Lincoln is getting his tonsils out later this week (poor little thing) and I didn’t realize until yesterday that he might not go back to school before his holiday break starts. THAT’S how close we are to Christmas! Cue my semi-panicked state about all the things that need to get done in the next two weeks, including making his teacher and bus driver gifts before his surgery.
My Dad became a school teacher later in life after spending decades in the financial industry and I will never forget the piles and piles of homemade, edible Christmas gifts his students brought him each year for the holidays. He (and we – yum!) loved them so, so much. Homemade treats are truly a gift from the heart. That said, today I’m sharing 5 edible Christmas gift ideas that are perfect for teachers, loved ones, co-workers, and yes, bus drivers (the real heroes of the world, my goodness). If you’re struggling with what to gift a particular person in your life, I can’t imagine they wouldn’t appreciate something homemade. Especially if it’s made with chocolate!
More than that, these edible gift ideas are FUN and INEXPENSIVE to make. Somewhere along the way holiday gifting has become synonymous with pressure and costly. I remember my Mom making layered mason jar cookie mixes and mini loaves of tea bread for Christmas gifts when I was little. I love the idea of getting back to a simpler time of life. You know, the 80s.
Anyway, these edible gifts are all gluten free and allergy-conscious. Package in a treat bag, mason jar, or holiday tin with a pretty ribbon then seal with a kiss!
5 Edible Christmas Gift Ideas:
Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow (For Humans)
If you like Puppy Chow you are going to FLIP for Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow. This holiday treat tastes just like Thin Mints PLUS it’s peanut free. That said, it makes a great edible gift idea for teachers as many schools are peanut free. This is what I make for Lincoln’s (and now Cam’s!) teacher and bus driver. Scoop into clear treat bags then tie with a candy cane and pretty ribbon.
2 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
If you’re looking for an edible Christmas gift that’s simple yet impressive, 2 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark is where it’s at. People LOVE this festive treat and again, all you need is 2 ingredients! Check out the post for a pretty way to package it up.
Grain Free Granola
I feel like granola is a dish we all want perma-baking in our ovens but rarely do we actually make it ourselves. Do the “work” for your friends and family with this easy yet fabulous edible gift idea. Grain Free Granola is truly simple to make and perfect for the health nut in your life. Its low in sugar and carbs, plus its gluten and grain free. Scoop into mason jars then tie with a ribbon for a really thoughtful gift. This would be a great edible gift to send to someone, FYI!
Homemade Taco Seasoning
I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love to receive a jar of Homemade Taco Seasoning for the holidays! This is the gift that keeps on giving as each jar will season around 8 pounds of meat. Yum! A few tips:
- Add a gift tag with a note to add ~2 Tablespoons seasoning with a splash of water or broth to each pound of meat.
- Use mild chili powder if giving to a family with children.
- If gifting to a spice lover, use regular or hot chili powder and/or add crushed red chili pepper flakes.
- If you plan on making several of these jars to give as gifts, consider buying your spices in bulk at Costco, a bulk spice shop, etc.
Christmas Snack Mix
The photo below screams Easter, but the recipe for my Bunny Munch can be easily modified for the holidays. Call it Reindeer Munch or Santa’s Snack Mix then swap pastel M&Ms for holiday M&Ms, and use red and green sprinkles. FYI – Hobby Lobby sells gluten free sprinkles – whee! Package this holiday snack mix in tins to avoid any crushing. It is sooo, so good.
Other DIY Christmas Project Ideas
I know we’re talking edible Christmas gifts, but the following ideas are jumping out at me as similar holiday DIYs to create for yourself or others!
Gluten Free Sugar Cookies (Cut Out and Drop) >
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yum
Every year I make some kind of edible gift to give to my colleagues. By far the biggest hit has been jars of your homemade seasoning salt! I got empty jars a couple months later with requests for refills! Other popular ones have been a jar of homemade Chex mix and caramel corn (pretty big jars for those compared to the seasoning salt). I sourced the larger jars from targets dollar bin area
I made your Chicken Soup. Best recipe I have ever make. I will make over and over. I am going to try rotisserie chicken next time since I don’t add salt and only use Hy Vee’s no salt added chicken broth. I could eat this every week and it is great leftover the next day.
I just wanted to give a heads up regarding giving food. Most of the people I know put all homemade foods directly into the trash can if they haven’t been into the givers home. I usually don’t do this personally, but have recently stopped giving homemade treats to all but my closest friends and family.
I agree. I’m an elementary school teacher and while I LOVE the thoughtfulness of homemade food gifts from students, I don’t eat them because I haven’t been into their home. Although I will always be so grateful for students (and parents!) who go out of their way to show me that they care :)
Aw, that’s a bummer but to each their own I suppose! :)
Kindergarten teacher here. While this can be true, Kristin has an advantage over all of us. I definitely wouldn’t throw away an edible gift from a student whose mom is a food blogger!
Puppy chow will forever and always be one of my favorites!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Heck yeah! I hope you get a chance to try this peppermint version!
I made the chocolate peppermint puppy chow for my co-workers as gift. Super easy and soooo good!
Ahh, so glad to hear it, Kim! Thanks for your feedback!