68 of our favourite DIY edible gifts
There's nothing more thoughtful than a homemade Christmas gift to show someone you really care this festive season. Even better, if the gift is edible! Our cookery team have developed over 50 recipes that will delight any friend or family member this year.
Move over mince pies, these homemade Christmas food gifts are so much more interesting. They include everything from a mini Christmas cakes, to wonderful stollen crinkle biscuits and classic gingerbread men biscuits.
Why not even make a Winter Wonderland gingerbread house, send it flat-packed ready for building, for a real show-stopping present. Or we love this chocolate salami, dusted in icing sugar and wrapped in string, it looks like the real thing but is made with chocolate, brandy, almonds, pistachios and walnuts, which is even better in our eyes. If you're feeling especially generous one of our Christmas cake recipes would also make an incredible gift.
We've also developed some boozy treats too (well it is Christmas after all) including an espresso martini liqueur and a gingerbread cream liqueur.
And if you're looking to batch-make lots of homemade edible Christmas gifts then our customisable hot chocolate stirrers, wrapped up in cellophane with candy canes at the handles, are just the thing. We even have savoury gift recipes for those that don't have much of a sweet tooth, so give our cheeseboard piccalilli a try.
Pretty boxes, lined with paper and filled with homemade Christmas biscuits and cookies are an extra thoughtful touch as, are pretty glass jars and bottles for chutneys and liqueurs.
And if you’re aiming for a more eco-friendly Christmas, use recyclable wrapping paper.
Best homemade Christmas gifts for 2024:
Pistachio Amaretti
These tasty little morsels come together in under an hour and use just a handful of ingredients. It's the perfect gift for Christmas.
Recipe: Pistachio Amaretti
Panettone Biscuits
If you love the flavours of a panettone - let this biscuit be the first thing you make this festive season! Moreish, nutty and fruity - all at once!
Recipe: Panettone Biscuits
Christmas Tree Shortbreads
These adorable shortbreads can last up to 5 days in an airtight container and taste really delicious!
Recipe: Christmas Tree Shortbreads
Double Ginger Biscuits
Fiery ground ginger meets smooth and sweet white chocolate. The question is, to dunk or not?
Recipe: Double Ginger Biscuits
Frosted sugar cookie wreaths
These lovely orange zest sugar cookies make a perfect treat for a loved one. The sprinkling of thyme at the end transforms them, too!
Recipe: Frosted sugar cookie wreaths
Vegan chocolate florentines
We can't get enough of florentines and these chewy morsels make the perfect gift. We've gone for a dark chocolate coating, which usually is vegan - but double check before handing them to your vegan friends!
Recipe: Vegan chocolate florentines
Chocolate-Dipped Shortbreads
Buttery shortbread fingers dipper in a double-coating of chocolate? Yes please! The perfect stocking filler.
Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Shortbreads
Pepparkakor village
Pepparkakor is Sweden's version of gingerbread biscuits and are beautifully spiced and incredibly sturdy - perfect for hanging like we've done here! Find the template to make the village in the recipe, too.
Recipe: Pepparkakor village
Peppermint baubles
These striking edible baubles are made using whipped egg whites and icing sugar, and formed into a firm dough so you can cut out any shapes you like!
Recipe: Peppermint baubles
Snowy pretzels
These adorable pretzel garlands won't last long in your house as they not only look cute, but taste even better! They make a lovely weekend activity with kids.
Recipe: Snowy pretzels
Mini Christmas Cakes
These individual fruit cakes with their Christmas pudding-inspired decoration make the ideal gift this Christmas. You can buy mini cake tins from specialist cookware shops, but using clean food tins is a more resourceful option.
Recipe: Mini Christmas Cakes
Blackcurrant liqueur
This blackcurrant liqueur recipe is going to be a hit this Christmas. You can find cute little bottles like these on Etsy - just make sure you sterilise them before you fill them.
Recipe: Blackcurrant liqueur
Toasted Pecan Fudge
Sea salt and toasted pecans really elevate this classic vanilla fudge. Perfect for gifting at Christmas.
Recipe: Toasted Pecan Fudge
Stollen Crinkle Biscuits
Nothing evokes Christmas quite like the flavours of stollen, so we've combined them in these eye-catching biscuits for a twist on a homemade Christmas gift. You can leave out the brandy, if you prefer, or soak the fruit in apple juice instead.
Recipe: Stollen Crinkle Biscuits
Spiced Cashew Brittle
Sweet, salty and spicy – be warned: this brittle is an incredibly moreish homemade edible Christmas gift.
Recipe: Spiced Cashew Brittle
Hot Chocolate Stirrers
These make great homemade edible Christmas gifts for a chocolate lover; simply stir 1 or 2 into a mug of warm milk. We’ve given some flavour ideas below, but you can let your creativity run wild.
