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The 15 Best Food Gifts That Will Still Arrive By Christmas

Thoughtful goodies for any occasion

Food Gifts

The Spruce Eats / Kevin Liang

It can be hard to find thoughtful, meaningful gifts for the ones we love, but if there’s one thing that is sure to delight even the hardest-to-please friend or relative, it’s food. Maybe they’re a cheese connoisseur or someone who always has a chocolate bar nearby. Maybe they’re a snacky vegan or coffee snob. Maybe the quickest way to their heart is a gigantic steak. No matter the person or occasion, there's a food gift out there that's certain to make their day this holiday season.

Harry & David Grand Favorites Gift Basket

Harry & David Grand Favorites Gift Basket

Amazon

If you’re looking for a gift basket packed with variety that will wow, this is the one. Harry & David is the go-to when you want to gift a friend or family member with gourmet and delicious goodies, and this ultimate food gift basket steals the show each time. It’s filled with favorites, including sweet and salty Moose Munch milk chocolate popcorn, hickory smoked summer sausage, and even a chocolate swirl cake. So whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a foodie or wanting to send a gift nearly anyone would truly enjoy, you can’t go wrong with this option. 

We were impressed by the brass basket the food arrived in. "It's so lovely that I can definitely use it either to regift something or as décor," former Food Editor Lauryn Bodden says. So, how was the actual food? Delightful. She raved about all that was included and even found some new favorites to add to her pantry. "I feel like there's true variety in the basket—from savory to sweets—that hit all the right notes."

What’s Included: 9 Royal Verano pears, Moose Munch milk chocolate popcorn, hickory-smoked summer sausage, sharp white cheddar cheese, party snack mix, three-seed crackers, raspberry galettes, pepper and onion relish, chocolate swirl cake, milk chocolate-covered cherries, chocolate truffles (coffee, cherry, raspberry, almond, all dark, milk chocolate), milk chocolate mini mints

Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Charcuterie Collection

Williams Sonoma Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese & Charcuterie Collection

Williams Sonoma

When building a cheese tray, you want a mixture of sweet and savory with a little crunch. Sweet Grass Dairy’s Cheese Charcuterie Collection gives you delicious and handcrafted cheeses that are perfect for a delightful gathering or party of one. This collection consists of cheeses for all palates, including ones with earthy, creamy, and tangy notes. It also comes with sliced and ready-to-serve salami and fruit preserves to pile on the delectable sourdough flatbread with your cheese of choice. 

What’s Included: Double-cream cheese, farmhouse cheese, blue cheese, pimento spread, black pepper salami, fruit preserves

Fly By Jing Triple Threat

Fly By Jing Holiday Triple Threat

Fly By Jing

When sending food gifts, many people focus on either sweet or savory. But what about spice? Fly by Jing has an incredible trio of Sichuan sauces and flavors in its Triple Threat bundle. The Sichuan chili crisp sauce brings the heat, the Zhong sauce has spice as well as sweetness and tanginess, and the mala spice mix contains 11 herbs and spices that can enhance everything from dry-rub chicken to popcorn. 

GM and VP of the Spruce Eats, Eric Handelsman, loves the heat of the trio. "I was instantly addicted to all three. They go on everything from eggs to salads, ice cream to cheese. All three are distinctly delicious.”

Includes: Sichuan chili crisp sauce, Zhong sauce, mala spice mix

Bokksu Classic Bokksu Seasons of Japan Box

Bokksu Snack Box: Seasons of Japan

Bokksu Boutique

One great way to explore other cultures is through their foods, specifically, their snacks. Bokksu's Seasons of Japan box is filled with around 22 snacks inside, ranging from sweet to savory. It's especially curated to focus on flavors that are popular in each of the four seasons.

Bokksu sent the collection to our writer Allison Wignall, who adores exploring the treats. "There were a number of flavor combos I'd never experienced before, but they became instant favorites. I really appreciated the booklet that detailed what each snack was, and where in Japan it came from."

Senior Editor Meg Scott is also a big fan of Bokksu. "Getting one of these snack boxes in the mail is some of the most fun I've ever had opening a gift. All the snacks are beautifully packaged, and while you never know what exactly you're going to get, everything is delicious."

