Homemade food gift ideas. And putting these in cute packaging always makes it that much more fun. I like to buy those inexpensive clear party bags (maybe $1.50 for 20?) and they come in various sizes. Or use canning jars, decorate leftover plastic containers (like sour cream tub) and cover with cute papers. Many of these ideas can be turned into a theme basket with a few inexpensive additions like a bag of tortilla chips with the homemade salsa. Get creative. :

- fudge, and can do flavored with peppermint and crushed candy canes on top, swirled with peanut butter, stir in chopped nuts and marshmallows for rocky road, etc.

- truffles (Jenny’s recipe or the new one w/cream cheese instead of cream. I’ll find it…)

- various other candies like tiger butter, peanut brittle, peanut butter bars, peppermint bark, mints, etc. All packaged into cute candy box and using the mini cupcake liners for easy and nice dividing of goodies. Those are also all easy recipes to make with kids.

- chocolate covered pretzels w/sprinkles (good to make with kids) fun with big stick pretzels.

- sugar cookie kit: sugar cookie dough or mix, frosting, sprinkles, cookie cutters. Can do as jar mix (in canning jar) and tie cookie cutter around lid. Or already made sugar cookies, of course! You can make sugar cookie dough and roll it into logs and freeze it to use for yourself or gift to others.

- movie kit: popcorn, drink, candies (homemade or store bought), and either new movie or gift card for movie rental. Put in big plastic bowl, especially fun with old holiday movie or family movies on DVD.

- homemade salsa (with chips, homemade tortillas, package of mexican hot chocolate, if you want to turn into theme bowl.)

- homemade fudge sauce, can be added to ice cream gift basket with ice cream scoop, toppings, ice cream dishes, whip cream, etc.

- homemade granola with dried fruit, nuts, etc.

- sparking cider and a goodie for New Year’s. When I was on bedrest with Bennett some friends brought us a New Year’s stash of goodies - cider, chips & dips, candies, etc. It was so much fun!

- muffin tin, muffin mix (homemade or store bought) and other baking goodies. Could do basic muffin mix in jar and then extras to add in little bags - dried cranberries, nuts, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, etc. Or muffin mix and jar of jam.

- cookie dough balls: make one huge batch or several various ones. Scoop dough, freeze & put in separate bags with gift tag and baking instructions. We did peanut butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and a chocolate chip dough one year.

- candied nuts, like sugar spiced pecans or almonds. Or other mixes like chex puppy chow or homemade trail mix.

- any warm baked goodie from the oven! Cinnamon rolls, cookies, muffins, sweet bread, homemade bread and jam. OR a coupon for said goodie to be delivered at a time they request.

I’m sure I’ll think of more! I’ll try to add recipe links later… what am I forgetting, other ideas?

- S’mores kit. It’s not homemade, but graham crackers, chocolate bars & bag of marshmallows.

- cocoa set, with hot chocolate mix (homemade or store bought) and marshmallows, candy canes to use as stir sticks, could put in cute mug or include cookies for dipping in.

- coupon for dinner to be delivered on a night of their choosing, with 24 hours notice at least.

- hot soup in mason jars w/bread, soup toppings, etc. Like baked potato soup with cheese, green onions and crumbled bacon or taco soup with tortilla chips, cheese and cornbread. Could do soup mix or do already made soup (but warn them you’re bringing dinner, of course.) I do this a lot for friends with a new baby and it’s fun to bring when the baby is a few weeks old, the husband is back at work, family has probably gone back home and the exhaustion is peaking. They probably get meals the first week after the new baby but at 3 or 4 weeks postpartum a delivered dinner is such a nice treat. I should just do a post on postpartum meals, huh?

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