40 Homemade Christmas Gifts People Will Actually Use

Homemade gifts are at their best when the person opening them actually wants them. That’s the idea behind this list. These are homemade Christmas gifts I’d be happy to give and to receive, sorted by who you’re making them for, with a link to the original tutorial for every project so you can get started right away.

Some of these come together in a single evening. Others, like homemade vanilla extract, need to be started weeks ahead, so skim the planning guide below before you commit to a list.

Jump to: Food gifts | Gifts to make in batches | For mom, grandma and friends | For dad and other men | For kids | Gifts kids can make | Personal and sentimental | Coworkers, teachers and neighbors

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How to Choose Your Homemade Gifts

• If you’re short on time: a cocoa mix jar, bath salts, a sugar scrub, a BBQ rub or a memory jar can all be put together in one sitting.
• If you have a long list of people to give to: choose one recipe you can scale up, such as the cookie mix, cocoa mix, sugar scrub or simmer pot jars, and make them all in one go.
• If you want to start early: vanilla extract needs weeks to steep, and anything sewn, knitted or crocheted usually takes longer than you expect.
• If you’re giving food or skin products: write the ingredients on the tag so anyone with a nut allergy or sensitive skin knows what’s inside.

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Homemade Food Gifts

Edible gifts are the easiest homemade presents to give widely, because almost everyone eats. Package them in jars, tins or cellophane bags and finish them with a tag. My roundup of DIY Christmas gift tags with free printables has plenty to choose from.

• Christmas cookie mix in a jar: all the dry ingredients layered in a mason jar, with the baking instructions written on the tag. Eating on a Dime has a clear version to follow.
• Hot chocolate mix in a jar: one big batch of cocoa mix fills a lot of jars. Jersey Girl Cooks shares an easy mix, and a few mini marshmallows on top make it look finished.
• Hot cocoa bombs: more of a project, but they look impressive and kids love watching them melt in warm milk. Kippi at Home walks you through them.
• Homemade marshmallows: soft and fluffy, and lovely packed next to a jar of cocoa mix. Sugar Spun Run has a reliable recipe.
• Chai tea mix: a spiced chai mix is a lovely gift for the tea drinker on your list. Deliciously Plated has a mix made for gifting.
• Christmas granola: crunchy, spiced granola in a jar is the kind of gift people actually finish. See The Petite Cook’s Christmas granola.
• Cinnamon candied pecans: sweet, crunchy and quick to bag up. Two Peas and Their Pod has the recipe. Label them clearly for anyone with a nut allergy.
• Soup mix in a jar: a layered dry soup mix is a practical gift for someone who would rather have dinner than another candle. Getty Stewart shows how to put one together.
• Ranch dip and seasoning mix: a small jar of homemade seasoning is a good savory gift for people who don’t have a sweet tooth. Joy Filled Eats has an easy mix.
• Salted caramel sauce: a jar of caramel sauce suits anyone who loves ice cream, apples or coffee. FIVEheartHOME has a quick version. Check the recipe’s storage notes and tell the recipient how long it keeps.
• Peppermint bark: one of the simplest sweets to make in bulk, and it looks good in a tin. Preppy Kitchen has a four-ingredient recipe.
• Small-batch jam: a small batch keeps preserving manageable if you don’t want to spend a whole day on it. See Once Upon a Chef’s small-batch strawberry jam.
• Homemade vanilla extract: start this one now, because it needs weeks to steep. The bottles look lovely with a handwritten label. Hearth and Vine shows how to make it as a gift.

Want even more sweet gifts? Browse my DIY Christmas candy gift recipes, my easy homemade fudge recipes and my mason jar gift ideas.

Homemade Gifts You Can Make in Batches

If you have a long list of teachers, neighbors and coworkers, these are the ones to make in one go. The same ingredients stretch across a dozen jars, and a matching tag ties them together.

• Christmas sugar scrubs: peppermint and other festive scents in a jar. Our Oily House shares five options.
• Bath salts: a relaxing gift that takes minutes to mix. Healthy Green Savvy keeps it to just two ingredients.
• Whipped body butter: a spa-style gift that looks far more expensive than it is. See Farmhouse on Boone’s whipped body butter.
• Beeswax lip balm: small, useful and easy to tuck into a stocking or a card. Bless This Mess Please has a simple recipe.
• Simmer pot jars: dried fruit, spices and a tag explaining how to simmer them on the stove so the house smells like Christmas. My Turn for Us shows how to put the jars together.