Recipe: Hot Chocolate Stirrers
Manchego and Thyme Shortbreads
If you can’t find Manchego, use a mature Cheddar instead. And if you’re not a fan of thyme, freshly chopped rosemary works well, too.
Recipe: Manchego and Thyme Shortbreads
Tiramisu Biscuits
These tiramisu-flavoured biscuits are the perfect festive gift for the coffee lover in your life!
Recipe: Tiramisu Biscuits
Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles
These truffles are the perfect bite-sized homemade Christmas gift, with a creamy centre and a crunchy nutty shell.
Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles
Honey, Cherry & Almond Nougat
If you can’t get hold of rice or wafer paper, line your tin with baking parchment and dust generously with cornflour. Top the nougat with an even dusting of cornflour and lay on a square of baking parchment before setting.
Recipe: Honey, Cherry & Almond Nougat
Chocolate Baklava
This Christmas-spiced twist on a Middle Eastern classic is the ideal sweet treat to accompany tea and coffee.
Recipe: Chocolate Baklava
Espresso Martini Liqueur
Try drizzling this boozy homemade Christmas gift over your favourite ice cream, stir a little into hot chocolate or simply serve over ice.
Recipe: Espresso Martini Liqueur
Cheeseboard Piccalilli
A well-spiced wintry piccalilli perfect for serving with festive ham and cheeses.
Recipe: Cheeseboard Piccalilli
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
This also makes for a fun pudding served warm in slices topped with vanilla ice cream.
Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
Sugar Plum Fairy Jelly
Inspired by that Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, our fictional preserve is a softly set blend of plums, raspberries, prosecco and sweet spices in a sparkly spread, perfect for toast or spooning on rice pudding. Check the glitter you are using isn’t soluble otherwise it may dissolve and disappear!
Recipe: Sugar Plum Fairy Jelly
White chocolate and hazelnut cups
A crisp exterior and luscious soft interior make these the ideal Christmas chocolate. They're so easy to make, and they keep well, too!
Recipe: White chocolate and hazelnut cups
Pistachio and honey nougat
If you prefer, substitute chopped blanched almonds or hazelnuts for the pistachios. Every variation is just as delicious!
Recipe: Pistachio and honey nougat
Peanut butter balls
These nutty sweet treats make a great homemade Christmas gift.
Recipe: Peanut butter balls
Marzipan stars
Double this recipe and you'll have enough marzipan to cover a 20.5cm (8in) fruit cake.
Recipe: Marzipan stars
Home-made chocolate hazelnut spread
If you love Nutella as much as we do, this homemade version is irresistible. For an incredibly indulgent snack, melt a little of this spread and pour over ice cream.
Recipe: Home-made chocolate hazelnut spread
Marshmallows
A clever gelatine trick, plus a little help from a sugar thermometer, makes these homemade marshmallows foolproof.
Recipe: Marshmallows
Choc and nut biscotti
Wrap up these tasty Italian biscuits in ribbon for the perfect Christmas gift.
Recipe: Choc and nut biscotti
Spiced plum and fig jam
Spice up your jam with this deliciously festive recipe and give a pot as a sweet Christmas gift.
Recipe: Spiced plum and fig jam
Peppermint creams
Packed together in a pretty new or vintage tin, these elegant mints are an ideal gift for the host of a dinner party.
Recipe: Peppermint creams
Christmas brownie bites
Great as a sweet nibble to end a party, with a cup of tea or presented in a special tin or box. If you prefer your brownie bites less sweet, simply drizzle them with plain chocolate.
Recipe: Christmas brownie bites
Turkish Delight
Home-made Turkish Delight with some golden garnish make a great yule-time gift.
Recipe: Turkish Delight
Nougat
This traditional festive favourite is all the nicer homemade. Package them up and wish your neighbours a Merry Christmas!
Recipe: Nougat
Flavoured sugars
For those with a sweet tooth, flavoured sugars make fantastic homemade gifts.
Recipe: Flavoured sugars
The ultimate biscuit mix
A beautifully presented DIY biscuit mix makes a thoughtful homemade gift for the budding baker.
Recipe: The ultimate biscuit mix
Lemon and fennel oil
Fresh and delicious, this oil can be drizzled on everything from baked bread, green veggies, and grilled fish.
Recipe: Lemon and fennel oil
Special mulled wine kit
A home-made mulled wine kit is simple to put together but looks oh-so impressive.
Recipe: Special mulled wine kit
Golden mulling syrup
This scented mulled syrup makes a sophisticated Christmas gift, perfect for drizzling over ice cream.
Recipe: Golden mulling syrup
Spiced party nuts
Package up these party nuts to make a thoughtful homemade gift, perfect for Christmas party season.
