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I Write About Food All Day—Here Are the 25 Food Gifts Actually Worth Giving

Charcuterie kits, bagel assortments, caviar tins, oh my!

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a collage featuring some of the best food gifts featured in the roundup
Photo:

Courtesy of Brand. EatingWell design.

Shopping for the food lovers in your life can be a deliciously fun challenge. From luxury olive oils that elevate a simple salad to gourmet cheeses that steal the spotlight on a holiday charcuterie board, the right edible gift is as thoughtful as it is flavorful. This year, I’ve gathered 25 of the best food gifts, perfect for anyone who loves to eat, cook or entertain. Whether it’s festive tinned fish for the adventurous foodie, a pint of holiday-inspired ice cream for the dessert enthusiast, or pantry staples like artisanal syrups and spice blends that bring joy to everyday meals, this list has something for every palate. Trust me—there's nothing more universally appreciated than gifts you can taste, savor and share. Scroll down to see our favorite food gifts.

For those who love entertaining (but may be short on time), Platterful delivers everything you need to build an impressive charcuterie board. Each kit includes artisan meats, cheese and accompaniments, along with easy instructions for styling an eye-catching spread. It’s a fun, stress-free way to create memorable moments around food, whether for a cozy night in or a festive gathering.

Bonne Maman has a devoted following among those who love high-quality jam, and you can't talk about the holidays without mentioning the company's famed advent calendar. It comes with 24 miniature jams and spreads, some of which you can only find during the holiday season. But if advent calendars aren't your jam (sorry, we had to), the company has tons of other fun gifts, including this all-new pie fillings baking set that lets you give someone the gift of being able to pass off their holiday pie as homemade (don't worry, we won't tell).

For Luxurious Hot Chocolate

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Bundle

The Velvetiser
The Velvetiser. PHOTO: Hotel Chocolat

If you think you've had hot chocolate, please allow us to put those dusty packets to shame. The Velvetiser from Hotel Chocolat is a countertop machine that heats and blends your milk of choice with real chocolate flakes. The result is a rich, creamy drink that will have you questioning all your childhood memories. The set comes with the Velvetiser, two ceramic cups and a box of chocolate flakes to help elevate your next snow day.

Fabled to have been a gift from the goddess Athena, extra virgin olive oil is a divine condiment that makes almost everything taste better. So, for the home chef who's always sautéing vegetables or mixing up a fresh salad, the Kosterina Extra Virgin Olive Oil Gift Set is a no-brainer. This set features two organic olive oils and one original olive oil that can be used for cooking and baking, or you can pair the trio with a fresh loaf of focaccia for dipping (and some rosemary for extra flavor).

Murray's Cheese Holiday Sampler
PHOTO: Murray's Cheese

When all else fails, it's hard to go wrong when you give the gift of cheese. This Holiday Sampler from Murray's Cheese is the perfect way to spread a little joy and indulgence this season. Packed with a thoughtful selection of cheeses—from creamy brie to bold blue—this assortment showcases the best of what Murray’s has to offer. With each bite, you’re invited to savor the rich, comforting flavors of handcrafted cheeses, perfect for sharing with friends and family. Whether you're hosting a holiday gathering or looking for the ideal gift, this sampler makes it easy to spread a little cheer with something truly special. And for the gift that keeps on giving, Murray's also offers subscription boxes perfect for enjoying high-quality cheeses year-round.

Anyone who is a cheese enthusiast will truly enjoy the convenience of this cheese grotto and how it beautifully preserves cheese. If you keep your cheese in the fridge, it will preserve up to a pound of cheese at the ideal humidity. Or, keep the grotto on the kitchen counter and it will keep your cheese fresh (like the French do!) for up to 10 days. The grotto is beautifully made of birch and bamboo, comes with a clay brick for humidity control and is easy to disassemble for storing it away. For an additional $35, you can add a holiday cheese bundle to your order and send three cheeses—Marin French Cheese's Petite Camembert, Petite Truffle Brie and Petite Garlic & Pepper Brie—with a grotto to your favorite cheese lover.

Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Share the Love Basket
PHOTO: Callie's Hot Little Biscuit

Few things feel as comforting as a warm, buttery biscuit, and Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit knows how to deliver that Southern charm in a big way. The Share the Love gift basket includes a half-dozen buttermilk biscuits, a half-dozen cheese and chive biscuits, a half-dozen cinnamon biscuits and pimento cheese. If you consider carbs a love language, then consider giving the gift of flaky, melt-in-your-mouth goodness this holiday season.

For creative chefs who like to experiment with flavor, there's no better gift than the Master Chef Spice Set from Occo. Containing 24 different spices, such as black cardamom, fennel seed and rose petal (as well as many classics), this spice collection has everything a home chef would need to bring restaurant-quality dishes to the kitchen table. For $96, you can give the gift of bold flavors to your loved ones, and then grab a plate because I guarantee you'll want to try the dishes that come next.

