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Every year, the holidays remind me how much meaning there is in slowing down and creating something by hand. This season, instead of scrambling for quick gifts or overextending myself financially, I leaned fully into homemade holiday gifting and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of Christmas!

Making gifts feels personal. It feels thoughtful. It feels like love. And for me, it removes a lot of the pressure and overconsumption that can come with trying to find the perfect last-minute present to bring to a dinner or gathering.

Cookie Boxes

For some of my gifts, I made cookie boxes filled with a variety of homemade cookies. I loved the idea of creating something that felt festive and easy to share. The kind of gift that instantly brings people together.

I designed little cookie “menus” using Canva and my iPad sketch pad, adding a Christmas-inspired touch that listed each flavor inside the box. I printed them and attached them to colorful card-stock paper using double sided tape around the edges.This small detail ended up being one of my favorite parts and made the boxes feel intentional and elevated while still being simple.

For packaging, I used brown craft paper boxes from Amazon, filled them with crinkle-cut paper shreds, and lined them with brown checkered parchment paper for the cookies to rest on. Each box was tied up with bow around the outside to keep everything neat and gift-ready.

If you have freezer space, this can be super convenient for gifting if your gift giving is spread out. For example, I gave about 2-3 boxes away a week during December so I pre-baked all the cookies and stored them in the freezer and pulled out the ones I needed for the boxes I was about to deliver which ensured everyone was getting fresh cookies while giving me the freedom to not spend a day or two rushing around trying to get them all delivered.

Cinnamon Roll Christmas Wreaths

For a few close friends, I made cinnamon roll Christmas wreaths. I packaged these using the same boxes and filler to keep things cohesive, but decorated them with fresh green sprigs (trimmed from my tree – lol) and sugared cranberries for a festive, bakery-inspired look.

I decided to split the recipe into three mini wreaths but I actually would split it into four next time because I did have to trim a few rolls of each for them to fit in the boxes.

These are cozy, homemade, and perfect for sharing during the holidays. There’s something about giving bread that feels comforting and grounding, especially during this time of the year. Plus they are just so pretty!

Homemade Pasta as Host Gifts

For host gifts, I made homemade pasta, dried it, and packaged it up with a handmade tag explaining how to cook it. I paired each bundle in a bag with Rao’s Roasted Garlic sauce and Rao’s basil pesto. It’s simple, practical, and perfect for an easy, cozy meal.

I love host gifts that feel useful but still thoughtful, and this combination felt like a great balance of homemade effort and convenience.

Why Homemade Gifting Matters to Me

Making and giving homemade gifts has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. It shifts the focus to creativity, intention, and care.

Instead of grabbing a quick little gift out of obligation, I get to plan, create, and give something that feels full of love. It also helps me get into the holiday spirit.

I genuinely loved mapping out my homemade goodies this year.There’s something really special about knowing the time, thought, and heart behind each gift.

Looking Ahead

I’m already excited to see what I come up with next year and what others create too! The creativity and joy that comes from homemade gifting feels endless.

If you made it this far, I’d love to know: What are you gifting this year? Have you ever done homemade gifts, or are you thinking about trying it next holiday season?