The Best Holiday Food Gifts, According to Our Editors

They say the way into a person’s heart is through their stomach. So, if you want to warm some hearts this holiday season, send some delicious treats to friends and family members. For this list, I asked the staff at Allrecipes about their favorite holiday treats—after all, who better to ask for edible recommendations than experts in food and drink? 

Sweet desserts, savory snacks, and other gourmet goodies round out this list of staff favorites. There’s something for everyone on your list, whether they’re a young foodie or a white elephant gift exchange recipient. Read on to find some festive inspiration with these editor-loved holiday food gifts. 

My grandma sends our family a delicious gift basket every year for the holidays, and it always has Lindt chocolate truffles inside. I scramble to eat any of the mint or peppermint truffles (yes, those are two different flavors, I will die on that hill) before they’re gone.

Lindt has a bunch of gift options for its famed Lindor truffles. The Pick-and-Mix Holiday Gift Tube, for example, contains 25 pieces. You can select a mix of flavors or a single flavor. The tube is a beautiful green color with gold accents and white snowflakes. Want to go bigger? There’s also a holiday gift tote available that holds a whopping 150 truffles. 

The Details: 25 Lindt Lindor truffles in a festive gift package

Not all food gifts have to be ready-to-eat desserts. In fact, some of the best gifts are meant to enhance the cooking experience. Commerce Editor Katherine Gallagher has a favorite: spice rubs. 

“We splurge on full-sized spice blends from this brand every once in a while at my house, and they always hit the mark,” she says. “The Greek Freak is a staple, but the Korean BBQ and Cowboy Crust flavors are also versatile favorites. This 12-piece set comes with an assortment of 1-ounce jars so the chef in your life can try them all. They also make great stocking stuffers.”

The Details: 12 gourmet barbecue spice rubs and blends (1 ounce per jar)

Do you have a cheese fanatic in your life? If so, you’ll definitely want to consider this monthly artisan cheese club from New York City’s Murray’s Cheese. “I was first introduced to Murray’s Cheese as a kid visiting family in New York City, and now that I live in NYC, it’s become my go-to cheese store,” says Phoebe Sklansky, a senior commerce editor. “But even if you’re not a New Yorker, you can still enjoy the shop’s unique, tasty cheeses via one of their cheese club subscriptions. There are several options and price points to choose from, and my parents still say this is one of the best gifts they’ve received.” 

You can choose a three-, six-, or 12-month Cheese Explorer’s Club subscription. Each monthly delivery will include two types of artisan cheeses, each hand-selected by Murray’s expert cheesemongers. In addition to the delicious cheese, each box comes with fun facts, pairing tips, and one club-exclusive item, such as cheese knives or cheese storage bags. 

Phoebe has one more suggestion for New York City-based folks: “If your gift recipient happens to live in the NYC area, consider gifting them a cheesemaking or wine and cheese pairing class at the Murray’s shop on Bleecker [Street],” she says. If you (or your giftee) don’t live near Manhattan, that’s okay—Murray’s also offers virtual classes. 

The Details: 3-, 6-, or 12-month deliveries of hand-selected artisan cheeses (2 half-pound cheeses per box)

“I’ve loved Coop’s sauces for years and have given them as gifts for just as long,” says Siobhan Wallace, a senior commerce editor. “They’re completely a splurge item—$15 for a jar of caramel is a lot of money—but once you have a spoonful of the delectable, and not cloying, sauce, you’ll know why people love Coop’s. They’re something a baker or anyone with a sweet tooth would enjoy!”

The salted caramel sauce is perfect for topping ice cream, yogurt, and baked goods. (Or you could just eat it straight out of the jar—we won’t judge.) In addition to salted caramel, Coop’s also has Hot Fudge, Mocha Fudge, and Vegan Fudge.

The Details: 10 ounces of salted caramel sauce

My mother instilled a great love of popcorn in me at a very young age. That love deepened when she introduced me to Garrett on my first visit to Chicago. Now on every trip to the Windy City, I always have to get some of this gourmet popcorn. While I’m a sucker for the classic buttery flavor, my mother is a die-hard fan of the popular cheddar and caramel mix. 

Garrett has the best-seller available in attractive gift tins, ranging in size from 14 cups to a whopping 104 cups. The gift tins come in multiple designs as well, and you can add a special gift message for your lucky popcorn recipient. 

The Details: 14-104 cups of signature cheddar and caramel popcorn mix

“For sweet lovers, there is no better host gift, teacher or co-worker appreciation treat, or stocking stuffer than chocolate,” says Andrea Lobas, a news & trending editor. “Chocolove is one of my favorites for such a gesture, and I wait all year for the Tree-Shaped Bites, in Dark Peppermint Crème and Milk Hazelnut Truffle varieties.”

