Give the gift of food this Christmas and you'll go straight to the top of the nice list. Plus, you'll probably get a little taste of whatever you're gifting. Friends and family are lovely like that.
Here are our present suggestions for all the important people in your life. There's a treat you can make them yourself, or a few suggestions for delicious food gifts from small businesses we love and admire.
Gift perfection for your mum
No one works harder for their festive gift all year than your mum. She's usually the giver of gifts, which can make her super hard to buy for. But, no matter what you end up with, she'll tell you she loves it almost as much as she loves you.
A gift to make: German jam cookies
These delicate bickies are jammy and buttery, so they're basically full of all the good stuff. Just like your mum.
Say "I love you" with spitzbuben. Source: China Squirrel
Gifts to buy:
Tasty gifts for your dad
Is it just us, or are fathers especially hard to buy for? They never seem to want anything - no, wait, they like stuff, but it tends to be electronic in nature and exorbitant in price. But one thing a dad could never refuse is a chocolate treat you baked yourself.
A gift to make: Fudgy chocolate and cherry brownies
These brownies are Fudgy, chocolatey and just a little bit dense. Just like your dad. (Kidding!)
Hello Dad from your favourite child. Source: Alan Benson
Gifts to buy:
- Bottle Rocket Double Spiced Negroni which comes with a Golden Age Cinema movie night rental
- Wild Boar Bush Tucker Salami from The Salami Man & Co
- Jaques 1kg bag of espresso roast whole beans
Sweet gifts for your grandparents
If you're among the lucky ones, you get to see your grandparents on the regular. However, this year of all years has seen many of us separated from our eldest and dearest. Remind them how much they're missed with a thoughtful gift this year.
A gift to make: Fruit mince pies
Mince pies are traditional, tasty and they travel well through the post if needed. Maybe save one for your own postie?
According to a Middle Ages custom, if your grandparents eat a mince pie every day from Christmas day until Twelfth Night they will have happiness for the whole year. Source: Alan Benson
Gifts to buy:
- Dark chocolate pecans from Barefoot Farm Byron
- A dim sum box for two from Ding Dong Dim Sum
- Apple Tarte Tatin by Guillaume Brahimi poster from Food For Everyone
Buy a poster from social enterprise Food for Everyone and 50% of all profits will be shared with food-banks across Australia. Source: Food for Everyone
Loving gifts for your partner
So important to get this one right, because chances are this gift is just as much for you as it is for them. Well, that's love, right?
A gift to make: Şekerpare
For reasons which we daren't go into here...
A very merry Christmas indeed. Source: Bree Hutchins
Gifts to buy:
- Chocolatier's selection box from 31 Degrees (or a bag of coal, depending on how the year has been)
- Dinner for two from Providoor (sorry, Sydney and Melbourne only for now)
- Midi Picnic Basket from Le Weekend
Fun gifts for the kids
Kids are wonderfully easy to buy for, but making something yourself is so special. If you can't find the time to whip up the dominoes, feel free to go for the 'bought' options. You'll be tempted to buy one of each for yourself as well.
A gift to make: Malted milk domino biscuits
A treat and a game in one. We know what we'll be doing on Christmas eve.
Thorough hand washing is an essential component of the game. Source: Alan Benson
Gifts to buy:
- Mix 'n' Match cookie baking box from Hey Baker!
- The 'Can't Decide Box' from FUNDAY Natural Sweets
- Green Essentials Bento Box from Biome
Cool gifts for the teens
Teens say they only want cold, hard cash for Christmas, but they'll be mighty glad you went the food option instead.
A gift to make: Homemade chocolate freckles
Even your teen will raise a smile when they're eating these rainbow-covered treats.
Childhood nostalgia is weirdly strong in the teens... don't tell them they're technically still a child themselves. Source: The Chocolate Queen
Gifts to buy:
- The Choc-mas Box from Goldelucks
- Peach Fruit Boba Tea from Boba Barista
- Kido Mango & Custard Cream Daifuku from Asian Grocer Online
Appreciable gifts for your siblings
Sibling relationships at Christmas are so often fraught, but not this year. This year you're going to bond over biscuits.
A gift to make: Traditional gingerbread people
Best made together on Christmas eve, or whenever you can spare a moment. Even if it's via Zoom.
Not just for kids. Or perhaps just for the kids in us all. Source: Tribune News Service
Gifts to buy:
Thoughtful gifts for your bestie
If you're anything like us, you wouldn't have made it through the past year (or two) without your best friend. It's hard to say thank you enough for all the positive pick-me-ups and kind you-got-this gestures, but we'll give it a go.
A gift to make: Spiced chocolate martini
Chocolate plus martini equals one very happy friend.
A proper catch-up over an elegant martini has got to be the best gift going. Source: Hardie Grant Books
Gifts to buy:
- Mystery Picnic with Friends from Amazing Co.
- A movie and a choc top at Palace Cinemas
- Chilli Infused Drinking Chocolate from Grounded Pleasures
Much-needed gifts for the teacher
Oh, what a year our teachers have had. Depending on the rules around gift-giving at your kid's school, we feel they deserve something extra-special this year.
A gift to make: Salty caramel and Brazil nut popcorn clusters
When sweet meets savoury you know you've got yourself a good teacher. The same is true for popcorn.
A salty caramel popcorn to end a very salty year. Source: Amanda McLauchlan
Gifts to buy:
- Tim Tam Toffee Apple from Caramo's
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries from James and the Chocolate Berry
- A bottle of Wild Harvest Olive Oil from 4000olives
Worthy gifts for your postie
The only people who have worked harder than teachers this year are posties and delivery people. So, surprise them with a thank you gift they've truly earned.
A gift to make: Lemon curd
Everyone deserves a mouth-puckering dollop of this good stuff.
A jar of liquid sunshine will travel well while they keep those deliveries coming. Source: Petrina Tinslay
Gifts to buy:
- Crispy Chilli Oil by Chotto Motto
- Plain Molasses Licorice from Uncle John's Licorice
- Green Hot Tomato Sauce from Mabu Mabu
Unexpected gifts for yourself
The only person who can reliably spoil you this Christmas is you.
A gift to make: Pfeffernüsse
Bite-sized gingerbread-ish mouthfuls with a crisp outside and a soft, gooey inside. It's all of us in a biscuit.
All the spice that makes Christmas so nice. Source: China Squirrel
Gifts to buy:
