Homemade vegan food gifts for the holidays

Get in the holiday spirit with this vegan food gifts guide. These ideas are perfect for anyone on your list. The list includes sweet treats, cocktail kits, and savory snacks.

Homemade gifts always feel extra special and personal. It feels good to know that someone took your tastes & personality into consideration to create something from the heart.

Plus, when you make a DIY present, you don’t have to worry about it not arriving in time for the holidays.

This vegan food gifts guide includes ideas for the sweet tooth in your friend group, cocktail enthusiasts, and savory food lovers.

For the sweet tooth

Here are some sugary treats for the dessert lovers.

Candied pecans

Sweet and salty candied pecans take only 5 minutes to make. They have a light sugary coating that’s downright addictive.

Candied pecans can be eaten on their own, used as a salad topping, or scattered on non-dairy ice cream. They’re a tasty addition to a vegan cheeseboard. They’re also gluten-free.

Give candied pecans in a jar or cellophane bag with ribbon.

Peanut butter and chocolate popcorn

If your gift recipient loves peanut butter cups, they’ll go wild for this peanut butter and chocolate popcorn.

With swirls of peanut butter sauce and dollops of melted chocolate, it’s a guaranteed hit for adults and kids alike. Plus, they’re gluten-free.

For gift giving, simply pour a batch into a cellophane bag, and tie it with a ribbon.

Rice crispy treats

Vegan rice crispy treats are a longtime crowd-pleaser. They involve just 3 ingredients and come together in minutes. And they’re gluten-free.

When giving rice crispy treats, cut them into squares, and pop them into a metal holiday container. Finish with a bow.

Banana bread cookies

Banana bread cookies with chocolate chips are little pillows of puffy sweetness. They have all of the flavor of banana bread, but with a 20 minute cooking time!

Give the cookies on a nice platter covered in wrap or a cookie tin.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies are pleasantly chewy with a hint of sweetness from maple syrup. Plus, they can be made gluten-free.

Put them into a cookie tin, and give to your favorite cookie monster. You could also wrap it with a copy of But My Family Would Never Eat Vegan, the cookbook where this recipe originated.

Cinnamon donuts

Baked cinnamon donuts are covered in a fine layer of cinnamon sugar. They work equally well for dessert or breakfast.

Fill out the gift with a donut baking pan, so that they can make the recipe again.

The donuts would also go well with a bag of locally roasted coffee beans, because coffee & donuts are a perfect match.

For the cocktail lover

If the recipients on your list enjoy a cocktail, here are some boozy gift ideas.

Gin & tonic

Gin and tonic is a classic for a reason. This easy & delicious pairing tastes just as refreshing in the summer as it does in the cooler months.

Give the G & T fan in your life a package of the essentials – gin, a quality tonic (no high fructose corn syrup, please!), limes, fresh mint, and a couple of cocktail glasses.

Cranberry mimosa

Here’s a simple gift idea. Give a make-your-own cranberry mimosa set with cranberry juice, sparkling wine, fresh cranberries, and champagne flutes.

Cranberry mimosas are lightly sweet, tart, and effervescent. Perfect for holiday brunches and special dinners.

Pickle vodka

Pickle vodka is a fun and delicious hard alcohol that is easy to make. It has a delicious aftertaste of pickle-y bite.

It’s wonderful on the rocks, as a shot, in a pickle martini, or Bloody Mary.

Give it in a labeled jar to the pickle aficionado in your life.

Pickle martini

Speaking of pickle vodka, why not put it together with a bottle of vermouth for a pickle martini basket?

Pickle martinis are similar to dirty martinis, but with pickle vodka instead of olive brine.

Fill out the basket with martini glasses, cocktail picks, and cornichons for garnish.

Bloody Mary mix

Bloody Mary cocktails are loaded with umami goodness. There’s tomato juice, hot sauce, vegan Worcestershire, lime, and prepared horseradish all swished together.