The brand is an absolute dream for chocolate lovers. “Chocolove has gift boxes available and the best flavored bars as well,” Andrea says. “Don’t skip the Peppermint Bark!” One unforgettable gift box is filled with caramel-filled dark chocolate topped with edible gold. It’s a luxurious treat at a wonderfully affordable price. 

The Details: 12 caramel-filled dark chocolates

My dad loves many things, but two of his greatest passions are dogs and good coffee. Getting him a gift from Grounds and Hounds was a no-brainer. He was excited to get fresh, whole-bean coffee and a cute dog-themed mug, but when I told him that Grounds and Hounds donates 20 percent of its profits toward dog rescue initiatives, he lit up like a Christmas tree. In fact, he loved it so much he now gives G&H gifts to other dog lovers. 

This particular bundle is a well-rounded gift for the coffee hounds in your life. It includes a bag of the popular Loveable Blend, which has notes of toffee, chocolate, and vanilla (available in whole-bean or pre-ground form), a logo mug, and a cold brew glass decorated with cute pup faces. Think of this as a feel-good and taste-good gift. 

The Details: 12 ounces of whole-bean or pre-ground coffee, 12-ounce blue logo mug, 16-ounce dog-themed cold brew glass

Continuing the trend of gourmet cooking gifts, we come to artisan salt. “If you have someone in your life who loves to cook, there’s a good chance that they’re big fans of Maldon salt,” says Katherine. “The 20-ounce tub makes a nice addition to a homemade gift basket or a thoughtful host gift to bring along with a bottle of wine to a foodie’s dinner party. Since it’s under $20, it’s also a great white elephant gift.” 

Sea salt flakes are the perfect finishing touch for homemade bread, a nice family dinner, or a holiday dessert. Salt is certainly an untraditional gift, but foodies will rejoice when they open this thoughtful (and tasty) present.

The Details: 20 ounces of hand-harvested sea salt flakes

“Wine makes a great gift to take to friends and family during the holiday season (and year-round),” says Andrea. “This California winery has tasty options for any palate.” The award-winning vineyard is tucked in the picturesque hills of Paso Robles, but if you can’t visit in person, the winery does ship nationally. 

There are several gift options available. Two highlights include the Holiday Duo—a Chardonnay and red blend pair in a beautiful wooden box—and the Sweetest Gift, which includes an assortment of house-made chocolate truffles and one of JUSTIN’s popular wines. 

The Details: An assortment of California wines

If you don’t quite know what to give someone, why not let them pick? Sugarwish allows the recipient to select their own goodies. The Holiday Treats collection has six categories to choose from: candy, snacks, popcorn, cookies, hot cocoa, and coffee and tea. Once the giftee selects the category, they can choose a number of treats to enjoy. It’s a customizable dream. 

I’ve sent Sugarwishes to cousins, coworkers, and admittedly myself (I love, love, love the Holland mints). It’s as much fun to send as it is to receive, honestly. You can also send physical and e-cards with special holiday messages. The smallest Sugarwish, called the Mini, includes two treats, while the biggest—the X-Large—can have up to 12 treats. There are also sizes in between, if you prefer.  

The Details: Assorted recipient-selected treats in a range of sizes

More Holiday Food Gifts

How to Pick the Right Holiday Food Gift

Taste & Variety

Perhaps the most important thing about a food gift is that it tastes good. Whether it’s savory or sweet, look for flavors that your recipient will enjoy, and—if possible—avoid any allergens they might have. If you haven’t had the chance to sample something yourself, try looking up reviews or look up recommendations. 

Though many food gifts may revolve around a single item or flavor, some will feature an assortment of treats and flavor. Variety can make any gift exciting. If you’re considering a gift basket, for example, how many different items does it come with? Sweet baskets may include things like chocolates, caramels, baked goods, and candies, while savory baskets have cheeses, crackers, meats, and snacks. Some baskets even include a bit of both. 

Shipping Options & Availability

While reliable shipping is important with any gift, it’s especially needed with perishable food items. When making your purchase, pay close attention to any shipping information the company offers. Around the holidays, many companies will designate if the package will arrive by a specific delivery date. I always recommend shopping sooner rather than later, as you don’t want to run into delays or have items arriving late (or worse, the item being out of stock), but if you’re scrambling at the last minute, see if there is overnight shipping. 

Customization

Adding a personal touch to a gift is a great way to show extra thoughtfulness. Popular customization options include adding a message, selecting colorful gift box designs, choosing specific flavors, or even adding bonus gifts into a package. (I always add a bottle of wine whenever I can.) 

Why Take Our Word for It?

Allison Wignall prides herself on finding the perfect gifts for the important people in her life. In fact, much of her professional writing career has been centered around creating gift guides for all occasions. Her work has been featured in publications including the Spruce Eats, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and more.