-Decker Peanut Butter and Pretzel Fudge

With layers of dense peanut butter fudge and silky dark chocolate ganache topped off with savory sourdough pretzels, this fudge defines indulgence.

Get the Recipe: Triple-Decker Peanut Butter and Pretzel Fudge

Candied Pecans

All you need to make candied nuts is sugar, water, salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Make a big batch to pass around at your next party.

Get the Recipe: Chuck's Candied Pecans

Chicago Mix Popcorn

This caramel corn and cheddar cheese popcorn mix will appeal to those who like their sweet and salty flavors combined. Be sure to start with fresh, stovetop-popped popcorn for the best flavor.

Get the Recipe: Chicago Mix Popcorn

Limoncello

Bestow bottles of this lemon-tinged libation on the liqueur connoisseurs in your life and get ready to win gift giver of the year! Just make sure to start your batch a month and a half before you need it. After all, you can’t rush love… or limoncello.

Get the Recipe: Limoncello

Chocolate Truffles

Gift Alton's rich truffles this season and be prepared to ward off plenty of requests for the recipe. He spikes chocolate ganache with brandy and rolls the truffles in cocoa powder, chopped nuts or toasted coconut.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Truffles

Salted Caramel Sauce

Salted caramel sauce is great in just about everything. Give it in glass jars with recipe cards attached for caramel dip, milkshakes and more.

Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Sauce

Brownie Peppermint Bark

Go beyond a basic peppermint bark by adding a thin layer of brownie crust to boost the richness of this traditional holiday candy.

Get the Recipe: Brownie Peppermint Bark

Apricot-Chocolate Trail Mix

With its rich dark chocolate, dried fruit and toasted nuts, your office mate will feel spoiled by this haute afternoon snack. Give a jar with some hot cocoa mix or a bottle of red wine or port.

Get the Recipe: Apricot-Dark Chocolate Trail Mix

Candy Cane-Kissed Peppermint Patties

These peppermint cream and chocolate cookie sandwiches would already be festive, bearing the season's favorite flavor pairing, but a half-moon hat of chocolate-mint cream and crushed peppermint makes them downright iconic.

Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Kissed Peppermint Patties

Gingerbread Cookie Mix Gift Jar

Bestow this simple-to-make cookie mix on friends and family so that they can bake, bake as fast as they can… to catch themselves a gingerbread man. Add a bit of extra charm by packaging the mix in glass jars and attaching a cookie cutter with string.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cookie Mix Gift Jar

Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bars

These chocolate bars can be pulled together quickly after raiding your pantry for sweet, salty and nutty ingredients. All you need are slivered almonds, chocolate morsels, dried cranberries and a pinch of tangerine or orange zest.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bars with Tangerine Zest

Porchetta Rub Kit

Ideal for the amateur butcher or pork lover, this kit has everything needed to roast like a Tuscan. Take it up a notch by including a set of nice wooden salt and pepper grinders, or a small jar of fennel pollen (bought online).

Get the Recipe: Porchetta Rub Kit

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Brighten up a cold Christmas day by gifting these fluffy crimson sandwich cookies to friends and family. The combination of subtle cocoa cookies and a sweet cream cheese filling is always a crowd-pleaser, especially in palm-sized portions.

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Figgy Holiday Quick Bread

Drizzle individual fruit- and nut-filled quick breads with icing to give as gifts to breakfast lovers.

Get the Recipe: Figgy Holiday Quick Bread

Balsamic Chocolate Truffles

Giada intensifies the flavor of her dark chocolate truffles with a couple teaspoons of balsamic vinegar. This adds a tart edge to the pleasantly bitter chocolate and cream.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic Chocolate Truffles

Chile-Cinnamon Brittle with Mixed Nuts

Rachael roasts almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts to really develop their individual flavors before preparing this brittle. A bit of chile powder and cinnamon add heat and spice, and she limits the amount of sugar used, to render a truly savory brittle.

