Healthy Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen

Featured Recipes

Maple-Nut Granola

We love the maple-nut flavor combination of this heart-healthy granola, but feel free to substitute your favorite nuts or dried fruit for your own custom blend.

» Maple-Nut Granola

Spanish Rub

Two kinds of paprika, cilantro and lemon give Spanish flair to pork chops, tenderloin or shrimp.

» Spanish Rub

Salsa Palermitana (Palermo-Style Sauce)

Sautéed garlic, rich green Sicilian olive oil, briny capers and olives, tomatoes, fresh oregano, lemon juice and lemon oil from the lemon creates a true flavor explosion that’s as wonderful on pasta as it is on grilled or roasted fish.

» Salsa Palermitana (Palermo-Style Sauce)

Almond Cherry Bites

Dried cherries, ground almonds and a drizzle of chocolate make these cookies festive for the holidays.

» Almond Cherry Bites

Chocolate Coconut Meringues

These chocolate, coconut and almond meringue cookies are so light and airy, they are a perfect little treat that

» Chocolate Coconut Meringues

Double Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chewies

These soft chocolate cookies have a big peanut flavor since they use peanut butter and peanut butter chips.

» Double Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chewies

Fig ‘n’ Flax Thumbprint Cookies

We love how the ground flax adds a nutty flavor and the brown sugar caramelizes on the outside of these thumbprint cookies. Fig preserves make this cookie special; other fruit preserves could be used as well.

» Fig ‘n’ Flax Thumbprint Cookies

Recipes and sources for homemade holiday gifts.

When it comes to gift giving, forget standard gift certificates and socks. For a truly personal gift, share a holiday gift from your kitchen. From subtly spiced nuts to homemade granola to rich, velvety chocolate sauces and even homemade pasta sauces, you’ll find something to please everyone on your holiday gift-giving list this year. What’s more special than nourishing food your hands have stirred, cooked and now share? Personalize your gifts with festive gift tags for some of our cookies, pasta sauces and make-ahead side dishes.

Click here to download gift tags.

Candies & Confections

Bittersweet Chocolate-Orange Truffles

While orange adds an exotic note, much of the flavor of these simple yet...

Burnt Sugar Lollipops

No special equipment or fancy molds are needed for these gorgeous jewels—just a...

Chocolate Bark with Pistachios & Dried Cherries

With the news that dark chocolate contains some healthful properties, there is a...

Chocolate-Covered Berry Marshmallows

Chocolate-and-berry-flavored marshmallows are delectable—even addictive—and these...

Festive Fruit & Nut Balls

A no-bake, make-ahead treat, this perfect combination of fruit and nuts is a...

Chocolate Crunch

Crunchy wheat cereal, pretzels and almonds coated in bittersweet chocolate makes an...

Nut Praline Topping

An appealing make-ahead garnish, nut praline adds welcome crunch and flavor to ice...

Cookies

Personalized gift tags are available for all of the recipes listed below.

Double Nut & Date Tassies

The two-bite pecan tarts satisfy the sweet tooth with far less guilt than pecan pie.

Orange Spice Molasses Cookies

These spiced molasses cookies have added applesauce to help keep the cookies moist...

Almond Cherry Bites

Dried cherries, ground almonds and a drizzle of chocolate make these cookies festive...

Chocolate Coconut Meringues

These chocolate, coconut and almond meringue cookies are so light and airy, they are...

Fig ‘n’ Flax Thumbprint Cookies

We love how the ground flax adds a nutty flavor and the brown sugar caramelizes on...

Double Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chewies

These soft chocolate cookies have a big peanut flavor since they use peanut butter...

Baked Goods

Chili Pecans

A medley of warm spices tempered with a touch of brown sugar is a great match for...

Cranberry-Almond Granola

If you've never made your own granola, you'll be amazed at the difference...

Everyone Loves This Fruitcake

Ah, the maligned fruitcake. Many store-bought varieties, stuffed with unrecognizable...

Mississippi Spiced Pecans

Make plenty of these mildly sweet and salty nuts—they are great to have on hand over...

Pear-Hazelnut Quick Bread

Toasted hazelnuts and ripe pears add a sophisticated note to a homey quick bread.

Quick-Bread Dry Mix

In this versatile recipe, you may substitute whole-wheat flour for the whole-wheat...

Cranberry-Walnut Quick Bread

The perennial bakery favorite gets a healthy makeover.

Mango-Pecan Quick Bread

Mangos give a standard quick bread a lively flavor jolt.

Berry-Almond Quick Bread

This wholesome quick-bread recipe is just what you need; whatever berries you have...

Banana-Nut-Chocolate Chip Quick Bread

This banana quick bread is full of chocolate chips and toasted heart-healthy walnuts...

Blueberry-Pecan Pancake Mix

Say goodbye to frozen pancakes or box mixes: dried blueberries give this pancake mix...

Maple-Nut Granola

We love the maple-nut flavor combination of this heart-healthy granola, but feel...

Dessert Sauces

Chocolate-Hazelnut Sauce

This ultra-quick sauce can make any night a special occasion. We especially like it...

Chocolate-Orange Sauce

Chocolate and orange are a sublime pairing. This is a good lower-fat chocolate sauce...

Dark Chocolate Sauce

Dark, glossy and slightly bittersweet, this sauce is both easy to make and a good...

Drunken Prunes

The oaky taste of Armagnac, a French brandy made in Gascony, has long been paired...

Spice Rubs

Gift tags are available for the spice rub recipes listed below.

Indian Spice Rub

Curry, cumin, coriander, mint, turmeric and ginger make a delicious Indian-inspired...

Spanish Rub

Two kinds of paprika, cilantro and lemon give Spanish flair to pork chops,...

Tuscan Spice Rub

Take a trip to Italy with this Tuscan-inspired rub, aromatic with fennel, basil,...

Holiday Sides to Give as Gifts

If you’re asked to bring a side dish to a holiday gathering, consider bringing the food in a beautiful serving dish that you leave behind as a gift for the host. Below are versatile side dishes to complement almost any holiday meal. To make your gift of food even more festive, personalized gift tags are available for all of the recipes listed below.