Homemade gourmet food gifts can be affordable and fun to prepare and present. You have many options, but be sure to find out if the recipient is allergic to nuts or chocolate before bringing over chocolate walnut brownies. Gifts of food can be tailored to anyone's preferences, and they are more special when they cater to a person's favorite tastes.
Mix in a Jar: A simple and fun gift to give is a food or drink mix in a jar. Recipients will have all that they need to make the food, along with a recipe with ingredients and instructions attached. Some examples of great food gifts in a jar include: pancake mix, cookie mix, brownie mix, flavored coffee creamer (dry milk, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg), hot cocoa mix (mini-marshmallows, chocolate chips, dry milk, cocoa, sugar) and mulled cider mix (cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, allspice). Recipes can be found online, printed and tied with a ribbon onto the top of the jar. Decorate the jar with stickers or a piece of fabric tied over the lid. These gifts are lovely and fun.
Dipped Foods: Many foods can be dipped in melted chocolate, cooled and presented as gifts. Here are some examples: strawberries, dried apricots, pretzels, cookies, potato chips, grapes, cherries and marshmallows. Consider gently rolling the warm dipped food in crushed nuts, powdered sugar or cocoa after dipping. Another idea is to drizzle melted caramel, melted white chocolate or a different flavor of melted chocolate chips over the cooled dipped snack for a fancy look and enhanced taste. Here's a tip: melt chocolate chips or dipping chocolate in a double boiler for the best consistency. Microwave melting requires repeated stirring and short bursts of heat, and it can sometimes cause the chocolate to burn in the middle.
Packaging: Be sure to present food gifts in a decorative way. A flimsy paper plate with plastic wrap that is falling off makes a homemade gift look cheap. Use clean jars, metal cookie tins or a basket, and make gift tags listing ingredients. Tie the gift with ribbon, or decorate it with fabric scraps and colorful plastic wrap.
 | Gift jars are perfect for recipe gifts, whether you're helping your friend make cookies or soup. Making gifts in a jar is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. |
 | Homemade food gifts that are created with time and care are distinctively special and unique. Those that come from the kitchen are tasty as well! Making gifts in a jar is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. To make your gift jars extraordinary, the key is all in the presentation. |
Homemade friendship gifts are the type of gifts that have staying power. |
There's a simple rule with homemade gag gifts: Make sure they're funny. Try these ideas for creating gag gifts that will bring smiles and laughter to any occasion. |
 | Frugal homemade food gifts can be a joy to make and eat when you find the right recipe. We've got several for you to try. |