Make a quadruple batch of my Bloody Mary recipe to use as a mix. Then pour it into a tall bottle for giving.

Add the bottled Bloody Mary to a package with plain or pickle vodka, highball glasses, cocktail picks, and some fun garnishes. Cornichons or cocktail onions would be great here!

Remember to refrigerate the Bloody Mary mix before and after gift giving.

For the savory food lover

If the folks on your list would rather have something on the savory side, here are some vegan food gifts that are sure to please.

Dukkah

Dukkah is a nut and seed mix that’s blended with coriander, fennel, anise, and salt. It’s used as a dip.

If you’re unfamiliar with dukkah, first you dip warm bread into olive oil. Then you press the moistened area into the dukkah.

The crushed nuts, seeds, and spices cling to the warm bread. Thanks to fennel and anise, you get the flavors of sausage, as well as almonds and sesame seeds.

Gift a container of dukkah along with a baguette and good bottle of olive oil.

Because of the oils in the crushed nuts and seeds, I recommend keeping dukkah refrigerated before and after gift giving.

Quick pickled jalapeños

If you have a spicy food lover in your life, make them a jar of quick pickled jalapeños. They take only 10 minutes to make and last for weeks in the refrigerator.

The recipe also includes thin slivers of garlic, which is an extra flavor and treat in the jar.

Quick pickled jalapeños are great on tacos, burritos, nachos, and sandwiches.

Remember to refrigerate the jalapeños before and after gift giving.

Pistachio butter

Pistachio butter costs a lot in stores, but it’s easy to make at home with a high-speed blender.

It requires just two ingredients – roasted pistachios and salt.

It’s also rife with options for personalization. Add maple syrup for sweetness, a dash of cinnamon or vanilla for a dessert vibe, a dollop of coconut oil, or other roasted nuts like cashews or walnuts.

Pistachio butter is terrific spread onto apple slices, slathered on toast, spooned into oatmeal, or spread on pancakes.

Keep pistachio butter refrigerated before and after gift giving.

Pickle or pineapple salsa

Salsa is much loved for snacking and Taco Tuesday. Treat the salsa lover in your family to something a little different – pickle salsa or pineapple salsa.

Pickle salsa is a briny, garlicky dip that can be eaten with tortilla chips or used as a sandwich spread. (It’s great on chili dogs!)

Pineapple salsa is a sweet, fresh, and juicy dip. It’s wonderful for snacking or eaten on top of tacos.

Give either salsa with a nice bowl for serving and a bag of tortilla chips.

Since they are both fresh salsas, remember to refrigerate before and after gift giving.

Vegan feta cheese

Vegan feta cheese adds creaminess and tang to salads, mezze platters, and wraps.

It’s made with blanched almonds and baked. It has the perfect dense but creamy texture.

Gift the vegan feta in the same cocotte used for cooking. Just wrap in a cellophane bag or clear basket wrap. Fill out the package with crackers and a cheese knife.

Keep this vegan feta refrigerated before and after gift giving.

Jalapeño cashew cheese spread

Jalapeño cashew cheese is wonderfully tangy with the flavor of pickled jalapeños. It’s a delicious addition to a vegan cheeseboard or sandwich spread.

Gift the cashew cheese spread with crackers and a cheese spreader.

Refrigerate this cashew spread before and after gift giving.

Olive tapenade

Olive tapenade is a flavorful dip made with two kinds of olives, garlic, lemon juice, capers, and fresh thyme. It takes only five minutes to make.

It’s sure to be a big hit for any olive fan. Gift in a jar or covered container along with crackers for serving.

Remember to refrigerate before and after gift giving.

Pickled red onions

Easy pickled red onions add tangy crunch to sandwiches, tacos, salads, and bowls. Plus, you’ve got to love that vibrant pink color!

They’re made with just five ingredients and take only 15 minutes of active cooking.

Give pickled onions in a cute jar that the recipient can re-use once the onions are gone.