Get the Recipe: Chile-Cinnamon Brittle with Mixed Nuts

Holiday Mulling Spices

The cinnamon sticks, cardamom, peppercorns, allspice and more make this the best-smelling gift you'll ever give. Include a recipe card for Mulling Spices.

Get the Recipe: Holiday Mulling Spices

Red Velvet Twinks

This Christmas-ready recipe re-makes the famous snack cake with a southern twist. Goat cheese adds a nice tang to the traditional cream cheese filling, while a dip in shredded coconut makes for a pretty presentation.

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Twinks

Chocolate-Espresso Morning Buzz Granola

Give your granola a jolt with chopped, chocolate-covered espresso beans. Play up the theme by giving it in small brown paper bags or coffee bags. If you prefer a decaf version, adjust the brown sugar to taste — reduce by a tablespoon or two — before baking.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Espresso Morning Buzz Granola

Peanut Butter Fudge

Alton's easy fudge recipe circumvents the stove-top entirely; the peanut butter gets warmed in a microwave. After that, a quick mix with butter, vanilla and powdered sugar leads to perfectly smooth fudge that you'll want to keep all to yourself.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Fudge

Cashew Nut Brittle

Kelsey infuses her brittle with a briny edge by spreading the hot, caramelized mixture over a chilled block of Himalayan sea salt to harden.

Cashew Nut Brittle

Preserved Lemons

Turn the everyday into the exotic with a gift that's sure to intrigue and inspire. Preserved lemons, with their intense lemony tang, are the key ingredient to many Moroccan specialties like tagines, and pair well with olives, artichokes, chicken or fish.

Get the Recipe: Preserved Lemons

Gingerbread Cake Truffles

Gingerbread is anything but boring when rolled up with lemon cream cheese frosting and drenched in white-chocolate candy coating.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cake Truffles

Homemade Pomegranate-Lime Lollipops

Smooth and full of zing, these lollipops make for a special holiday treat. Feel free to swap out the lime juice and try ginger-spiked orange juice or grapefruit juice instead.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Pomegranate-Lime Lollipops

Thai Bird Vodka

You know your buddy who can't get enough hot sauce in his Bloody Mary at brunch? This vodka infusion is for him. It's not only stunning with floating Thai bird chiles and whole peppercorns, but it also gets hotter every day. Let it sit for at least a week for intense heat.

Get the Recipe: Thai Bird Vodka

Sea Salt Caramels

Crafting a fine caramel is a true art, and New York City confectioner Liddabit Sweets, who specialize in caramels in all sorts of flavors, know a thing or two about the secret sweet science.

Get the Recipe: Sea Salt Caramels

Free Range Fruitcake

The best part about this nutty, brandy-tinged cake? It gets better with age. Prep it up to two weeks before you plan to gift it.

Get the Recipe: Free Range Fruitcake

Pine Nut Brittle

Brittle is great for gifting — the more broken, the better. Roger Mooking's pine-nut variety is sure to be the only one of its kind under the tree or on the table.

Get the Recipe: Pine Nut Brittle

Juniper Mop Sauce

If you have a lot of barbecue lovers in your life, double, triple or even quadruple this recipe. The tangy, punchy and perfectly balanced juniper-coriander mop laced with gin and juice is perfect for slathering on just about anything.

Get the Recipe: Juniper Mop Sauce

Chocolate Truffles

You might think these are nut-encrusted truffles, but guess again! The outer layer is actually a crunchy coating of subtly sweet maple flakes (which can be found online or at specialty food shops).

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Truffles

Pineapple Confit with Aleppo Pepper, Smoked Sea Salt or Cloves

Are you going to be the guest this holiday? Surprise your host with this golden pineapple confit, speckled with spicy aleppo pepper or smoky salt crystals.

Get the Recipe: Pineapple Confit with Aleppo Pepper, Smoked Sea Salt or Cloves

Seaside Toffee

For the perfect consistency, this chunky, chocolatey treat needs to be made in dry, cold weather — it won't set up properly in a humid environment.

