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A round-up of 65+ simple, easy, and inexpensive homemade gift ideas. Including sweet and savory edible gifts, candles, sugar scrubs, and more. Perfect for inexpensive stocking fillers, Christmas gift baskets, hostess gifts, and as DIY gifts for other special occasions!
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.
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.
If you have fresh herb plants at home, providing friends with a selection of dried herbs (courtesy of your oven, a dehydrator, or simply air drying) is one of the most low-budget gifts, perfect for foodies!
Make these versatile infused salts in just minutes with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, perfect for adding as stocking stuffers or creating several flavors into a useful homemade gift box to encourage any foodie back into the kitchen.
Make flaky salt (like Maldon's!) at home with just cheap kosher salt, a saucepan, and 4 methods of dehydration! Add herbs (saffron, chili, etc) or food-grade essential oils to flavor and color it!
Easy Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice (Substitutions and Uses)
This simple spice blends four pantry-friendly ingredients to make a spice perfect for adding to lattes, cakes, bakes, and more. Gift it in a simple jar or create more of a DIY gift set by pairing it with usage/recipe ideas and optional kitchen tools (like measuring spoons, a bowl and mixing spoon, etc.).
This gluten-free, vegan condiment requires just 2 ingredients and a few minutes to prepare and is the perfect addition to elevate tons of meals, with a smoky, spicy aroma that is sure to delight any foodie who likes some spice. Decant into a glass jar with a pretty label for an inexpensive homemade gift for friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family.
No list of homemade Christmas food gifts would be complete without homemade spice blends. They're simple to prepare, inexpensive, and can be customized to the recipient. Just pop them in a small jar with a pretty ribbon/ label, and voila, a wonderful homemade gift idea for foodies.
That’s not the only spice blend you can choose from either. Whether you want a single small stocking stuffer or to create a small set of seasonings, these useful homemade gifts are perfect for foodies.
Impress your friends and family with a DIY gift they wouldn't expect. This homemade coconut oil is made with just ONE ingredient, costs less to prepare than store-bought versions, and is perfect for using for beauty and food uses.
How To Make Avocado Oil (Extra Virgin – Cold-process)
If you have access to cheap avocados and a bit of patience, you can prepare this healthy oil with no processing, perfect for high-heat cooking and hair and beauty purposes. Decant it into a nice bottle with a label for a thoughtful gift to any healthy food lover.
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.
How To Make Almond Flour (Cheaper than store bought)
Alternative flours like almond flour can be fairly expensive to buy but are surprisingly simple to make at home. They're also inexpensive if you already have the ingredients in your pantry – a great homemade gift idea for "free-from" bakers. Double that up with other homemade food gifts from this category (like vanilla extract) for a cute baking kit.
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.
Homemade vanilla extract takes just 5 minutes to prepare but some patience to be ready to use. Ideally, it will be ready when gifted. However, if not, just pop a "ready by" label on it for a homemade food gift perfect for the bakers in your family.
Make vanilla powder from leftover vanilla pods for a DIY food gift that reduces food waste and makes for a cheap homemade gift. Spread it even further by combining the powder with sugar for a simple vanilla-infused sugar.
Simple syrups are probably one of the most low-budget DIY homemade Christmas food gifts you can make. Made with a base of just sugar and water, this syrup can be used in hot and cold drinks, cakes, frosting, and more. Plus, you can make it using regular, brown, unrefined, or even sugar-free sugar options, perfect for adapting to the recipient and showing you care.
Rose water may not typically be something you'd think of as a homemade gift idea, but it's surprisingly interesting to make and super versatile in its uses (beauty, room mist, edible). All you need are some organic roses!
This extract is stronger than rose water and is perfect to use in baked goods, puddings, cocktails, other drinks, and even for home and beauty uses. Plus, the process only requires two "ingredients" and a simple method for an easy homemade gift.
Vegan alternatives can be notoriously expensive to buy, but this 3-ingredient vegan honey substitute relies on just 3 ingredients (apple juice, foraged dandelions, and sugar) for a sweet and sticky syrup that really tastes like regular honey, but is 100% vegan, making it a thoughtful homemade food gift for any vegans in your life.
