Food Gift Basket Ideas & Recipes

One of my most favorite things to give loved ones every Christmas is a homemade food gift basket. I usually fill my food gift baskets with homemade strawberry jam, hot pepper jelly, peach salsa, chocolate fudge and shortbread cookies. I also add a variety of recipe mixes that my friends and family members can make up and enjoy at their convenience.

Today and in the days ahead I will post some of my favorite food gift basket ideas and recipes.

If you are packing a coffee or cocoa mix in your food gift basket you may want to include some plastic spoons dipped in melted chocolate (dip the spoon end only). You can also decorate your chocolate dipped spoons by sprinkling on some non-pareils or colored sugar sprinkles when the chocolate is still wet. Once the chocolate sets wrap the spoons up in individual pieces of cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon.

Chocolate also adds a nice touch to homemade biscotti. After the biscotti have cooled, dip half of each stick into melted chocolate. Wrap your dipped biscotti as you would your spoons.

You could also opt to wrap your recipe jars in a fabric gift bag to give your food gift basket recipient an element of surprise. Decorative yet practical touches include using a ribbon to tie on a cookie cutter, mini whisk or small wooden spoon.

When making a food gift basket you can also be creative with the type of base you use. Just because it’s a food gift basket doesn’t mean you have to actually use a wicker basket. Be creative and think beyond the basket idea. Consider using a large bowl or a cookie jar as the base of your food gift basket items.

Instead of gift basket straw use new kitchen towels to cushion your recipe jars.

Once your jars are filled you may cut a circle of fabric out (I use a cereal bowl to get the right size) and put it between the sealer and the ring. I also make use of my computer to type up a small recipe card which I attach with a ribbon and by punching a hold in the corner of the recipe card. If the directions are simple you may want to affix a label directly to the jar instead.

Place your decorated recipe jars in a food gift basket to which you have added your unique touches e.g. other food items or personal gift items like mugs, CDs, DVDs, or a good book.

Stay tuned to my next cooking post for more food gift basket ideas and recipes.