There's a reason New York is known for its bagels, and Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish is as good as it gets. Unlike New Yorkers who have to wait in line to enjoy these delicious bagels, you can spoil your family with a bagel brunch sent from the iconic shop via Goldbelly. For just under $100, the recipient will receive nine bagels with options of plain, everything, whole wheat, poppy, sesame, cinnamon raisin, pumpernickel, salt, garlic and onion. Lox and cream cheese are also included—choose from flavors like plain, scallion, vegetable, blueberry, nova and raisin walnut. You can also add smoked fish salad or sweets to the order. This Manhattan feast gets shipped for free on the delivery date of your choosing.

If you know someone who's always reaching for a snack, Universal Yums Snack Boxes are the perfect gift to keep them well stocked. Available in either individual boxes or as a subscription, Universal Yums provides snack boxes with foods from countries around the world. Choose from three box sizes and decide how frequently you want the snacks delivered (one standalone box or a three-month, six-month or year-long subscription). The boxes also include a trivia booklet with games and other fun activities. Shipping is free and plans can be changed at any time.

When it comes to sweet things, it doesn't get much better than Godiva. This chocolate legacy brand is known for many decadent treats, but its Signature Truffles box is a classic. Options include 12-, 24-, 36- and 80-piece sets of rich chocolates in flavors like Aztec spice, hazelnut, crème brûlée, salted caramel and chocolate mousse, to name a few. And don't worry, the box comes with a roadmap of which chocolate is which, so you won't have any surprises when it comes to flavors (although guessing is half the fun).

If you have a friend or family member who appreciates craft beer, The Original Craft Beer Club's membership will send them 12 or 24 small production craft beers from across the U.S. on a recurring basis or for a set number of shipments, depending on what you choose. Deliveries can be made monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. For individual shipments, you may select from two to 12 boxes (shipping is free). Each box highlights two beer regions in the U.S. and comes with information about each brewery as well as tasting notes.

For the Wine Connoisseur

Firstleaf

Firstleaf Wine Club
PHOTO: Firstleaf

If you’ve ever stood in the wine aisle feeling completely overwhelmed, Firstleaf’s Wine Club is here to save the day—and your palate. This personalized wine subscription takes the guesswork out of gifting (and sipping), delivering bottles tailored to your preferences or those of your lucky recipient. The process is simple: they start by taking a short quiz, and Firstleaf curates an initial selection based on their flavor profile. From there, each shipment gets even more refined as they rate the wines they try. It’s a great gift for any wine lover—whether they’re a connoisseur or just enjoy a well-paired pour with dinner.

For the Adventurous Wine Drinker

In Good Taste 2024 Wine Advent Calendar

In Good Taste 2024 Wine Advent Calendar
PHOTO: In Good Taste

This 24-bottle advent calendar is a fun way to explore new wines in a just-right portion. Each mini bottle contains a little over 6-ounces of wine—enough for two plentiful tastings or a large pour for one. This particular advent calendar comes with mostly red wine, six bottles of white and one bottle of rose. No wine key needed: simply remove the plastic wrap and pop the top out. The mini bottles are also cute and could easily be repurposed as bud vases on your holiday dinner table. If you want to send all red, there's another version that sends reds from Italy, Spain, California, Australia and Argentina. The only drawback to this advent calendar is that it's heavy and commands more kitchen counter real estate than your typical advent calendar.

Any good mixologist needs the right garnishes and mixers to make amazing cocktails. Shaker & Spoon's Cocktail Subscription supplies ingredients for a total of 12 cocktails (three recipes with enough ingredients for four of each drink). The boxes contain syrups, bitters, mixers, citrus and garnishes—basically everything except the alcohol. Shaker & Spoon offers four gifting options to send to the person of your choosing: a one-month, three-month, six-month, or 12-month subscription. Pricing starts at $50, and the recipient chooses their first delivery date.

For the DIY Barista

Proper Syrups Vanilla

Proper Syrups Vanilla
PHOTO: Proper Syrups

Perfect for latte enthusiasts, Proper Syrup elevates beverages with flavors straight from your favorite coffee shop. Made with ingredients like cane sugar, organic agave and all-natural flavorings, this syrup brings a refined flavor to lattes or even cocktails. With flavors that range from classics like caramel and vanilla to offerings like lavender and pistachio, there’s plenty for the aspiring barista in your life to choose from.

For the Elevated Palate

Williams Sonoma Royale Caviar Tin

Food Gift Guide
PHOTO: Williams Sonoma

While caviar may not be for everyone, those who like it, love it. So delight your caviar-loving friends with this first-class sturgeon caviar from Williams Sonoma. The 1-ounce Royale Caviar Tin starts at $80 and includes six appetizer servings. The 2-ounce and 4.4-ounce tins offer 12 and 25 appetizer servings, respectively. Whether it's spread on bread or served with crème fraiche, caviar will take any meal to the next level.