This 4 ingredient (plus optional extras if you want to make a flavored version) homemade caramel sauce requires no thermometer and is super versatile, making for a great edible gift for any sweet tooth. I love to make interesting flavored versions to gift to neighbors and Secret Santa recipients.
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!
This 4-ingredient chili paste can be canned for long-term storage and makes for a versatile condiment/ingredient to add to meals, sauces, marinades, and spreads. Give it a pretty label, and maybe even some suggested uses, for a simple DIY present.
This health-boosting turmeric honey mixture is loaded with beneficial nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties, perfect for gifting to those who might appreciate the boost. Use it to turn into shots, as a spread, in yogurt bowls, and more.
While it may not be your typical edible gift, homemade miso paste using koji rice (Shinshu Miso/Kome Miso) requires just 4 ingredients and can be paired with a printed recipe (or several) to entice the foodies in your life. If it's not "ready" in time for gifting, include a label of when it will be.
Simple rose petal jam requires just four ingredients and a simple process, perfect as a spread, slathered, or spooned into desserts. Plus, it's a little bit unique, making for a great homemade food gift optionally paired with other jams, crackers, etc.
This easy homemade blackberry jam recipe is perfect for beginner jam-makers and loaded with tips and optional ingredient add-ins to make tasty homemade jam combos foodies will adore.
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.
As long as you have a high-speed blender, no nut or seed butter is out of your grasp. Better yet, most only require one or two ingredients at most and are refined sugar-free, hydrogenated oil-free, cheaper (making it great as an edible gift), and tastier than store-bought!
This 5-ingredient coffee peanut butter spread is a delicious DIY holiday gift for those who need a cup of coffee before they feel ready for the day. It's simple to prepare and can be enjoyed over toast or baked goods, in smoothies, and more.
With just 5 ingredients and 30 minutes of your time, you can whip up a delicious jar of homemade Vegan Nutella. Dairy-free, vegan, Paleo, refined sugar-free, and healthier than the store-bought version, making for a great edible gift for those watching their diet who also have a sweet tooth.
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 is a common combination for combatting cold/flu symptoms (making it a useful homemade gift for that person who gets a cold every year) and tasty addition to meals, dressing, and drinks.
Similar to the above, but with garlic, this fermented garlic honey is a tasty condiment with cold and flu combatting abilities, immune-boosting properties, and an impressive shelf-life; perfect for enjoying for years to come! Best of all, all you need is two ingredients and a sterilized jar to prepare this cheap gift idea.
If you're looking for low-budget DIY food gifts that aren't your typical offerings, why not try these preserved lemons? Once cured, these flavor bombs can be used to add brightness and depth to sauces, stews, salads, and more! Simply add a cute label to the jar optionally with some serving recommendations.
These 4-ingredient pickled red onions (aka Pink Onions) are quick to prepare, easy to adapt, and perfect for adding to sandwiches, tacos, salads, and more as a simple DIY present.
I love gifting pickled ingredients at Christmas and any other occasion. They’re simple to prepare and can be flavored in dozens of different ways. Make more of a DIY gift set by pairing the pickles with other ingredients to make a meal. I.e., the above pickles paired with a homemade taco meal kit – tortillas, taco spice blend, and recipe.
If you're looking for unique DIY gift ideas for foodies, try candied pumpkin in syrup or pumpkin jam. Both require just a handful of ingredients, are simple to prepare, and can be water bath canned for a year of storage.
Who knew pasta could be so beautiful?! This homemade pappardelle has a special floral, herby twist that not only looks gorgeous but also adds a delicious, delicate flavor to a dish. Pair it with some sauce for a simple, elegant, interesting Christmas, birthday, or Mother's day gift.
A simple DIY for three-ingredient homemade vegan pasta – that can be dried, refrigerated or frozen and made into a whole variety of delicious vegan dishes.
How to Make Black Garlic (+ What is it | FAQs | Uses)
When thinking of the best food gifts for a foodie, I love to surprise them with something they may never have tried before. Exhibit A: black garlic. It's a tender, mellow, slightly sweet, date-like ingredient packed with health benefits and perfect for spreading, dipping, and adding to sauces, pasta, soups, etc. I recommend pairing it with a recipe or list of recommended uses.
