Photo courtesy of Meredith Steele, In Sock Monkey Slippers
There’s just something about a homemade gift – it feels more special, more personal than something purchased from a store. And when that homemade gift also happens to be delicious… Well, that just makes it even better.
If you’re wracking your brain, trying to think of something to buy the person in your life who already has everything, consider scrapping that trip to the mall and instead trying one of these DIY holiday food gift ideas – all gluten-free, of course.
Herb-Infused Honey, The Kitchn
Use a base of light, mild flavored honey (try using the Honey Locator to find a source near you, and support your local bees and beekeepers while making your holiday gifts) and a single herb or combination lavender, chamomile, rosemary and spices like cinnamon sticks and star anise are lovely – as are seasonal ingredients like pine needles) to create a tasty and versatile gift. You could even create a lovely gift box with tea, gluten-free biscuits and even a teacup to enjoy with the honey.
Flavored Butters, Your Homebased Mom
Rich and creamy flavored butters are something everyone enjoys, but not something everyone takes the time to make for themselves – which makes them the perfect gift. We’re loving this seasonal (and colorful) roundup, which includes flavors like fig, cranberry and roasted red pepper. Feel free to experiment with other ingredients as well – but remember that butter melts and should not be kept outside of the refrigerator for long, so keep that in mind when adding these gifts to your holiday to-do list.
Homemade Caramels, Tastes Better from Scratch
A quick tour of Pinterest will undoubtedly bring up dozens upon dozens of homemade caramel recipes. We like this one, however, for its simplicity. Once you’ve mastered the basics, try playing with the flavor of your caramels by adding coarse sea salt, cocoa or espresso.
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix, Live Simply
Another sweet treat that is just as much fun to make as it is to receive, hot chocolate mix is always a welcome gift this time of year. This recipe uses sucanat (which is simply dehydrated sugar cane juice) and the option to use dairy-free chocolate if you so choose.
Homemade Flavored Salts, In Sock Monkey Slippers (pictured)
You don’t need to search through your local artisan food store to find delicious and beautiful flavored salts. Instead, make your own in a variety of tastes and colors and package them in pretty, clear containers to create a delightful holiday gift. Here you’ll find recipes and step-by-step instructions for making Red Wine Sea Salt, Rosemary Lemon Sea Salt and Sriracha Lime Salt. We recommend all three.
Homemade Turtles, Averie Cooks
If you’re looking to make a truly decadent gift this year, these homemade turtles should fit the bill. Made with crunchy roasted pecans, caramel and melted chocolate, these have everything you could possibly wish for in a holiday treat. Gift them as they are, or add them to your gluten-free holiday cookie tray.
For other delicious gluten-free recipes to take you through the holiday season and beyond, be sure to check out our recipes page at AncientHarvest.com and also download our new (and free!) Modern Meal Cookbook.
