10 Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays

About Tori Thurmond

Tori Thurmond combines her creative writing background with her marketing experience in her role as the Content Specialist at Brookdale. When she's not writing, she's probably spending time with her two cats or knitting.

If you want to gift your friends and family something meaningful this holiday season while also saving a little money, consider homemade gifts. Nothing says “I love you” like receiving a gift that someone you care about made for you. If you’re looking to make more gifts this holiday season, take a look at this list to get some ideas.

1. Sweet Treat in a Jar

Does your family have a secret brownie or hot chocolate recipe that everyone goes crazy for around the holidays? Or is everyone always asking you to bring your special sugar cookies to family functions? Freshly-made treats are a great gift, but if you want your loved ones to be able to enjoy your recipes beyond the function, consider gifting sweet treats in a jar this year. All you need to do is place the recipe’s dry goods in a sealable jar and attach a tag to the jar letting the recipient know if they need to add any wet ingredients and how to prepare the treat. For inspiration, check out this recipe for hot chocolate in a jar or this brownie mix in a jar.

But don’t worry, if you’re not much of a baker, you can still participate in the sweet treat in a jar gift idea by putting together a jar of mulling spices. Your loved ones can use their mulling spices to make their own mulled cider or wine or just place them in some water on the stove to use as a simmer pot, making their house smell like the holidays. Buying spices or other ingredients in bulk can often be cheaper than purchasing pre-made mulling spices in a jar.

2. Custom Ornament

Not only are handmade ornaments often more affordable than store-bought ones, but they are also easier to personalize and have more sentimental value. You could go for a more natural look like this star anise wreath ornament, or you may want to try something a little more whimsical like these hand-sewn ornaments. If you’re a knitter or crocheter, you could try out one of these fiber-based ornaments or opt for a hand-painted option if that’s more your speed. You can even learn how to turn needlepoint and cross-stitch designs into ornaments.

3. DIY Candles

One of the best parts of holiday shopping is making a stop in the candle aisle to smell all of the new holiday scents, but some of those candles can get pretty pricey. Instead of spending a fortune buying cute candles from your favorite boutique, make your own candles this year. You’ll need candle wax to melt down, like this soy wax, a few candle wicks and whatever essential oils you want to scent your candles. For your candle’s vessel, pop into your local second-hand store to pick up mugs, dishes or even vintage ashtrays for a one-of-a-kind candle that’s personalized for the person receiving the gift.

4. Homemade Pet Treats

Do you have an animal lover in your life that would appreciate a gift for their furry friend as much as for themselves? There are many simple homemade dog treats and cat treats to try making this holiday season. With affordable ingredients, you’ll save a little money, and your loved ones will appreciate you thinking of their pet! You could even attach a handwritten tag or note to the treats, letting the recipient know what ingredients you used to make the treats, just in case their pet is sensitive to certain foods or if they want to remake the treats again in the future.

5. Wine Bottle Covers

If you’re someone who likes to bring a bottle of wine to the function but wants to add a little something extra, make your own wine bottle cover. Handmade wine bottle covers are cuter than a gift bag, and your loved one can reuse the cover to dress up any bottle sitting on a counter. You could try your hand at knitting a wine bottle sweater or keep things a little simpler by sewing a reusable drawstring wine bag.

6. Spice Blends or Flavored Salt

Are you known for your mouth-watering seasoning blends? Don’t worry, you don’t have to give away your super-secret taco seasoning or barbecue rub recipes, but you could make a big batch of your favorite seasoning blend to give to friends and family so they can try to recreate your dishes in their own kitchens.

Another option for those who don’t have any spice blend recipes but would like to gift something similar is to make flavored salts. Flavored salts are a great way to add an extra punch of flavor to any dish. You could opt for savory flavors like fresh herbs or mushrooms, fresh flavors like citrus or even flavors that could pair well with sweeter dishes like cinnamon or vanilla.

7. Homemade Jams

Homemade jam is a gift that you can put together last minute or start making months in advance. For holiday flavors like cranberry, apple or orange, you can pick up fresh at your local grocery store close to the holidays. For berry-based jams, you could grab berries from the store or plan ahead and pick fresh berries in the summer and fall to freeze and turn into jam later. Either way, your loved ones are sure to appreciate a homemade jar of jam to slather on freshly baked biscuits to enjoy with a warm beverage.

8. Homemade Sugar Scrubs

Do you have loved ones who enjoy self-care products? Make them a sugar scrub! With affordable ingredients and free and easy recipes to follow online, a sugar scrub is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to pamper themselves every now and then. You can either buy affordable mason jars to store the scrub in or thrift sealable containers that have more character to add an extra personal touch to the gift.

9. Handmade Pot Holders

Pot holders are a great handmade gift, whether you’re new to crafting or a seasoned professional. Two of the most popular ways to make pot holders are using a durable yarn to knit or crochet them or choosing a festive fabric to sew them. Everyone could use another pot holder or two, and your loved one can think of you every time they pull your handmade creation out of their drawer.

10. Handwritten Recipe Dish

You may have seen custom recipe dishes that you can order online as a way to share family recipes and customize gifts for a loved one. While ordering a custom recipe dish online may be a great option for some, you may be able to save some money by making one yourself. Stop by the thrift store to find a fun dish that will match your loved one’s personality, and follow this DIY tutorial from Martha Stewart’s website to make a family heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Do you have a homemade gift that you love gifting to friends and family? Let us know in the comments below!