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Homemade food gifts are a thoughtful and personal way to show you care. Whether it’s for Christmas, a friend who’s feeling under the weather, or a new mom, these gifts bring warmth and joy to any occasion.
Easy to Follow: Clear instructions make these recipes simple for cooks of any skill level.
Adaptable: Easily modify many of these recipes to suit dietary needs or personal preferences.
Quick to Make: These recipes come together fast, perfect for busy schedules.
Thoughtful and Personal: Homemade gifts add a special touch that store-bought items just can’t match.
Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a holiday celebration or a kind gesture, these recipes fit any event beautifully.
Thoughtful Tips for Giving Food Gifts
When sharing homemade food gifts, always keep the recipient’s dietary needs in mind. If you’re unsure about allergies or restrictions, attach a small tag listing potential allergens like nuts, dairy, or gluten. This thoughtful step ensures your gift can be enjoyed safely.
For packaging, choose reusable and practical options to add an eco-friendly touch. Canning jars, food storage containers, decorative boxes, or pretty bags not only make your gift look special but also offer a functional keepsake for the recipient. Sustainable packaging enhances the presentation and shows extra care for both the recipient and the environment.
Homemade Food Gifts
Mini Gingerbread Cake
4.74 from 45 votes
This small gingerbread cake is perfectly spiced, delightfully sweet, and easy to make. Baked in a small dish, it’s just the right amount for one or two people, making it a wonderful treat for the holidays or any day.
Make 12 no-bake Chocolate Covered Oreos in just minutes! Customize them with sprinkles, try fun variations, and enjoy a simple, sweet treat that’s as easy as it is delicious.
Peppermint bark is incredibly simple to make! This festive treat features layers of smooth semi-sweet chocolate and creamy white chocolate, flavored with peppermint extract and topped with crushed candy cane pieces for a delightful crunch.
This small batch Cowboy Cookies recipe, inspired by the famous Laura Bush Cookies, delivers rich, chewy cookies packed with oats, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans – the perfect treat!
Enjoy moist & flavorful carrot cake cupcakes with our easy recipe. Perfect for a small batch of 5-6, ready in less than 30 minutes for a quick sweet treat.
Whip up rich and creamy fudge in just minutes with this easy microwave recipe! Perfectly portioned for a small batch, it’s ideal for sharing or enjoying as a quick treat. This simple recipe is sure to be a hit with friends and family.
Make rich and creamy small batch peanut butter fudge with just 4 simple ingredients! Quick to make and full of homemade flavor, this treat is perfect for any occasion.
Buttery Apple Cinnamon Scones filled with bits of sweet apples and toasted pecans and topped with a delightful maple glaze. This wonderful small batch recipe will yield 4 tender scones.
Rich and fudgy small batch brownies made with simple ingredients. Perfect for one or two people, these brownies are quick to make and packed with intense chocolate flavor.
Enjoy freshly baked cookies in no time with our perfect small batch oatmeal cookie recipe! These chewy, delicious treats are quick to make and full of homemade goodness.
This small batch homemade taco seasoning recipe is easy to mix together and works great on tacos, vegetables, meats, seafood, rice, beans, and more. You'll never want to buy taco seasoning from the store again!
Make 4 delicious Cranberry Orange Scones in less than 25 minutes. These buttery scones, filled with tangy cranberries and sweet orange, are fresh and flavorful—better than anything from the store!
Make mouthwatering pancakes quickly with this simple small batch pancake mix. Ideal for one or two servings, this mix is ready in minutes, customizable to your taste, and free of preservatives.
Enjoy two homemade vanilla cupcakes with this easy small batch vanilla cupcake recipe. Delightful, melt-in-your-mouth texture with rich buttercream frosting.
This homemade apple butter is made in a slow cooker. It's perfectly spiced and so easy to make. This small batch apple butter recipe comes with step-by-step instructions. It's wonderful to spread on toast, to use in a recipe, or to give a jar as a gift.
Try our easy small batch Sugar Cookies recipe, making six soft, buttery treats topped with creamy buttercream frosting. Simple recipe for cookies that melt in your mouth!
