Holiday Gift Ideas for Foodies

chocolate turtle graham bars

It’s my favorite time of the year!

I love the holidays because I get to spend a lot of quality time with family and friends, and there are presents and cookies involved. I like thinking of the perfect gift and I keep a list of ideas on my phone which I update all year long. And there’s usually a lot of food-related items in that list.

I make and bake a lot of food gifts, but I also like supplementing with other things. Today I want to share some of my favorite gift ideas for the foodies in your life.

Homemade Treats like these Salted Chocolate Graham Bars – if you like baking, I always recommend making something at home and wrapping it up in a pretty package. I think some of the best gifts are simple, easy-to-make treats (that do not stress out the baker!) These bars are incredibly easy to make, and have some pretty luxurious ingredients like salted caramel, smooth creamy chocolate, flaky sea salt, and pecans, but it’s grounded by store-bought graham crackers. They’re perfect.

Other ideas: Dulce de Leche Brownies, Pecan and Cranberry Cookies, and these Brigadeiros or Brazilian Truffles

baileys and patron xo

Ingredients for their favorite cocktail – maybe your gift recipient is a dessert fiend like me and likes sweeter (and very strong) cocktails and shooters? I suggest giving them the makings of a Baby Guinness Shota shot of Patron XO Cafe (coffee flavored tequila), topped with a layer of Bailey’s Irish cream. There’s no actual beer in the shot, but it looks like a little tiny Guinness because of the dark coffee tequila on the bottom, and the cream floating on top. It’s so good.

Other ideas: St-Germain and sparkling wine, bubbly and a fruity mixer, tequila and grapefruit soda (to make Palomas)

carnivore club

_______ of the Month – whether it’s wine, cheese, artisan ingredients, or meats, your gift recipient will appreciate having something delivered to their doorstep each month (or every 3 months, or even just once…) I recently received a box from the Carnivore Club for Charcuterie of the Month. It’s a great for meat enthusiasts, hard-to-shop for folks, and holiday entertaining.

william sonoma wooden spoon stuffed-cover

Wooden Spoon + Cookbook – I love tying a wooden spoon with a shiny ribbon around a cookbook. My friend Dan from The Food in my Beard has an incredible cookbook, Stuffed: The Ultimate Comfort Food Cookbook  filled with his crazy delicious recipes. I also like giving these other cookbooks: Boston’s Flour Bakery + Cafe and Seriously Delish from How Sweet Eats.

anthropologie rolling pins anthropologie pot holders

Cute kitchen and baking supplies – like these rolling pins and potholders from Anthropologie. For me, baking and cooking seem even more enjoyable when I use aesthetically-pleasing kitchen ware. If rustic and girly isn’t the style of your foodie gift recipient, you can find more sleek and modern designs from stores like William Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Sur La Table, and the exclusive sales from Gilt and Ruelala.

ceviche

Cooking Class – I’ve taken a handful of cooking classes and always thoroughly enjoy them. Find one in your city and sign up with your favorite foodie! And as a shameless plug, Dan and I are teaching another cooking class at the Boston Center for Adult Education this Thursday 12/3. This past summer we taught an “Entertain Like a Food Blogger” class and made a cocktail, appetizers (like the ceviche pictured above), and a dessert. We’re teaching the same class, Holiday Edition! If you’re in the Boston area, we still have a few tickets left. And you can use this class code to get a 15% discount: HoliBlog.

What’s on your holiday gift list? Please share in the comment section!

   

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