Homemade Edible Christmas Food Gifts You Can Make in Advance

I’m not the craftiest person in the world, so it goes without saying that DIY Christmas gifts are not my forte. Give me a glue gun or a needle and I’ll probably end up hurting myself rather than creating something impressive. What I can do, however, is cook.

One Christmas, fresh out of pastry school with very little money to spend on Christmas gifts, I used my new confectionary skills to make nougatine with rosewater, pistachios, and dried cherries for my friends and family. Much to my delight and surprise, it was a huge hit. People loved how uniquely delicious it was, and they really appreciated the care I put into making it. It felt so good to see people enjoying something I had made that since then I’ve almost always given homemade edible gifts for Christmas.

Making edible Christmas gifts is not only incredibly thoughtful, it can also save you a ton of time, money, and stress. Rather than aimlessly wandering around a crowded mall a week before Christmas, you can simply make a big batch of something tasty, pop it in pretty packaging, and gift it to everyone. The best part? If you choose the right recipe, you can make your gifts well before Christmas, making the holiday season a breeze. So grab an apron and turn on some festive tunes because I am going to share some of the best homemade edible Christmas food gifts you can make in advance for your loved ones.

Gourmet Blueberry Vanilla Bean Jam

Every year, my dear friend Ingrid makes a huge batch of spiced cranberry chutney and cans it for her friends. We all look forward to receiving her jar at Christmas time, and it has become a delicious staple in my family’s Christmas dinner.

What’s so great about canning is that the contents of the jar are shelf stable, so canned gifts can be made well in advance, and you don’t have to worry about them taking up space in your fridge or spoiling.

One of my favorite canned items to make and give (and eat, really) is my blueberry vanilla bean jam. Not only is it incredibly simple to make, but the addition of vanilla bean makes it quite the unique treat. After all, who doesn’t love a nice jar of homemade jam to slather on their morning toast?

Here’s my recipe for this tasty jam. While I personally love the combo of blueberries with vanilla, you could certainly use any other berry!

Blueberry Vanilla Bean Jam Yield: 12 4-ounce jam jars

Ingredients:

• 2 pints (5 cups) fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 ounces fruit pectin
• 5 cups sugar
• ½ vanilla bean, slit open lengthwise

Directions:

1. If using frozen blueberries, thaw and drain them of any excess liquid.
2. Place blueberries in a large pot and gently crush using a potato masher or wooden spoon. Add lemon juice, pectin, sugar, and vanilla bean.
3. Bring everything to a boil and mix continuously for 1.5 minutes.
4. Remove the pot from the heat and skim off any foam that has formed on the top.
5. Let the mixture cool for 30-60 minutes in the pot before canning.

Of course, it’s important to make sure you follow safe canning procedures to ensure the jars have a clean, airtight seal and the contents don’t spoil. Once all the cans have cooled and the rings are screwed on right, I like to slap on a Christmasy label and a fun bow or ribbon for extra festive flare.

Gourmet Granola for a Healthy Holiday

Being the health nut that I am, I’ve also gifted granola several times for Christmas with huge success. In past years, my friends have even requested it. Granola is great because it isn’t something people typically make. And let’s face it, the store bought stuff has got nothing on homemade granola spiced with cinnamon, loaded with nuts and seeds, and adorned with dried fruit. Plus, it makes the perfect healthy breakfast for the holiday season when we tend to indulge more than usual.

Here’s my healthy, signature granola recipe that your friends are sure to love:

Homemade Maple Cinnamon Granola Yield: 16 cups

Ingredients:

• 8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 cups mixed raw unsalted nuts, roughly chopped
• 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup coconut oil, melted
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups mixed dried fruit (or dried fruit of choice), roughly chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Combine oats, nuts, seeds, and cinnamon in one or two large bowls.
3. Melt coconut oil and mix in honey, maple syrup, and vanilla.
4. Pour wet mixture over dry and mix well to coat.
5. Working in batches, spread granola mixture evenly on one or two baking sheets and pop in the oven for 10 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven, give it a stir, and bake for 10 minutes more. Continue the 10 minute intervals until granola is dry and golden brown.
7. When all the granola has finished baking, let it cool. Mix in the dry fruit, pack 2 cup portions into cellophane bags, and tie with a pretty ribbon.

I usually include the recipe on a festive recipe card because I guarantee your friends will ask for it if you don’t! I also punch a hole in one corner of the card and thread it through the ribbon used to tie the bags I pack them in. And don’t forget to include a festive gift tag!

Quick and Easy Ideas for Edible Christmas Food Gifts

If jam and granola don’t tickle your fancy, there are plenty of other simple, delicious, edible treats you can make in advance for your friends and family this Christmas. Here are a few other ideas:

• Chocolate bark with almonds
• Peanut brittle
• Scottish oatcakes
• Homemade graham crackers
• Spiced mixed nuts
• Nuts ’n bolts party mix
• Layered bean soup mix

Be sure to find some cute Christmas tins, boxes, or bags to wrap these goodies in, and don’t be afraid to get creative with the packaging. Personally, I love packing edible gifts in containers that people can reuse. Then it’s like two gifts in one!

Any of these homemade edible Christmas food gifts would also be perfect for a Secret Santa office gift exchange. Your coworkers will be envious of whoever ends up with your tasty gift. To make sure everyone gets a fair shot at receiving your yummy present, use an online Secret Santa generator to randomly assign gifters and giftees.

These edible Christmas presents prove that thoughtful, heartfelt gifts don’t have to be pricey or time-consuming to make. And you don’t even have to be crafty to make them—just remember that everything tastes better with a little love!

Visit our gift guides for more gifting inspiration, or start an online gift exchange with Elfster to have a blast with your loved ones this holiday season. Share your favorite stories with Elfster on Facebook, on Twitter @Elfster, or on Instagram @Elfstergram.