Homemade Food Gifts

When packed into simple glass jars, Candied Lemon Peel makes a beautiful and delicious gift.

This easy homemade coffee liqueur is just like Kahlua, only more delicious. (Note: you need to start this one a few weeks before giving it.)

Harissa is a hot sauce – more of a paste really – from North Africa. Homemade Harissa is easy to make and looks quite pretty packed into jars. There are as many harissa recipes as there are cooks from the countries that use it, so feel free to experiment with types of chiles and amount of aromatics to find the mix you like best.

Note that fresh, homemade harissa needs to be refrigerated, so wrap and give it at the last minute – this is a homemade food gift that shouldn't sit under the tree!

This Horseradish-Infused Vodka adds kick to a cocktail and is a great digestif served ice cold on a winter's night. Small bottles make ample gifts!

Storing sugar and lemon zest together creates a delightful lemon-scented sugar perfect for sprinkling on treats and sweetening drinks. Packing it into pretty jars with a handcrafted labels makes a lovely gift.

Use fancy Meyer lemons or more pedestrian regular lemons to make this lemon marmalade. It's delicious on toast or scones.

These easy Pickled Green Beans are “refrigerator pickles.” They are not heat-processed and thus must be stored in the refrigerator to keep from spoiling, so they only work for local gift-giving, but recipients are sure to appreciate their bright, snappy flavor.

Pickled Okra is a snappy treat too many people outside Texas and the South don't know about. Make a pint (or two) for your favorite pickle-lover.

Preserved lemons add kick to salads and make great garnishes for spicy stews and roasts.

Sweet and spicy, this chutney is delicious on chicken or pork and tasty simply spread on a cracker too. It improves with age, so you might want to tell the recipient to put it in the cupboard for a few months before tucking into it.