Recipe: Spiced party nuts
Thyme oatcakes for Stilton
These homemade thyme oatcakes are a perfect match for a slab of creamy stilton.
Recipe: Thyme oatcakes for Stilton
Berry spiced gin
This batched recipe makes a thoughtful homemade gift for gin lovers.
Recipe: Berry spiced gin
Fig and apple chutney
A great one to make in bulk with seasonal apples, package these into pretty jars to give to friends and family.
Recipe: Fig and apple chutney
Chocolate salami
This looks just like the classic cured sausage, but is actually full of nuts and chocolate! A decadent and fun homemade Christmas gift.
Recipe: Chocolate salami
Snowflake peppermint creams
Just 3 ingredients go into these nostalgic festive sweets.
Recipe: Snowflake peppermint creams
Vanillekipferl
These vanilla and almond biscuits melt in the mouth, and make a lovely Christmas gift for friends and family.
Recipe: Vanillekipferl
Winter wonderland gingerbread house
Homemade edible Christmas gifts don't come better than this. Follow our recipe to create your very own Winter Wonderland gingerbread house, a great activity to do with the kids.
Recipe: Winter Wonderland Gingerbread House
Gingerbread wreath
From biscuits to houses, nothing says Christmas quite like the smell of gingerbread. If you want to give a unique homemade edible Christmas gift this year try this easy gingerbread wreath.
Recipe: Gingerbread wreath
Christmas spritz cookies
These piped Christmas cookies (‘spritz’ means to squirt or spray in German) and are easy to make and decorate with little ones.
Recipe: Christmas spritz cookies
Marmalade and bay gin
Infuse the gin for at least 2 weeks for the flavours to develop. This will work well with vodka, too!
Recipe: Marmalade and bay gin
Red velvet Christmas snowflake biscuits
This biscuit recipe is a take on the classic red velvet cake and is a perfect biscuit for Christmas. You can keep these biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks – if they stick around that long!
Recipes: Red velvet Christmas snowflake biscuits
Santa's Washing Line Biscuits
Even Santa can’t escape the weekly wash! These washing line biscuits are a perfect Secret Santa gift or an alternative Christmas decoration for your home.
Recipe: Santa's Washing Line Biscuits
Eggnog cookies
All the flavours of the festive drink in a chewy, American-style cookie. Yum!
Recipe: Eggnog cookies
Snowy rocky road
These rocky bites combine white chocolate and coconut for a festive treat.
Recipe: Snowy rocky road
Buttered Brazils
A toasty nut surrounded in a crisp, buttery caramel. Add a sprinkle of flaked salt as soon as you have coated in the caramel, if you like.
Recipe: Buttered Brazils
Peach Pâte de Fruits
Making these fruity treats requires a bit of patience, but they are still a simple and delicious sweet to make.
Recipe: Peach Pâte de Fruits
Christmas Meringues
Kids will love piping and decorating these cute Christmas tree meringues – and there’s no risk of tangled lights! Easy to double the recipe it you want to make more homemade Christmas gifts.
Recipe: Christmas Meringues
Gingerbread Cream Liqueur
This gingerbread cream liqueur is a smooth after-dinner tipple or add a dash to hot chocolate – it's a perfect homemade Christmas gift.
Recipe: Gingerbread Cream Liqueur
Christmas Kendal Mint Cake Bars
We’ve turned the famous Cumbrian confection into chocolate-dipped gifting bars. Swap the dark chocolate for milk or white, if you like things sweeter.
Recipe: Christmas Kendal Mint Cake Bars
Sticky Tomato Jam Recipe
The perfect accompaniment to any cheese board. Try spreading a little on your cheese toastie or stirring into sauces and stews. Adjust the chilli to suit your spice preference.
Recipe: Sticky Tomato Jam Recipe
Gluten-Free Seeded Crackers
These make a wonderful accompaniment to cheese and pickles, or simply enjoyed as a snack by themselves.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Seeded Crackers
Mango and Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce
This fiery, fruity hot sauce has the perfect blend of heat and sweetness.
Recipe: Mango and Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce
Fragrant Chilli Oil
This gloriously vibrant, Chinese-style chilli oil is perfect spooned over everything from noodles and rice dishes to grilled vegetables or roasted chicken.
Recipe Fragrant Chilli Oil
Rhubarb and Vanilla Jam
We've added vanilla to our rhubarb jam recipe to make a sweet and slightly tart jam that's perfect on crumpets.
Recipe: Rhubarb and Vanilla Jam
Plum brandy
Make the most of British plum season with this delicious infused brandy, which can be kept for up to six months and makes the perfect festive aperitif or Christmas gift.
Recipe: Plum brandy
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