In the past I've done preserves or marmalade. I've also done homemade biscotti. They're easy to make and you can add all kinds of different nuts/dried fruit/flavorings.

About 3 months ago I started making vanilla extract. Smells yummy! I made some for myself as well, and am going to use it to make sugar cookies to include with the extract.

For something savory, rather than sweet, I have done Bacon Jam in weck jars. It does need refrigeration though.

http://www.marthastewart.com/326881/slow-cooker-bacon-jam

Anonymous wrote:Washpo had something in the food chat about boiled cider caramels. I don't want to go through the trouble of boiling cider and then making caramels, but I would love to get this as a gift to try. I might go ahead and give it a try because they sound so darn good and I don't know anyone who is planning on making them and giving them to me.

You can buy boiled cider from King Arthur Flour's website.

I agree with the suggestion to make savory gifts - in the past I've done spiced nuts and crackers. For someone who likes to cook, I might gift preserved lemons, harissa, or other homemade spice blends/ condiments. I've also done granola, hot chocolate mix, and my own bake mixes. Just take a favorite recipe of yours and mix up all the dry ingredients, and include a card with instructions.

Spiced or sugared nuts - I haven't made them but have gotten them as gifts and they are wonderful.

I have done chocolate dipped plastic spoons for coffee. Very easy to do and you can decorate with crushed peppermint, white chocolate, etc. (just needs to be something that will taste good in coffee or hot chocolate).

Chocolate dipped pretzel rods with crushed peppermints.

Meringues

spice rubs (although these can get expensive and you want to know that the person will actually use them)

I often do candy canes (from Martha Stewart) and they're pretty easy if you have any interest at all in doing hard candy (some people are freaked out by sugar that hot, and that's cool). Her marshmallows also turn out beautifully.

If you have a pasta machine, making crackers always seems to impress people. I often make a variety of crackers and gift those with some things I've canned (eg. Pear butter, another thing that is insanely easy, but you have to have the time to do it). You can also make your own tea by dehydrating fruit, which looks very impressive.

Cookie or bread mix in a mason jar is usually pretty well received, too.

I usually try to stay away from cookies and sweets, because everyone starts to get loaded down with those once the holidays begin.

Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts are awesome:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/the-union-square-cafes-bar-nuts-recipe.html

Washpo had something in the food chat about boiled cider caramels. I don't want to go through the trouble of boiling cider and then making caramels, but I would love to get this as a gift to try. I might go ahead and give it a try because they sound so darn good and I don't know anyone who is planning on making them and giving them to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've done homemade salted caramels and they are amazing, and not that hard. I've also done homemade marshmallows and graham crackers and given them with a good bar of chocolate. I highly recommend that if you have a lot of time on your hands.

Oh my god do you have the receipe?

Seriously, it's a PITA. But it's not actually difficult, and it makes an impressive gift. I plan to do it again in 15 years when my kids are out of the house. Or maybe in 30 years when I retire. That's probably more realistic.

I know I used smittenkitchen's recipe for the graham crackers, but I can't remember if I used hers or martha stewart for the marshmallows. I know I tried them both but I can't remember which I preferred. You will need to make one or two batches of both the GCs and the MMs to get the hang of it before they come out gift-worthy.

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/05/graham-crackers/

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/06/springy-fluffy-marshmallows/

http://www.marthastewart.com/333974/homemade-marshmallows

Home made limoncello, if it's appropriate for the recipeints:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120600243.html

Anonymous wrote:I'm thinking ahead and looking for ideas for some thoughtful, relatively easy, food-related Christmas gifts I can give to folks. Something I can package "cutely" and ideally something people won't have to eat immediately. One year I did granola; I also did Pumpkin Spice syrup for lattes for Halloween gifts (long story but we needed/wanted to give one Halloween). I'm thinking of gingerbread syrup for coffee, etc., this year.

Does anyone have other ideas?

Caviar from Costco.

I would enjoy something savory, there are already so many sweets around the holidays.

Anonymous wrote:I've done homemade salted caramels and they are amazing, and not that hard. I've also done homemade marshmallows and graham crackers and given them with a good bar of chocolate. I highly recommend that if you have a lot of time on your hands.

Oh my god do you have the receipe?

I've done homemade salted caramels and they are amazing, and not that hard. I've also done homemade marshmallows and graham crackers and given them with a good bar of chocolate. I highly recommend that if you have a lot of time on your hands.

I'm thinking ahead and looking for ideas for some thoughtful, relatively easy, food-related Christmas gifts I can give to folks. Something I can package "cutely" and ideally something people won't have to eat immediately. One year I did granola; I also did Pumpkin Spice syrup for lattes for Halloween gifts (long story but we needed/wanted to give one Halloween). I'm thinking of gingerbread syrup for coffee, etc., this year.

Does anyone have other ideas?