A box filled with Japanese snacks
The Spruce Eats/Allison Wignall

What's Included: 22 assorted Japanese snacks

Bean Box World Coffee Tour

Bean Box World Coffee Tour

Bean Box

Gift the coffee lover in your life with delicious beans from around the world with Bean Box’s World Coffee Tour collection. They’ll enjoy 16 different roasts with chocolatey, fruity, and earthy notes. The Bean Box is on a mission to bring you the best coffee in the world and is also helping to support independent roasters and increase diversity in the coffee industry. Now that’s a cup of joe you can feel good about gifting.

What’s Included: (16) 1.8-ounce bags of coffee from around the world, tasting notes, brewing tips, artisan treats

Sugarwish All Treats Box

sugarwish-all-treats-box---medium

Sugarwish

If you don't know what kinds of snacks and candies someone likes, don't sweat it. Sugarwish allows the recipient of a gift to pick their own treats. The All Treats Box allows them to choose from hundreds of candies, snacks, cookies, popcorn, and even dog treats.

Sugarwish gave our writer Allison Wignall a chance to pick her own treat box and send one to a friend. "Honestly, it was as much fun to send one as it was to pick out my own treats. I really loved the candied nuts in particular."

Five containers of candy sit in a colorful Sugarwish box.

The Spruce Eats/Allison Wignall

Includes: 6 tubs of recipient-selected candies, cookies, snacks, popcorn, or dog treats

Magnolia Bakery Small Sampler Pack

Magnolia Bakery Best of Magnolia Bakery Small Sampler Pack

Magnolia Bakery

Magnolia Bakery started as a small bakery in the West Village neighborhood of New York City and quickly became a favorite for locals and tourists. Skip the line and send the sampler pack to the sweets lover in your life; the collection includes the classic banana pudding recipe with fresh bananas and crushed vanilla wafers swirled throughout, as well as two of the bakery's famous cupcakes topped with swirled buttercream frosting. 

What’s Included: (2) 16-ounce classic banana pudding cups, (1) chocolate cupcake with chocolate buttercream, (1) vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream

Savannah Bee Savannah Bee Everyday Honey Gift Set

Savannah Bee Everyday Honey Set

The Savannah Bee Everyday Honey Gift Set is a perfect selection of honeys for different purposes. The box includes three jars of honey—one for the grill, one for your tea, and one for cheese—all with specific tastes that fit just those needs. The one for the grill is great for basting, the one for your tea is light but sweet, and the one for cheese creates a perfect blend of sweet and salty. Associate Editorial Director MK Hoban says it's the best honey she's ever tasted. "These samplers are perfect for your foodie friend who loves a good cheese board, a cup of tea, and honey-glazed meat on the grill."

What's Included: (3) 12-ounce jars of honey

Versailles Miami Cuban Sandwich Kit

Versailles Restaurant Famous Cuban Sandwich for 4

Goldbelly

If you’ve ever craved the iconic, savory, cheesy, flavor-packed Cuban sandwich from Versailles in Miami, this is the answer to your hungry longing. Whether or not you’ve eaten at the famous eatery—featured on Bobby Flay’s "Food Nation"—this is a particularly good gift for someone who can’t make it to Miami or simply adores a good Cuban. "Miami's Versailles Restaurant has made it easy to get this famous sammy anywhere in the country," says Victoria Heydt, Editorial Director. "When you have a hankering, just hop onto Goldbelly's site.”

The Cuban Sandwich Kit comes with soft house-baked Cuban style bread, flavorful slow-roasted pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, and is individually packed to make it easy to assemble at home. 

What's Included: Swiss cheese, ham, pork, Cuban bread, mustard, pickles

"Make Saturday pancakes extra magical with swirling, glittering, sparkling maple syrup," says General Manager Emma Christensen. You’ve never seen a syrup quite like this one. Runamok’s pure maple syrup shimmers and sparkles with edible pearlescent mica sprinkles. Not only is it pretty in the clear bottle, but it will shine on pancakes, in dishes, over apples, or atop French toast. Each bottle contains 8.75 ounces of glittery syrup, and though the sprinkles will settle over time, you can simply shake the bottle to awaken them and achieve that sweet snow globe-like swirl once more.

Includes: (1) 8.75-ounce bottle of syrup

Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment Gift Box

Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment Gift Box

Levain Bakery

Not all cookies are baked equally, and Levain Bakery takes it to the next level. Levain Bakery is another NYC-based bakery that quickly grew a cult following. Its thick, ooey-gooey cookies are what dreams are made of. They come in classic yet delicious flavors, such as chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, and oatmeal raisin. Each comes pre-made; just pop them in the oven for a few minutes to warm them up and enjoy a magical cookie-eating experience. 