Get the Recipe: Seaside Toffee

Sweet and Sesame Kettle Corn

Sweet like caramel corn, savory like cheese popcorn, but livelier than both, this is a perfect hostess gift. Toasted sesame adds just the right sophisticated, nutty note.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sesame Kettle Corn

Chocolate Fudge

No marshmallow fluff here; this recipe boils down evaporated milk until it's just the right consistency to blend with high-quality chocolate. The result is a less sweet, but more intense, chocolate flavor.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge

Cranberry Honey Butter

This is a great make-ahead gift since you can refrigerate it for up to two weeks. For gifting, pair with homemade rolls, scones, muffins or cornbread.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Honey Butter

Spiked Date and Fudge Balls

Darker, denser and chewier than a truffle, these spiked balls are a great grown-up alternative to regular chocolate.

Get the Recipe: Spiked Date and Fudge Balls

Spiced Almonds

Cumin, paprika and rosemary give these almonds their unique flavor. Make a large batch to gift in individual jars.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Almonds

Graham Cracker Toffee

This four-ingredient recipe turns graham crackers into chewy, nutty, caramelized bars. Simply top them with a butter, sugar and nut sauce and bake for 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Graham Cracker Toffee

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Pecans

This easy buttermilk bread has it all: zucchini, chocolate and pecans. Bake up a few loaves and pass them out to friends and family.

Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Pecans

Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars

Topped with a glossy layer of apricot preserves, these chewy, energizing bars are wonderful for breakfast, a snack or a healthy dessert. The sweet nutty flavor is offset by tart dried cherries.

Get the Recipe: Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

These creamy, to-die-for truffles are proof that you don't need fancy gadgets or ingredients (or even an oven!) to whip up an insanely delicious confection.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Alton's Chocolate Fudge

Any nut will work in this simple fudge recipe — or none at all! Once prepped, it can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week, leaving plenty of time to pack it up into individual presents.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge

Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Bark with Bacon, Pecans and Chile

Sweet, spicy, crunchy — this ultimate popcorn has it all! It combines just about everything delicious: dark chocolate, vanilla bean, smoked bacon, chipotle powder, pecans and more.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Bark with Bacon, Pecans and Chili

Gingerbread Squares with Cream Cheese Frosting

Use freshly ground ginger in these cake bars, then top with homemade cream cheese frosting. Slice and store in tins to give as gifts.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Squares with Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla Almonds

These cinnamon, sugar and vanilla almonds can be broken up into clusters and packaged in tins or jars.

Get the Recipe: Vanilla Almonds

Schiacciata Alla Fiorentina

This unbelievably easy Florentine orange cake from Debi and Gabriele is traditionally made in Italy around Easter, but bright citrus sweets are welcome in the dead of winter –– when oranges are, in fact, best.

Get the Recipe: Schiacciata Alla Fiorentina

Chocolate Truffles

With just three ingredients you can make dozens of Mark Bittman's chocolate truffles to package up as gifts.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Truffles

Midnight White Chocolate Cherry Bark

Dried cranberries or other fruits add color and sweet contrast to this double-chocolate and peppermint bark, which gains its beautiful striated color from a surprising hardware-shop tool.

Get the Recipe: Midnight White Chocolate Cherry Bark

Christmas Chutney

Use the best of what's in season like apples, cranberries and cider for this classic chutney your gift recipient will want to use all year round.

Get the Recipe: Christmas Chutney

Hot Fudge Sauce

This delicious homemade sauce can be gifted in jars to anyone who loves ice cream sundaes.

Get the Recipe: Hot Fudge Sauce

Caramelized Pear, Black Pepper, Honey and Goat Cheese Pound Cake

Plain pound cake? Please! You'll never go back after one bite of this delightfully different version that's made with Gjetost, a caramelized Norwegian cheese made with cow's and goat's milk.

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Pear, Black Pepper, Honey and Goat Cheese Pound Cake

Cacao Nib Caramel Corn

Indulge in a few bites of this sticky caramel corn, then bag it up as presents.

