Food & Drink
Homemade Holiday Gifts with Fountain Avenue Kitchen
Recipes & story by Ann Fulton
There’s something undeniably special about a homemade holiday gift. Not only does it offer a thoughtful, personal touch, but it often saves a bit of money and sidesteps the clutter of well-intentioned presents that end up unused. From edible treats to cozy little luxuries, these gifts are meant to be enjoyed—fully, deliciously, and without taking up permanent space on anyone’s shelves.
Below are some of Ann’s favorite homemade gifts to make and share.
Meet Ann Fulton, the recipe developer and cook behind The Fountain Avenue Kitchen where she has been sharing time-tested recipes for the last 12 years.
Seasonal Sips & Scents
Homemade Baileys Irish Cream: Quick and easy to make at home and every bit as delicious as the store-bought bottle—less expensive too. Delightful sipped on its own or added to coffee, hot chocolate, and a variety of baked goods.
Christmas Potpourri: This fragrant gift stands on its own, or you could bundle it with a simmer pot or festive tea towel. Printable gift tags included.
Boutique-Worthy Luxuries
Easy Hand & Body Sugar Scrub: This customizable, boutique-worthy scrub is effective, economical, and smells good enough to eat. It also makes a thoughtful gift that can be made in minutes. (If you, like me, suffer from dry, cracked hands in the colder months, make a jar for yourself too. This scrub really helps!)
Homemade Chapstick: For its creamy texture and ability to effectively coat chapped lips, this homemade balm has long been my favorite chapstick. It’s a fun project for teens too. (My friend calls it Happy Chappy, which is a clever name for a label!)
Sweet & Salty Delights
Salted Hot Fudge Sauce: This tried-and-true chocolate sauce is thick, velvety, and strikes the right salty-sweet balance. An easy-to-make, thoughtful host gift, my family serves the sauce over vanilla ice cream and passes a plate of cookies for our Christmas dessert.
Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar: This pretty jar allows the recipient to make a fresh batch of cookies with ease after the holiday glut of cookies has passed. Printable gift tags included.
Chocolate Peanut Clusters with Sea Salt: Salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy, a big batch of these bite-size treats is easy to make in your slow cooker. Hard to resist and perfect for sharing!
Christmas Chex Mix: Sweet, salty, and delightfully crunchy, a big batch of this festive mix takes about 10 minutes to prepare and is ideal for holiday snacking and gift giving.
Spiced Pecan Chex Mix: A chocolate-free alternative to the mix above, this recipe is rather fabulous too. For an even simpler option, I have gifted jars of Spiced Pecans, which were the inspiration for the Chex mix. These are delicious in salads and by the handful!
Pantry Provisions
Rosemary Roasted Cashews: Rosemary, salt, and a hint of heat makes these easy-to-prepare nuts a snacking and charcuterie board favorite.
Classic Strawberry Jam: No worries that summer is long gone because frozen strawberries work beautifully in this recipe. Pair with a fresh loaf of bread for toast that’s worth waking up for!
Homemade Marinara Sauce: Gift with dried pasta, a baguette, or a wedge of Parmesan and the recipient is halfway to a delicious dinner!
Union Square Café Bar Nuts: Inspired by the iconic New York City restaurant, this nut mix is lightly spiced, perfectly salted, and completely irresistible.
For Our Four-Legged and Feathered Friends
Homemade Dog Treats: Hard-to-buy-for friends, family, teachers, co-workers, and neighbors might just appreciate something for their pet! These treats are easy to make with dog-friendly ingredients.
Birdseed Ornaments: These pretty ornaments are fun to make and economical, too — and your feathered friends will thank you! Have lots of pinecones in your backyard? Peanut Butter Pinecone Bird Feeders are an excellent choice as well.
Kid-Approved Creations
Magical Reindeer Food: This festive little project will get everyone in the holiday spirit and makes a great gift for the kids to give to their friends before the big day.
3-Ingredient Cinnamon Ornaments: Three simple ingredients come together with ease for a project that’s fun for adults and kids alike. Once dried, you can decorate as desired or opt for a rustic look, and the aroma lasts for years!
Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments: These colorful ornaments are a fun activity for young children (and great for fine motor skills) and make festive present toppers too.
Feel free to mix and match—sometimes the simplest homemade gifts end up being the most memorable. And if you could use a few new cookie recipes to add to your holiday cookie platters and gift boxes, scroll through a collection of the winning recipes from last year’s Fig cookie contest. They do not disappoint! My Best Holiday Cookies collection is also full of long-time reader and family favorites.
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