What’s Included: Choose from a 4-, 8-, or 12-pack with 4 cookie flavors: chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, and oatmeal raisin

Masienda Tortilla Starter Kit

Masienda Tortilla Starter Kit

Masienda

Store-bought tortillas are OK, but a fresh, homemade tortilla elevates any taco or enchilada to the next level. Kysha Harris, editor for News & Features, knows her way around a good tortilla. "A great tortilla is all about the masa and pressing tool to make them. This kit has both heirloom masa harina and its signature Doña Maria press."

If you know someone who adores Mexican food, wraps, or tortilla chips, this starter kit by Masienda is an excellent gift. It includes two bags of corn masa harina, one blue and one white. Additionally, the kit provides a sturdy 10-pound Doña Rosa tortilla press. The press comes in three colors: white, black, and light green. 

Includes: 2.2-pound bag of blue corn masa harina, 2.2-pound bag of white corn masa harina, tortilla press

Spice Lab Sea Gourmet Salt Sampler

Sea Gourmet Salt Sampler

Courtesy of eBay

If you know someone who wants to get a little experimental with their cooking flavors or who loves to grill, this elegant salt collection fits the bill. Stored stylishly in Pyrex glass test tubes in a bamboo base, it makes a beautiful addition to anyone’s countertop or spice cabinet. There are unflavored options from around the world, including Himalayan pink sea salt and Hawaiian black lava salt, but also great flavored salts like port wine, smoked ghost pepper, Japanese curry salt, and tropical hibiscus salt.

What’s Included: 11 salts, including fine Himalayan pink salt, Hawaiian black lava salt, flake Cyprus citron lemon salt, smoked ghost pepper salt, Hudson Valley salt, Japanese curry salt, ginger chili salt, herbes de Provence, tropical hibiscus salt, peri peri spice blend, port wine salt

Fuego Box Tame to Insane Hot Sauce Box

Fuego Box Tame to Insane Hot Sauce Challenge Box

Food52

Curated by the famed hot sauce of the month club, Fuego Box, this hot sauce box is perfect for lovers of spice. Featuring 11 hot sauces, from the mild Jersey Barnfire Indian Summer to the "evil" PuckerButt Ignition Point, this box is like choosing your own hot sauce adventure. The box labels the bottles by heat level, so your giftee can work their way up to the hottest option, where the main ingredient is the Carolina Reaper, the world's hottest pepper.

What’s Included: 10 full size bottles and one mini, ranging in spice

"These cookies remind me of Chips Ahoy!, which was such a huge part of my childhood. It's hard to believe these are vegan and gluten-free. I can see them replacing my Oreo obsession, for sure," says Fran Sales, former Associate Commerce Editor. Partake’s goal is to create tasty snacks for those with dietary restrictions or allergies, claiming each of its products is free from peanuts, eggs, soy, dairy, tree nuts, sesame, artificial flavors, GMOs, and artificial preservatives. The Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of Partake’s best sellers. Containing the classic, beloved taste of chocolate chip and turning it into a vegan snack, each box contains approximately 15 cookies. 

Includes: 3 boxes of chocolate chip cookies

Mouth The Big Dill

Mouth The Big Dill

Mouth

If you know a pickle fanatic, then you know that they are serious about these preserved vegetables. The crunch factor, the flavor, even the shape—it's all taken into account when they're trying to find their favorite brand. Give them more to explore with this “The Big Dill” collection from Mouth. The box has plenty of pickled cucumbers, of course—with flavors like garlic, pepper, everything spice, and horseradish— but it also has string beans, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, and more. It's fun way to explore the world of pickles for a curious eater and a great gift for a vegetarian.

What’s Included: Sweet chip pickles by Gordy's Pickle Jar, garlic dills by Mother Pucker's, jalapeño honey dills by The Real Dill, pickled string beans by Epic Pickles, hoppy pickles by Kansas City Canning, sweet fire pickles by Frankie's, everything bagel pickles by Backyard Brine, organic heirloom pickled blueberries by Bow Hill Blueberries, pickled cherry tomatoes by Doux South

Haus Variety Case [6 Bottles]

A variety case of Haus aperitifs

Haus

If you or your loved one adore a lighter cocktail from time to time, the Haus apéritifs come highly recommended. The alcohol tastes like a cocktail but is stronger than wine and lighter than whiskey, with profiles that are clean and fresh. The variety case has six bottles in four intriguing flavors-rose rosé, citrus flower, pomegranate rosemary, and grapefruit jalapeño.