Homemade Gifts for Mom, Grandma and Friends

These are the cozy, slow-down gifts. Pair two or three of them, such as a candle, a cocoa mix and a mug cozy, and you have a cozy night in basket.

• Teacup candles: a thrifted teacup becomes a candle that doubles as a keepsake. Our Crafty Mom has a beginner tutorial for soy teacup candles.
• Rice heating pad: a microwavable pad for cold hands, sore shoulders and cold winter nights. Living Well Mom shows a no-sew version.
• No-sew fleece tie blanket: fleece, scissors and a little patience for knotting the edges. A Beautiful Mess has the tutorial.
• Crochet mug cozy: a small first project for anyone who crochets. The Loopy Lamb has a free pattern with a video.
• Fabric-covered notebook: a plain notebook dressed up in pretty fabric, ideal for journals, lists and recipes. Brepea uses a no-sew method.
• Simple tote bag: a good first sewing project that someone will use every week. The Seasoned Homemaker has a beginner tutorial.

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Homemade Gifts for Dad and Other Men

Gifts for dads, partners and brothers tend to land best when they’re useful. These lean practical. The candied pecans, peppermint bark and ranch mix above also work well for men who prefer food to crafts.

• BBQ rub in a jar: a homemade spice rub for anyone who loves the grill. xoxoBella has one made for gifting.
• Leather keychain: simple, useful and easy to personalize with initials. Making Manzanita has a tutorial.
• Travel wash bag: fill a wash bag with travel-size versions of the things they already use, so it’s ready for the next trip.

Homemade Gifts for Kids

• Play dough kit: homemade dough, a few cookie cutters and some tools in a box or jar. Handmade Farmhouse shows how to put one together.
• Craft kit in a box: fill a box with ribbon, buttons, felt, pipe cleaners and glue, plus a few simple project ideas on a card.
• Giant outdoor chalkboard: a board from the hardware store painted with chalkboard paint, with a bucket of chalk to go with it.

Homemade Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make

For grandparents, teachers and godparents, a gift made by a child is often the one that gets kept. For many more ideas sorted by who the gift is for, see my full guide to homemade Christmas gifts kids can make.

• Painted or handprint ornaments: a handmade ornament doubles as a keepsake. My roundup of DIY Christmas ornaments for kids has plenty of easy ideas.
• Framed artwork: choose a favorite drawing, copy or photograph it, and put it in a nice frame. A good frame is half the gift.
• A coupon book: hand-drawn vouchers for things like a family movie night, breakfast in bed or washing the car.
• Jar-filling: let kids layer the cookie mix or cocoa mix jars above and decorate the tags themselves.

Personal and Sentimental Homemade Gifts

These are the gifts that cost very little but take real thought. They’re ideal for partners, parents and anyone who has everything.

• Memory jar: a jar filled with handwritten notes about favorite moments, or reasons you love them. The Savvy Sparrow offers a free template.
• Photo wood slice coasters: favorite photos on wood slices make personal coasters. Hometalk shows how.
• Mini photo calendar: a photo for every month is a gift that gets used all year. It’s Always Autumn has a mini 2027 version with free printables.
• Photo ornaments: turn favorite photos into ornaments for the tree. See my guide to DIY photo Christmas ornaments.
• Framed map: print a map of the place where they grew up, met their partner or got married, and frame it.
• Family recipe collection: gather handwritten family recipes, photograph or copy them, and bind them into a small book or tuck the cards into a pretty tin.

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Homemade Gifts for Coworkers, Teachers and Neighbors

For a longer list, go back to the batch gifts above. Cookie mix, cocoa mix, peppermint bark, sugar scrubs and simmer pot jars all work well because you can make them in volume and keep the cost per gift low. For more ideas, see my posts on DIY Christmas gifts for coworkers and cute, cheap Christmas gifts for coworkers.

Finishing Touches: Tags and Packaging

A good tag turns a jar into a gift. Use it to say what’s inside, how to use it and who it’s from, and add ingredients if it’s food or skincare. My DIY Christmas gift tags roundup includes free printables you can use straight away.

Homemade gifts don’t have to be elaborate to feel thoughtful. Pick two or three that suit the people on your list, make them well, and enjoy the process. The recipients will be glad you did.

For more presents and gift-exchange inspiration, explore our Christmas gift ideas.