These homemade sun-dried tomatoes (3 ways) are the perfect cheap DIY christmas gift for someone who has a tomato plant. Pair the delicious, flavor-packed, tangy semi-dried tomatoes with other homemade antipasti, or use them as a stocking filler.
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.
Orange Christmas Sugar Cookies – Fawns and Snowflakes
These fawn, tree, and snowflake decorated orange sugar cookies make for one of the best homemade gifts to show you care. Decorated with care, these Christmas cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious, and will work wonderfully alone or as part of a Christmas snack box/ cookie box.
Chocolate Vanilla Pinwheel Cookies (Slice-and-Bake Swirl Cookies)
Soft, sweet, and beautiful old-fashioned chocolate vanilla pinwheel cookies (aka swirl cookies) use a simple sugar cookie dough flavored with vanilla and cacao powder. Even better, these chocolate swirl cookies are shockingly simple to prepare and perfect for a simple Christmas DIY gift idea.
Make classic gingerbread cookies to add to a DIY Christmas gift box, create a gingerbread "decorate your own" kit for kids, or prepare gingerbread mug toppers to pair with a mug and hot chocolate mix for simple and delicious edible homemade gift ideas.
There is never a wrong time for good chocolate chip cookies, and that includes as one of the best homemade gifts for a sweet tooth (especially as part of a larger Christmas cookie box). These cookies are appetizingly ooey-gooey, thick, chewy, and super-chocolatey.
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.
Every Christmas, I come across interesting-looking topped chocolate bars and think they'd make for wonderful edible stocking fillers, though they can be quite pricey. Well, why not make your own? Using just 4 ingredients, you can create homemade chocolate from scratch – load it up with your toppings of choice (adapted to best match each recipient) before leaving it to set. Wrap it up in see-through packaging, and voila!
Using a simple formula, you can make almost endless varieties of homemade granola, perfect for customizing to the flavor (like Christmas granola with walnuts, cinnamon, and cranberries), texture, and dietary requirements needed when packing them in a nicely labeled container as a delicious, easy homemade gift that shows you care.
Depending on where you're based, Marzipan fruits and other shapes are a Christmas staple.. well, with just a simple tweak to the ingredients, you can transform this almond paste into moldable Marzipan, perfect for shaping and decorating for a homemade Christmas gift!
These 3-ingredient healthy coconut bliss balls are the perfect healthy "bounty"-like bite-sized treats but much healthier. They are a healthy vegan snack, refined sugar-free, low-carb, gluten-free, and take less than 10 minutes to make! Wrap them individually or prepare them as part of a selection of homemade Christmas treats.
Whether you have vegan friends and family or simply want to prepare a delicious treat as part of your DIY Christmas gift offerings, these hazelnut truffles will be loved. They contain just 7 ingredients and are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan, requiring only minutes of hands-on prep.
These super simple chocolate peanut butter cups are refined sugar-free, dairy-free, and adaptable – using your choice of nut/seed butter and optionally adding extra flavor with spice blends (like pumpkin pie spice or gingerbread spice), for a simple and delicious cheap homemade gift.
These easy homemade filled chocolates are a perfect homemade gift for a loved one – made with a healthy combination of a dark chocolate shell and lightly spiced chocolate nut filling. Easily customize with your choice of chocolate and filling, though!
This white chocolate peppermint bark is top of the list for cheap and simple homemade Christmas food gifts. It requires minimal ingredients, is simple enough to get the kids involved, and is a crowd-pleasing treat perfect as a stocking stuffer or part of an edible Christmas gift basket. You can even customize it to various taste/dietary requirements (including vegan/Keto).
Easy candied pecans are a delicious sweet and savory snack, salad topper, addition to a cheeseboard, or holiday gift! Plus, all you need is 6 ingredients (with several easy swaps and add-ins!) and a stovetop or baked method for perfect caramelized pecans every time! Gift them in a cellophane bag or jar with a pretty ribbon, for a simple, inexpensive DIY gift.