Flavors do rotate on occasion. Senior Editor Adriana Velez was able to try two other flavors not currently available. “Haus makes 15-20 percent ABV wine-based apéritifs using fruits, herbs, and botanicals. My favorite is Ginger Yuzu, but the Bitter Clove is a winter essential.”

What's Included: (6) 750-milliliter bottles (2 rose rosé, 2 citrus flower, 1 pomegranate rosemary, 1 grapefruit jalapeño.

Vosges Dark Chocolate Truffle Collection

Vosges Dark Chocolate Truffle Collection

Vosges Chocolate

What’s more luxurious than a dark chocolate truffle bursting with flavor? Not much. Vosges Dark Chocolate Truffle Collection is packed with 16 decadent dark chocolate truffles ranging in flavors from sweet, savory, floral, fruity, spicy, and earthy. The collection includes a stunning range of dark truffles ranging from 62 to 75 percent cacao. You can feel confident in gifting this world-class chocolate as the company, Vosges Haut-Chocolat, is woman-owned and makes it a point to create pure chocolate recipes without excess sugar or artificial flavors. 

"These chocolates were the fanciest chocolates I've ever received. They're almost too pretty to eat," Taylor Rock, our Commerce Editor, said. She thought these truffles were a great option for someone who isn't into saccharine chocolate and is looking for something more refined.

Vosges Dark Chocolate Truffle Collection with lid off

The Spruce Eats / Taylor Rock

What’s Included: 16 dark chocolate truffles ranging from 62% to 75% cacao

Chicago Steak Company The Entrepreneur's Selection

The Entrepreneur's Selection at Chicago Steak Company

Searching for a gift for a carnivore with premium taste? Get them The Entrepreneur's Selection. It features filet mignon, top sirloin, pork chops, chicken breasts, and steak seasoning. All the steak is wet-aged four to six weeks and certified USDA Prime or "high" Choice—meaning all the steaks are graded at the top two tiers of marbling available. Everything comes individually wrapped, vacuum-sealed, and in a sleek black and gold gift box. Hopefully, you’ll be invited over when the grill starts going.

What’s Included: Six 5-ounce USDA Prime filet mignons, six 6-ounce USDA Prime top sirloins, six 9-ounce gourmet frenched pork chops, six 6-ounce marinated chicken breasts, one 5-ounce bottle of steak seasoning

Mouth Vegan Snack Box

Vegan Snack Box

Buying a food gift for a vegan friend can be tricky, especially if you're not well versed in ingredient labels. Luckily, Mouth has done all the vetting for you with the vegan snack box. It's the perfect option for veteran sprout-eating vegans and new converts alike because it’s just as delicious as it is vegan (that is to say: 100 percent on both counts). It comes with 10 snacks, including maple granola, savory Bjorn Corn, decadent hot fudge sauce, and even artisanal almond butter. Plant-based eating is easy when you have snacks as good as these.

What’s Included: Maple pecan and coconut granola, Fiji ginger almond butter, vegan dark chocolate chip bar, pineapple mojito dried fruit, potato chips, vegan cheddar crackers, organic gummy bears, organic strawberry PB&J peanut butter puffs, sun-popped popcorn, maple pumpkin seeds

Numi Tea Collection

Numi Organic World of Tea Collection

Amazon

Giving the gift of tea provides a flavorful experience and sends a friend or family member a cup of comfort, too. This tea collection includes nine worldly flavors, including a sleepy chamomile lemon, an energizing Moroccan mint, a classic aged Earl Grey, and more. Each tea comes in a ready-to-brew bag that keeps each blend fresh and bursting with flavor. These blends are created using fruit, flowers, and spices that are ideal for both warm and iced teas. 

What’s Included: 5 bags each of breakfast blend, aged Earl Grey, golden chai, mate lemon, jasmine green, gunpowder green, rooibos, Moroccan mint, chamomile lemon

Harry & David Snack Box

Harry & David Snack Box

Harry & David

Everyone’s got their own snacking style, and Harry & David’s Snack Box has something for everyone. Whether you enjoy snacking on caramel popcorn, savory smoked summer sausage, or prefer to grab a handful of almonds, cashews, and pecans, this kit has a treat for you. Reviewers love this snack collection for its versatility and affordable price point, allowing you to give the gift of gourmet flavor without stretching the budget. 

