7 gift ideas you can make in the kitchen
Seven climate-friendly, festive, and delicious holiday gift ideas—from us, to you. (Photo: Emily Anderson)
Until sixth grade, most of the gifts I gave my family were handmade at my school’s annual “holiday crafts day.” At this much anticipated event, students rolled beeswax into tapered candles, built miniature Christmas trees out of cinnamon sticks and faux fir, and created tree ornaments that ranged from charming to ghastly. Picture Santa’s workshop but with 100 elves who were all thumbs and would glue sequins on everything and you can probably picture the gifts.
I vividly remember wrapping a horrifying ornament with crazy googly eyes, a leering sequin mouth and disproportionately small sequin nose, and a shock of neon-red fluffy feather hair all fixed to a fist-sized Styrofoam ball. I wish I could say that this monstrosity was shoved in a drawer or maybe removed from the house entirely.
Everyone is familiar with the classic chocolate-mint combo. Here, basil, chamomile, lavender, and thyme make excellent additions. Paired with a luxuriously smooth center, these plant-based and plant-infused truffles are a sure hit. Visit the recipe.
But no. Every year it joins the brightly colored balls, shimmering lights, and dogs with wings in a place of honor on my parents’ Christmas tree. In fact, many of the gifts I made on those craft days make an annual holiday appearance: misshapen candles, slouchy cinnamon trees, and a lopsided snowman providing an eternal reminder of my 2002 bowl-cut.
Thankfully, the gift ideas I’m sharing with you are more edible and less sequined. (Although, I guess you could add them if you want to.) Food makes a great gift because, even if it’s not beautiful, it will still probably taste delicious. Plus, if you’re crafting the food yourself you can make it healthier and more environmentally friendly by using plant-based ingredients when you can and incorporating re-used packaging. In that spirit, each recipe includes “zero-waste tips” to help take the guesswork out of handling leftover scraps.
The suggestions make good gifts for a wide range of people: dedicated vegans, whole-food enthusiasts, novice cooks, and those who appreciate a tasty drink or sauce. Now, you may be looking at this list and wondering: “Where are the baked goods?”
Great question. Here’s a list of delicious and festive-looking muffins, breads, and cakes. But I personally like to give gifts with a long shelf life. The following gift ideas will keep for months in the refrigerator, allowing your loved one to treasure them well past the holidays.
Sweet Fermented Hot Sauce
A gift to the fire gods themselves, this hot sauce is sweet and spicy, and the perfect partner for eggs, roasted vegetables, and bean-based stews.
Quick-pickled Red Onions with Cilantro and Jalapeno
With their bright pink hue, delightful crunch, and vibrant Latin flavor, these pickled onions are the perfect add-on to tacos, sandwiches, salads, soups, and just about anything else you can imagine. The recipe comes together with minimal time and effort, and the onions keep in the refrigerator for up to six months (if they last that long), making them a terrific DIY gift!
Hot and Spicy Tepache
This recipe is a slight variation on traditional Mexican tepache that pre-dates Spanish colonization. Crisp, tangy and effervescent with a spicy bite, this tepache is excellent served cold, over ice or as part of a mixed drink.
Infused Vinegar Two Ways
Add a little zest to your dishes with infused vinegar—two kinds! The Spicy Ginger Pepper Vinegar makes an excellent addition to stir-fry, roasted vegetables, and greens, while the Sweet Raspberry Vinegar is delicious in a salad dressing or over vanilla ice cream. Once you learn the process, you can create unlimited flavors for all occasions.
Autumn Apple Cider Molasses
Versatile and comforting, like your favorite fuzzy sweater, this cider molasses is autumn in a jar and pairs well with both sweet and savory dishes. Keep it simple or add your favorite fall spices—the choice is yours. Either way, it makes a great topper for pancakes, glaze for roasted vegetables, or base for endless homemade hot ciders.
Old-fashioned Vanilla Ginger Beer
This recipe returns to ginger beer’s fermented roots with an added dash of vanilla for extra flavor. Once you taste this crisp, zingy ginger beer, it will be hard to return to store-bought ginger ales. It’s the perfect recipe for those new to fermenting beverages, since it’s simple with very little active prep time.
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