Learn to make a small loaf of French bread with this beginner-friendly recipe. This easy method gives you a delicious loaf with a golden crust and a soft, fluffy center—perfect for sandwiches, toasted with butter, or spread with jam.
Whip up a fresh, flavorful small batch Cucumber Salsa for your next snack or meal. With crisp cucumbers, tangy vinaigrette, and versatile serving options!
This small batch pumpkin bars recipe gives you a tender pumpkin cake topped with creamy cream cheese frosting, sliced into just the right amount of squares. It’s the perfect way to satisfy a sweet craving without making a large batch.
This homemade Butter Pecan Granola recipe is the only granola recipe you need! Perfectly sweet, crunchy and full of so much flavor. This butter pecan granola can be ready in minutes and tastes so good!
Make easy and delicious 2-ingredient chocolate candies with this simple recipe, perfect for a small batch. Includes helpful tips for making the best chocolate candies and creative variations.
This small batch Oreo balls recipe delivers rich, creamy truffles coated in chocolate. Perfect as a gift or a quick treat, they're simple and delicious!
How can I determine if a food gift is suitable for shipping?
When shipping homemade food gifts, consider their perishability. Choose items that can withstand transit without refrigeration, as refrigerated foods are best given in person. Make sure the shelf life of your gift matches the shipping timeframe to ensure it arrives fresh and ready to enjoy.
What’s the best way to ship cookies?
Some cookies, like chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, travel better than delicate ones like lace cookies. To keep cookies intact: Let them cool completely before packing. Place them in an airtight container. Line the shipping box with bubble wrap or packing paper and fill any empty spaces to prevent shifting. Label the box as “Fragile” to encourage careful handling, though it’s not always guaranteed.
How should I package baked goods for gifting in person?
Wrap baked goods individually or in small bundles, then place them in decorative boxes or jars. Add a ribbon or tag for a festive touch.
How can I personalize homemade food gifts?
Add handwritten notes, recipe cards, or custom labels to make your gift more personal. You can also package them in reusable or themed containers.
Homemade Food Gifts: A Thoughtful Touch
Homemade food gifts are a heartfelt way to show you care. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, these treats are more than food—they’re thoughtful gestures and lasting memories. This holiday season or whenever you want to spread joy, let these recipes inspire your creativity!
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For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried any of these DIY food gifts or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Make 100+ Recipes With This Dish!
Ideal for home chefs, this individual square ceramic baking dish is safe for oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. Simple to use & easy to clean!
I’m Joanie and I’m incredibly happy you’re here! Our aim is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes, education, and a supportive community that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul.
Have you developed a small fruit cake recipe? I grew up with both a dark and white fruit cake around Xmas time. Would love your input on this. Every recipe in cookbooks gives a large fruitcake.
Thank you for reaching out! Currently, we don’t have a small fruit cake recipe on our site, but I love your suggestion. I’ll definitely add it to our list of potential recipes to develop in the future. Stay tuned!
Yes. We create only single serving and small batch recipes on our website, One Dish Kitchen. We have hundreds and hundreds of them here on our website.
I tried the half batch cowboy cookies! They are delicious
. I made them sugar free and gave some yo my diabetic sister and some to a friend who was having family in for Xmas tomorrow.
Have you developed a small fruit cake recipe? I grew up with both a dark and white fruit cake around Xmas time. Would love your input on this. Every recipe in cookbooks gives a large fruitcake.
Thank you for reaching out! Currently, we don’t have a small fruit cake recipe on our site, but I love your suggestion. I’ll definitely add it to our list of potential recipes to develop in the future. Stay tuned!
You could make mini-loaves with the full recipe and freeze.
Thank you for such a wonderful idea. I love your smaller recipes and I’m sure my family and friends will too! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 🎄🧧🎉
I loved these small batch recipes. Do you have any more??
Yes. We create only single serving and small batch recipes on our website, One Dish Kitchen. We have hundreds and hundreds of them here on our website.
I tried the half batch cowboy cookies! They are delicious
. I made them sugar free and gave some yo my diabetic sister and some to a friend who was having family in for Xmas tomorrow.