What’s Included: Moose Munch premium popcorn, hickory-smoked summer sausage, sharp white cheddar cheese, mixed nuts, three-seed crackers, and hot honey mustard

Milk Bar Birthday Cake

Milk Bar Birthday Cake

Milk Bar Store

When you can't be there to celebrate in person, sending a Milk Bar Birthday Cake is the next best thing. This decadent three-layered delight is ready to party with its Funfetti-flavored cake, creamy and irresistible frosting, and blast of colorful sprinkles. Reviewers of all ages rave about this cake and love the amazing and not-too-sweet flavor in each bite. While this dessert is worth the hype, it runs on the expensive side since shipping is not included.  

What’s Included: 1 three-layered birthday flavored cake

Spoonful of Comfort Gift Basket

Spoonful of Comfort Just Because Gift Basket

Spoonful of Comfort

Whether you need to send a care package or provide a cup of comfort to a friend in need, Spoonful of Comfort has you covered. The Just Because Gift Basket is filled with cozy classics, including delectable soup, along with flaky rolls and cookies to give anyone a much-needed lift. Choose from a variety of fan-favorite soup flavors, including Italian wedding, chicken noodle, tomato basil, garden vegetable, broccoli cheddar, or chicken and wild rice soups, and pair it with a chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, or oatmeal raisin cookie

What’s Included: Choice of one 64-ounce soup, 6 rolls, 6 cookies, ladle, and personalized notecard

Eastern Standard Provisions Co. Pretzel Gift Box

Eastern Standard Provisions Co. Gourmet Soft Pretzel Gift Box

Eastern Standard Provisions Co.

You don’t need to plan a trip to the mall to enjoy a tasty soft pretzel—you can just order them from the comfort of your home with Eastern Standard Provisions Co. Gourmet Soft Pretzel Gift Box. This collection includes a variety of 20 soft pretzels along with five salts to top them off with, including white truffle, lemon rosemary, chili lime, and everything spice. These gourmet pretzels were on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2019, and online customer reviews back up how delightful and delicious they are to receive as a gift.

What’s Included: 20 soft pretzels (various sizes), classic pretzel salt, white truffle salt, lemon rosemary salt, chili lime salt, everything spice

Baked By Melissa Sending Love Gift Box 25-Pack

A tie-dye box and a tray of mini cupcakes

Baked By Melissa

How about 25 bite-sized cupcakes for a sweet treat? Send some love with the Sending Love gift box from Baked By Melissa. You can choose from a list of flavors and ingredients, with options for gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free cupcakes. The Latest & Greatest features a rotating list of 12 flavors. Everything is presented in a gorgeous tie-dye box.

What's Included: 25 mini cupcakes

Grounds & Hounds Sunrise Rescue Gift Pack

Grounds & Hounds Sunrise Rescue Gift Pack

Grounds & Hounds

"Every cup helps a pup" is the slogan of Grounds & Hounds Coffee. With the Sunrise Rescue Gift Pack, not only are you sending delicious coffees to a friend, you're also supporting animal rescue organizations. This particular pack comes with three different coffees (either whole bean or ground), a logo tote bag, and a lovely ceramic mug that's dishwasher safe. It's a truly feel-good option for anyone who loves coffee and dogs.

What's Included: Three blend coffee kit, 6 ounces each (dark roast, medium roast, breakfast blend), Grounds & Hounds tote bag, 14-ounce mug

Nuts.com Custom Tray

A tray filled with nuts and snacks from Nuts.com

Nuts.com

Food gifts are great, but food gifts tailor-made with favorite flavors are even better. Nuts.com has an excellent option for those who want to add a personal touch to their gifts. The custom tray allows buyers to select from dozens upon dozens of nuts, dried fruits, candies, chocolates, and trail mixes. If you want inspiration, there are also recommended combinations based on the site's best selling snacks. Prices will vary depending on the size and contents of the tray.

What's Included: Buyer-selected assortment of nuts, candies, chocolates, dried fruits, trail mixes, etc.

David's Cookies Signature Cookie Brownie Crate

A colorful crate filled with assorted cookies and brownies from David's Cookies

David's Cookies

The Signature Cookie Brownie Crate from David's Cookies is eye-catching for two reasons: the colorful and funky design of the basket, and the bundle of delicious goodies inside of it. This gift basket includes six whopping pounds of individually-wrapped cookies and brownies in a variety of flavors, from classic shortbread to pecan meltaways.