For the Breakfast of Champions

Runamok maple syrup

runamok maple syrup
PHOTO: Amazon

Breakfast is often cited as the most important meal of the day, but when there's maple syrup involved, it can also be the most delicious. Runamok's Infused Maple Syrup is the perfect addition to brunch items like pancakes, bacon and cinnamon rolls. Individual bottles, such as the coffee-infused maple syrup, cinnamon- and vanilla-infused maple syrup and salted caramel-infused maple syrup (among other yummy flavors), cost $20.

Food Gift Guide
PHOTO: Williams Sonoma

Popcorn goes with everything—movies, wine and celebrations. Spoil your family with the Williams Sonoma Popcorn Sampler, featuring two gourmet flavors—Wisconsin White Birch and Sunset Fire. The white birch is a lighter kernel with a mild flavor, whereas the sunset fire is a showstopper with red kernels. White Cheddar seasoning, popcorn salt and popcorn oil all accompany the popcorn kernels. The entire set costs only $38, so don't wait to make someone's day with this fun and tasty gift.

For the Coffee and Chocolate Lover

Driftaway Coffee Chocolate & Coffee Pairing Box

Driftaway Coffee Chocolate & Coffee Pairing Box
PHOTO: Courtesy of Driftaway Coffe

Why make someone choose between coffee and chocolate when you don't have to? Driftaway's thoughtfully curated set pairs sustainably sourced coffees with artisan chocolates, each selected to complement and enhance the flavors of the other. Complete with tasting notes and guides, it's a unique way to enjoy two indulgent treats, and it makes a memorable gift for coffee and chocolate lovers alike.

For a Continuous Coffee Fix

Trade Coffee Gift Subscription

Trade Coffee Gift Subscription
PHOTO: Drinktrade

Everyone has that one friend who is always drinking coffee. Give them the gift of a Trade Coffee subscription. You determine the number of bags in the gift, but the recipient personalizes their subscription from there. Once the gift is received, a quiz determines their best coffee matches and allows them to weigh in on grind setting and delivery frequency. Every box contains new roasters and coffees from across the country to keep things interesting. Pricing starts at $60 for three bags and goes up to $240 for 12 bags of coffee (all with free shipping).

Perfect for pasta lovers, the Sauz Pasta Rummo x Buon Appetito Bundle takes Italian tradition and adds a creative twist, combining its uniquely flavored sauces with artisanal Rummo pasta. This bundle features two of Sauz’s fan-favorite flavors: Hot Honey Marinara, which offers a sweet and spicy twist, and Summer Lemon Marinara, which takes traditional red sauce and gives it a citrusy zip. This bundle even comes with a spacious limited-edition “Buon Appetito” tote bag from Lisa Say Gah, topping off a flavorful gift that will make pasta nights easy and delicious.

It's no secret we're fans of Fishwife seafood, and this gift set is the perfect way to introduce someone to the nuanced flavors of high-quality tinned fish. The Smoky Trio features three of Fishwife's best-selling smoked fish, with one tin each of Smoked Rainbow Trout, Slow Smoked Mackerel with Chili Flakes and Smoked Atlantic Salmon. Get creative and use it in an omelet or let the smoky flavors shine through by simply spreading it on a cracker. Trust us, you'll never go back to regular tinned fish again.

Food Gift Guide
PHOTO: Cookies by Design

Does anything say "I love you" more than gourmet cookies? It's a gift for both the stomach and the heart. Cookies by Design offers a Two Dozen Gourmets Box featuring 24 freshly baked cookies. Flavor options include: chocolate chip, red velvet, oatmeal raisin, decadent chocolate, white chocolate macadamia nut and millionaire. You can also select an assortment with nuts or without, but due to possible cross-contamination during production, people with severe nut allergies should probably steer clear. Spoil your loved ones this year with the gift of fluffy decadent cookies.

five jeni's ice cream holiday flavors stacked in snow
PHOTO: Jen's Splendid Ice Creams

If you or someone you know believe that ice cream should be reserved for warmer weather, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is here to change your mind with a medley of holiday flavors. Choose from flavors like Iced Molasses Gingerbread or Boozy Eggnog (we're fans of the buttery Lemon Crinkle) Or, you can send the whole holiday collection to a loved one to spread some holiday cheer. Jeni's ships to all 50 states, and even offers a pint club subscription so you can enjoy unique, high-quality ice cream year-round.

Our Trusted Expertise

This article was written by EatingWell editor Katie Tuttle, a frequent tester of everything from shoes to garlic presses. With her passion for all things food, she enjoyed curating this list to include both trusted favorites and fun new finds. (Plus, she wouldn't mind finding a few of these under her own tree this holiday season.)

Additional gift ideas were contributed by Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, an EatingWell senior editor. A previous version of this article was written by Madison Yauger and still includes some of her suggestions.

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