3-ingredient candied ginger is simple to prepare and perfect for sharing in a small jar as a unique edible stocking stuffer. Use this method to make candied ginger stored in a simple ginger syrup, or go one step further and dry the ginger pieces for delicious homemade crystallized ginger!
Candied Orange Slices in Syrup (Caramelized Orange)
How to make candied orange slices (in syrup and optionally sugar-coated) with just 3 ingredients and a simple process; perfect for adding to cakes, desserts, and serving alongside yogurt!
This homemade fudge is soft, creamy, buttery, and makes for a delicious homemade Christmas food gift, especially when sprinkled with red, white, and green sprinkles. Wrap it up in small bags or prepare it as part of a larger Christmas gift box.
These dried strawberries (aka strawberry chips) are a healthy, flavorful snack made with an oven or dehydrator. Optionally dip them in chocolate for a simple, delicious, and cheap homemade gift for friends and family.
With a combination of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, this muesli cereal is incredibly versatile, as well as being gluten-free, sugar-free, and 100% vegan. It's the healthier version of granola for anyone watching what they eat and reducing sugar intake – making it a thoughtful yet easy homemade gift.
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.
This homemade pancake mix uses just 5 ingredients and takes minutes to prepare for up to 6 months of almost "instant" light and fluffy pancakes and waffles! Pop it in a jar with a clear use-by date and instructions on how to use. Great for cheap, easy homemade gifts for friends and families.
Rather than presenting anyone with a fully-made gingerbread house, why not make it a fun activity gingerbread house kit? Bake the pieces and pair them with candy to decorate and the recipe for the icing, along with instructions for a fun homemade Christmas food gift the entire family will love! Better yet, make little homemade kits for multiple people and inspire some friendly decoration competition!
It's inexpensive, easy to prepare, and can be customized in several ways – what's not to love about this Christmas brownie in a jar?! This is a DIY holiday jar gift I can get behind every single year.
This simple, versatile homemade hot chocolate mix is perfect as a DIY food gift, and great for customizing to dietary requirements (dairy-free, keto, paleo, etc.) and personal taste. Pair it with optional toppings (like mini marshmallows or candy canes) in a mason jar and attach a label with instructions. All they have to do is boil water, mix, and enjoy!
Want to try a healthier hot drink mix to gift this Christmas? Make this simple anti-inflammatory golden milk powder spice mix (aka turmeric latte mix) with just 5 spices in 5 minutes! Use it to prepare golden milk and golden lattes (turmeric latte) – packed with nourishing, healthful, immune-boosting benefits!
Okay, I see you questioning my sanity here a little, but hear me out. For any kombucha lover or really anyone interested in gut health, homemade kombucha is already a great gift. Better yet, though, gift them a batch of kombucha PLUS a scoby along with care instructions, so they can prepare their own kombucha from now on. It's a DIY gift that keeps on giving!
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).
A soothing, all-natural homemade skin balm for dry skin, cuts and post-shave skin – easily customisable to skin type and takes just ten minutes to prepare!
Two simple DIY's for how to make soap at home with various ingredients and additives, using a melt & pour base recipe. The first is a moisturising & exfoliating loofah soap with coconut milk and rose essential oil. The second is a rose-infused soap sphere recipe.
Create a basic coconut oil sugar scrub with your scent of choice for a simple and inexpensive DIY thank-you gift or Christmas gift. Pair it with some homemade soaps for an easy homemade gift set.
Learn how to make candles with soy wax or beeswax in a few simple steps. With the basics sorted, the sky is your limit. Make colored candles, choose the scents of choice, play around with interesting candle holders (perhaps a teacup candle?!), etc. They're fun to make and are one of my favorite DIY presents for any occasion.
If you're someone who buys coconuts throughout the year, do NOT throw the shells away. Instead, follow this tutorial to turn them into decorative or food-safe bowls that make for an impressive yet cheap homemade gift.
We all know someone who (for some reason) seems to enjoy cleaning, and while cleaning supplies may not be a typical gift, this homemade, natural, non-toxic, all-purpose citrus cleaner is made with love for a thoughtful yet easy homemade gift.
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!