Get the Recipe: Cacao Nib Caramel Corn

Peanut Butter, Bourbon and Maple Fudge (Halvah)

A popular treat in the Middle East and North Africa, halvah is akin to fudge. Dense, sweet and crumbly, this version uses peanut butter instead of traditional pistachios.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter, Bourbon and Maple Fudge (Halvah)

Croccante: Almond Brittle

This Italian brittle filled with almonds will have your gift recipients saying "bellissimo!"

Get the Recipe: Croccante: Almond Brittle

Pomegranate Soda Kit

Get crafty by prepping your own pomegranate syrup, then pack it up with seltzer, pomegranate seeds and how-to instructions to create a tasty soda kit gift.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Pomegranate Soda Kit

Vanilla Meringues

Use pink food coloring (or red and green) to make colorful miniature meringues.

Get the Recipe: Vanilla Meringues

Browned Butter Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

Butter is good; browned butter is better. The only things in the world that could take traditional Rice Krispies Treats from good to better is browned butter and a healthy portion of peanut butter.

Get the Recipe: Browned Butter Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

Fraya Berg's Famous Biscotti

Going the homemade route this holiday? Make this recipe your go-to: It only takes about 10 minutes to make the dough, another 5 to shape the logs and get them in the oven, and then 25 to bake.

Get the Recipe: Fraya Berg's Famous Biscotti

Petits Fours

Homespun doesn't have to mean rustic. Take a fancier approach with Laura Calder's irresistible petits fours.

Get the Recipe: Petits Fours

Popcorn and Peanut Bark

You'll be surprised at just how amazing three little ingredients can taste when mixed together with melted bittersweet chocolate.

Get the Recipe: Popcorn and Peanut Bark

Apple-Habanero Jelly

Making your own jelly is easy with Sean's recipe that uses apple cider, sugar and habaneros.

Get the Recipe: Apple-Habanero Jelly

Holiday and Christmas Gift Ideas

Handmade Holiday Gifts

Related To:

Spiced Ginger Rum Balls

Triple-Decker Peanut Butter and Pretzel Fudge

Candied Pecans

Chicago Mix Popcorn

Limoncello

Chocolate Truffles

Salted Caramel Sauce

Brownie Peppermint Bark

Apricot-Chocolate Trail Mix

Candy Cane-Kissed Peppermint Patties

Gingerbread Cookie Mix Gift Jar

Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bars

Porchetta Rub Kit

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Figgy Holiday Quick Bread

Balsamic Chocolate Truffles

Chile-Cinnamon Brittle with Mixed Nuts

Holiday Mulling Spices

Red Velvet Twinks

Chocolate-Espresso Morning Buzz Granola

Peanut Butter Fudge

Cashew Nut Brittle

Preserved Lemons

Gingerbread Cake Truffles

Homemade Pomegranate-Lime Lollipops

Thai Bird Vodka

Sea Salt Caramels

Free Range Fruitcake

Pine Nut Brittle

Juniper Mop Sauce

Chocolate Truffles

Pineapple Confit with Aleppo Pepper, Smoked Sea Salt or Cloves

Seaside Toffee

Sweet and Sesame Kettle Corn

Chocolate Fudge

Cranberry Honey Butter

Spiked Date and Fudge Balls

Spiced Almonds

Graham Cracker Toffee

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread with Pecans

Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Alton's Chocolate Fudge

Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Bark with Bacon, Pecans and Chile

Gingerbread Squares with Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla Almonds

Schiacciata Alla Fiorentina

Chocolate Truffles

Midnight White Chocolate Cherry Bark

Christmas Chutney

Hot Fudge Sauce

Caramelized Pear, Black Pepper, Honey and Goat Cheese Pound Cake

Cacao Nib Caramel Corn

Peanut Butter, Bourbon and Maple Fudge (Halvah)

Croccante: Almond Brittle

Pomegranate Soda Kit

Vanilla Meringues

Browned Butter Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats

Fraya Berg's Famous Biscotti

Petits Fours

Popcorn and Peanut Bark

Apple-Habanero Jelly

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