What's Included: 36 individually-wrapped cookies (chocolate chunk, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin), 36 individually-wrapped brownies (chocolate chip, pecan, blondie), box of chocolate chunk shortbread cookies, box of mini shortbread cookies, box of pecan meltaways, David's signature crate

Burlap and Barrel Fundamentals Collection

Burlap and Barrel Fundamentals Collection

Burlap and Barrel

Know someone who loves to cook? Consider gifting them a spice collection that thoroughly impressed the judges on "Shark Tank." The Fundamentals Collection contains either six, nine, or 12 spices, each from smallholder farmers from around the world. Highlights include silk chili from Turkey, smoked pimentón paprika from Spain, and royal cinnamon from Vietnam.

What's Included: (Full 12-spice pack) Silk chili, ground laurel bay leaves, purple stripe garlic, flowering hyssop thyme, smoked pimentón paprika, royal cinnamon, wild mountain cumin, Kashmiri chili powder, buffalo ginger, cured sumac, robusta black pepper, fermented white pepper

The Fruit Company Simply Fruit Basket

fruit-basket

Courtesy of the Fruit Company

A fruit basket is a classic (and classy) gift to mark just about any occasion. If you want to send a traditional roundup of fresh fruits, check out the Simply Fruit Basket. It features several varieties of apples and pears, as well as oranges, kiwi, and a pineapple.

What's Included: 2 imperial fuji apples, 1 granny smith apple, 2 mini apples, 1 Italian golden pear, 1 Colombia red pear, 1 Colombia green pear, 2 Malibu navel oranges, 1 Maui pineapple, 1 Samoa kiwi

Jeni's Ice Cream Best Sellers Collection

Jeni's Ice Cream Best Sellers Collection

Jeni's Ice Cream

This ain't your average ice cream. Many bestselling ice cream flavors include standard fare like vanilla or chocolate or strawberry. Not Jeni's. The Best Sellers Collection has five fascinating flavors.

Brambleberry crisp comes with toasted oat streusel and a sweet jam of blackberry and currants in vanilla ice cream. Almond brittle is a classic candy that complements the buttercream ice cream it comes with. Salty caramel may seem simple, but this flavor is fire-toasted and sprinkled with sea salt. Darkest chocolate is filled with Fair-Trade cocoa for the ultimate chocolate goodness. Last, but most definitely not least, is the peanut butter with chocolate flecks-an unbeatable combo now in ice cream form.

Includes: Five pints of ice cream (flavors include: brambleberry crisp, brown butter almond brittle, salty caramel, darkest chocolate, and salted peanut butter with chocolate flecks)

Heatonist Hot Ones 10 Pack - Season 20

10 hot sauce bottles featured on Hot Ones

Heatonist

"Hot Ones" brings the heat to celebrity interviews like no other talk show on the internet. If you know a fan of the show, or someone who just loves good hot sauce, here's a must-have collection. The bundle contains 10 different types of hot sauce, each one featured on season 20 of "Hot Ones." This is for serious spice-hounds, as the sauces range from 1,600 to over 638,000 on the Scoville scale.

What's Included: The Classic Chili Maple, Banjee Ranch, Cadejo, Los Calientes, Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce, Mushroom Mayhem, Dreams of Calypso, Evolution Hot Sauce, Taco Vibes Only, The Last Dab: Apollo

Doughp Bestseller Four-Pack

Doughp Edible Cookie Dough Bestseller 4-Pack
doughp.com

Cookie dough is an indulgent and nostalgic treat. Luckily, Doughp makes safe-to-eat tubs of cookie dough in a variety of flavors. This particular bundle features four of Doughp's bestselling products—Cookie Monsta (cookies & cream), Dunk on 'Em (sprinkles, frosting, and grahams), Brownie Blast, and Ride or Die (chocolate chip cookie). The dough can be eaten as-is or baked into cookies.

What's Included: 4 tubs of edible cookie dough (16 ounces each)

The Meadow Mystery Meadow Box - Bountiful

he-meadow-mystery-meadow-box-bountiful

Meadow

Who doesn’t love a good surprise? This gift box from the Meadow is doubly remarkable, since the contents are a mystery to both sender and recipient. That said, the Meadow does give a small hint about what may be inside. The Bountiful Box can include a few chocolates, some gourmet salts, and even a few cocktail ingredients. Senior Editor Meg Scott has this to say about her Mystery Meadow Box experience: “The Meadow specializes in chocolates, salts, and bitters, and with this gift box, you put yourself in its capable hands. Tell it a little about the person you're shopping for or let them run wild--either way you'll wind up with something unique and delicious.”

There are two other levels–the Extra Bountiful and Super Bountiful–that increase the number of goodies inside. If you’d rather give a gift without the mystery, the Meadow has incredible selections, including the Dark Chocolate Adventure Bar and Salt Starter Set.

Includes: Up to 2 chocolates, 2 salts, 2 cocktail ingredients

Kings County Aged Whiskey Gift Set

 Kings County Aged Whiskey Gift Set

Courtesy of Caskers

The whiskey-lover in your life is sure to appreciate this gift set, which includes three handmade bourbons from Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, New York. The three spirits included are the Kings County Bourbon, Kings County Peated Bourbon, and Kings County Single Malt Whiskey, each of which comes in a 200-milliliter bottle and is made from 100 percent New York grain. The regular bourbon has strong sweet base with flavors of vanilla and caramel, while the single malt whiskey features a palate of honey with aromas of hay and peat, giving your giftee a variety of flavors to discover—all in one box.

What’s Included: 200 milliliters each of straight bourbon, peated bourbon, and single malt

What to Look for in a Food Gift

Perishable vs Nonperishable

If you’re buying for a good friend who works from home and loves cheese, then a cheese gift may be a no-brainer. But, if you’re buying for a client or acquaintance whose tastes you may not be as familiar with and who you’re not sure can grab the package when it arrives, it may be best to opt for something nonperishable.

Food Preferences

"Know your audience. If your friends tell you that they don't like a particular type of food or ingredient, believe them. Avoid buying gifts that your friends will never eat and concentrate on finding the perfect gift made from of foods they do love," says Chef Jennifer Booker, author of Dinner Déjà Vu: Southern Tonight, French Tomorrow.

After all, you wouldn't buy a sampler of chocolate bars for someone who hates chocolate.

Potential Allergens & Dietary Restrictions

Butter is a dreamy gift, unless the intended recipient is vegan or has a dairy allergy. Especially for something like dairy, nuts, or food containing gluten, double-check to make sure it’s safe for your intended recipient.  

Reviews

If you’re buying online, ideally, the food will be just as good as if you’d purchased it in a local shop. Check the reviews to make sure those who have purchased these options have had good experiences.

Customer Service

If you have questions about the packages that aren’t answered online, feel free to reach out to customer service. If they respond quickly and helpfully, it’s a good sign that they’ll respond similarly if something unforeseen happens with your package.

FAQs

Is it a bad idea to send perishable food gifts?

Not at all, especially if you think the recipient will enjoy them more than something nonperishable. There are a few things to keep in mind, though. First of all, consider the weather. Sending cheese to New York City in January will be a little different than sending cheese to Arizona in July. If it’s hot outside, there is a shorter window that your food will keep. Of course, the purveyor will package it expertly and send ice packs and insulation, but check out the weather if you plan on sending a perishable gift, especially if you’re not sure the recipient can intercept the package immediately.

What if I don’t know what the recipient likes to eat?

If you’re not sure of the intended recipient’s exact preferences, it’s generally good to stick with something nonperishable and utilitarian, like salt or coffee. That said, it can’t hurt to dig around any social media profiles of theirs to see if they’ve posted about favorite foods, or you can check with mutual friends.

How do I make sure they’ll be home for delivery if I’m sending something perishable?

Before sending a food gift, check with the intended recipient to ensure they’ll be home around the time when the gift should arrive. Some spots allow you to send the recipient a vague email letting them know they’re receiving a package with a tracking number, or you can just send them the tracking number yourself.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Writer and professional eater Christine Clark is an avid sharer and enjoyer of all things delicious. Her love languages are food and gift-giving. A Certified Cheese Professional by The American Cheese Society, she has a cheese podcast, a fridge that is always too full, and a very lived-in kitchen.

Allison Wignall, who updated this article, takes gift-giving very seriously. She loves searching for the right treats to send to friends and family during special occasions. Her work has been featured in publications including Southern Living, Food & Wine, and Travel + Leisure.

Sources

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