You’ve done it again! You’ve waited too long. Now you’re facing last-minute Christmas shopping. The good news? You are looking for last minute foodie gifts and they are quite easy to find.
So, don’t despair! The best gifts could be a click away on your laptop or your local supermarket could have all the last minute gifts you need.
Remember, too, that the people you haven’t yet checked off your last minute shopping list may love food gifts, too. Many of the Christmas gift ideas here also work great as hostess gifts or stocking stuffers.
Whip Together an Amazing Foodie Basket
Grab a festive holiday basket and fill it up with foodie delights! You can also use food-related items as your basket like a mixing bowl for an extra fun touch.
While some retailers have prepared food baskets, think about giving yours an extra-special touch by putting it together yourself. This was it will not look like a last minute gift at all. It will appear to be a well-planned basket of delights!
Not sure what to get? Look to each department in the store for inspiration:
Produce Department
- Fresh fruit. Think of festive-looking seasonal fruit like Mandarins or Clementines. Tie a bow around a whole pineapple and you have a stunningly festive gift.
- Fresh vegetables. Give an assortment of the beautiful baby vegetables that some markets sell year-round. Add in some pastas and sauce or rice and stir fry components for the home chef.
- Fresh nuts. Many produce departments have a selection of shelled nuts during the holidays. Instead of a basket, use a tin and viola! Instant gift! You can also tie a nut cracker to the tin with a festive bow.
Coffees And Teas Aisle
- Coffees. Look for vacuum-packed bags of whole-bean freshly roasted coffees from around the world.
- Teas. Some of the world’s finest teas come ready to give in beautifully decorated, reusable tins.
- Hot chocolate. Gourmet cocoa mixes now come in decorative tins perfect for giving.
Jams, Jellies, And Preserves Aisle
- Imported preserves. Look beyond familiar domestic brands for beautiful jars from France, Italy, Britain, or elsewhere.
- Honeys. Jars of gourmet honeys from single varietal sources such as buckwheat, clover, or even avocado blossoms are more and more available. But don’t forget that familiar old squeezable honey bear dispenser!
- Chocolate sauces. You may find jars of chocolate and fudge sauces from boutique manufacturers, perfect for gourmet sundaes.
Wine And Liquor Department
- Fine wines. Pick up a good-quality bottle for the wine lover you know.
- Rare liquors. Single-malt Scotch or other fine spirits are often appreciated.
- Cocktail kits. Put together your own themed cocktail mixes or better yet, check out one of our favorites from The Cocktail Box Co. Perfect for the foodie in your life, these innovative travel sized cocktail kits are a available in a variety of flavors including Mojito and Margarita. Each kit makes 3-6 cocktails and you just need to supply the spirits. They also have mini bar tools such as a muddler spoon, cocktail picks, and coaster.
Oil And Vinegar Aisle
- Fine cooking or salad oils. Look for small bottles or tins of fine extra-virgin olive oil, walnut or hazelnut oil.
- Fine vinegars. Food lovers always appreciate small bottles of imported aged balsamic vinegar, varietal wine vinegars, and flavored herb-infused vinegars.
Pasta And Rice Aisle
- Imported pasta. Colored and flavored pasta shapes from Italy, often beautifully packaged, make great gifts.
- Rare rice. Many rice lovers adore wild rice. Look also for unusual varieties such as black rice, pecan-flavored rice, and jasmine rice.
Condiments And Pickles Aisle
- Imported mustards. Go beyond the familiar Dijon brand to seek out flavored mustards imported from France or Italy, or old-fashioned mustards created closer to home.
- Bottled sauces. Keep an eye open for unusual bottled barbecue sauces for your favorite grill lover.
Soft Drinks Aisle
- Boutique sodas. Small soda-makers are springing up everywhere, offering unusual flavors in bottles with eye-catching labels.
- Bottled tea or juice drinks. Looks for soft drinks featuring brewed green tea or exotic juices.
Candy And Nuts Aisle
- Gourmet chocolates. Many markets now feature bars of chocolate from small, gourmet-style producers.
- High-quality nuts. Look for attractive tins of fine roasted nuts, such as Virginia peanuts or Spanish Marcona almonds.
- Holiday candy specialties. Don’t forget foil-wrapped chocolate Santas and snowmen and holiday-themed marshmallow Peeps!
Cookies And Baked Goods Aisle
- Gourmet cookies. Look for small bags of finely made cookies.
- Panettone. Boxes of the popular fruit-studded Italian Christmas bread are often stacked ready to buy.
If you really want to impress the foodie in your life with gourmet goodies, order a box of Cream Bakery brownies and blondies. This local family-owned bakery delivers their decadent treats nationwide. And thank goodness they do! These indulgent delights will enchant and impress every foodie on your list. They are such rich, melt-in-your mouth goodness!
They are great for last minute gifting as they ship quick and they’re perfect for sending your out-of-town friends and family a delicious treat. We think the Cream Bakery Cookies N’ Cream brownie is pure bliss. Be sure to order extra for yourself (after all this last minute shopping, you truly deserve a treat!
Housewares Aisle
- Good-quality utensils. Pick up unusual but useful kitchen gadgets. Look for fun colors and ergonomically designed tools.
- Tabletop items. Watch for good-quality tableware and serving items, especially items made of beautiful wood.
Pet Foods Aisle
- Dog chews. Don’t forget Fido! The way to everyone’s holiday heart is to treat their pet family, too.
- Cat toys. A catnip mouse is generally well received. Or see if they have treats in fun holiday shapes.
And don’t forget to look around for specially prepared holiday boxes many local markets sell at this time of year. Many also display and sell some of the year’s best cookbooks, which are great add-ins for your foodie basket!
