For us, the holidays are all about cooking, but what if you can’t actually be with your loved ones this year to cook for them in person? Our solution is edible gifts that can be dropped on friends’ doorsteps or shipped in the mail to family members near and far. And who knows more about making food for loved ones than Ina Garten?
So many of her classic recipes can double as edible gifts. If you’re looking for a homemade candy recipe, she’s got a few options, and when it comes to cookies, cakes, and brownies, no one can beat the Barefoot Contessa.
The key to making food that’s good enough to gift is using the best quality ingredients you can afford, from Ina Garten’s favorite vanilla to her fave fancy French finishing salt. The end result? Edible gifts so good, you might want to end up keeping them for yourself!
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
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These coconut jam thumprint cookies are a classic. Make them even more special by filling them with some gourmet jam in an unexpected flavor, like persimmon.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa
French Chocolate Bark
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Garten’s French chocolate bark is made with a combo of high-quality semisweet and bittersweet chocolate, and is topped with blend of roasted cashews, crystalized ginger, and dried fruits.
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Salted Caramel Brownies
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Getting a box of brownies in the mail is an amazing gift, but swap the plain ones for salted caramel brownies, and your gift will be truly unforgettable.
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Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
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The perfect blend of salty and sweet, these oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies are comfort food personified.
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Homemade Applesauce
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Jars of homemade applesauce are a cute edible gift for people who never realized just how dreamy slow cooked apples can really be. Feel free to experiment with different spices to make your own signature sauce.
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Homemade Marshmallows
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Pair a few of these homemade marshmallows with a mason jar of homemade hot cocoa mix to send your friends into a state of true holiday bliss.
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Black & White Cookies
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Black & White cookies are a New York City classic, but sometimes the ones from generic bakeries fall flat. The homemade version is so much better: soft, sweet, glazed, and giftable.
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Chipotle and Rosemary Roasted Nuts
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Homemade mixed nuts are always a popular gift, but these ones are even better than usual thanks to the exciting addition of smoky chipotle powder.
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Triple Chocolate Loaf Cakes
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Use mini loaf pans to make these intensely chocolatey cakes, and you’ll have tasty gifts for all of your friends.
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Cherry Pistachio Biscotti
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It’s a classic combo for a reason: cherry and pistachio make these biscotti seem downright fancy. They’re definitely dippable, but this recipe is so good, the biscotti are actually tasty on their own, too – we think it’s the addition of nutty almond flour.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa