Homemade Christmas Gifts
Written by Alyse Ester
Homemade Christmas Presents take a level up as an adult. What was once cute kid coupons given to our parents for everyday freebies (or impressive at-home spa days, if you’re my sister), is now delicious vanilla extract and tea blends you’ll become known for. We encourage you to try creating Christmas presents this year! The hands-on aspect will encourage you to slow down during a season that often gets hurried through, with the parties and plans, shopping and prepping. Homemade Christmas gifts require forethought and intentionality in order for them to be created, and in time for Christmas morning. Pray for each recipient through the creation of these homemade gifts and your recipient will feel twice as blessed. On top of these already fantastic reasons, homemaking Christmas gifts often helps avoid unnecessary waste and saves money, especially when making in bulk, without sacrificing quality or warmth of feeling loved when opening a present.
This blog post provides simple walk-throughs of homemade gifts you can easily make this year. We encourage you to do a deep dive into whichever one of these ideas you like the most if you’re looking to master homemade Christmas presents!
Keep reading to learn how to make Beeswax Candles, Vanilla Extract, Potpourri Sachets, Chai Latte Blends, Body Scrubs, Hot Cocoa Mix, Fruit Jams, Baked Goods Box, and Hand Embroidery.
Beeswax Candles
Who doesn’t enjoy a good candle to help create a cozy environment, especially at Christmas time? Beeswax candles are the better option compared to paraffin wax (derived from petroleum) as they are a natural byproduct from bees. Fragrance is unnecessary with beeswax candles as they naturally produce a sweet and calming scent every time you light one. Gifting pure beeswax candles might soon become your favorite holiday tradition when you discover how simple it can be!
Change it up year to year by using different jars, labels, and methods. We suggest starting simply by gently melting beeswax pellets over a double-boiler, pouring into prepared jars with cotton wicks, and allowing them to set for a few hours. It might take a few returns to the stove to re-melt the beeswax if you’re pouring many candles. Personalize the jars with labels, ribbon, washi-tape, and a handwritten note.
Tools needed for Beeswax Candles:
Vanilla Extract
Homemade vanilla extract is a win for everyone. It’s an incredible gift to receive (the flavor of homemade vanilla extract is unbeatable!), and it’s easy to make and cost effective for the gifter. I’ve wanted to prep ahead of time for years but prepping the vanilla extract would fall off my radar once summer settles in – except this year! It was August and I remembered to start the process of making homemade vanilla – except it’s not much of a process at all.
Making vanilla extract is extremely easy and hands-off. The only requirement (which isn’t actually a requirement) is time. If you also struggle to think of Christmas in August and you’re wanting to give vanilla extract this year, start it anyway! You can make a note to the recipient the date it was bottled and mention it’s better the longer it sits. They will still be able to enjoy your loving gift, even if it’s not at its strongest flavor for a few more months.
To make homemade vanilla extract, you’ll need vanilla beans, glass bottles, and vodka (I purchased a bottle from Costco). For every 8oz of vodka, use 3-4 medium size vanilla beans. With these vanilla beans, I was able to make about 6 bottles of vanilla extract.
Simply slice each vanilla bean open lengthwise, place in your jar, then carefully pour about 8oz of vodka (a funnel might help – ask me how I know). Close the tops of each bottle, give it a little shake, and store in a cool, dark place for 4-6 months, or longer!
As time goes, you’ll notice the color in the bottle darken and the temptation to take a sniff rise. Go ahead, you can marvel at the simplicity and joy of creating something so wonderful, pop open a bottle and take a little sniff of pure vanilla extract.
Create your own label or find some cute ones on Etsy, tie a little ribbon around the neck of the bottle, and enjoy the smiles on your loved one’s face when they open their gift!
Tools for homemade vanilla extract:
- Glass bottles
- Vanilla Beans
- Vodka
- Labels & ribbon
Potpourri Sachet
The smell of Christmas time is marked in everyone’s memory. Every welcoming home is supported by the smell of something pleasing, calming, clean, and inviting. Gifting potpourri sachets is a classic for good reason.
Mix & match your favorite spices and dried citrus to create a staple blend that your recipient can easily pour into a pot of water and enjoy the rising smell that encompasses the warmth of the season.
In order to make these sachets, you’ll need to dry your citrus. Thinly slice oranges (or any citrus – grapefruit and lemon would be great as well) and arrange on a lined baking sheet. Bake at the lowest temperature your oven goes to for a few hours, until very dry.
If making small sachets, place each ingredient individually. If you’d rather make a large batch, place them all in a big bowl and scoop into containers.
This is the fun part – choose your favorite spices that pair well with your dried citrus. A classic blend is orange, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. The last two spices are strong to me, so I include less of those. Perhaps cinnamon is an all-time favorite in your family and you want to include double the cinnamon – go right ahead! If you’re leaning more citrus, dry extra oranges and go crazy with it. You really can’t go wrong with this homemade gift!
Tie off each bag with festive ribbon and a small note with the instructions: “To enjoy the smells of Christmas all day, empty contents into a pot of water and allow it to simmer.”
This is a very kid-friendly homemade Christmas present, as an activity during a snowy day or to encourage the spirit of giving this season!
Tools for homemade potpourri sachets:
Chai Latte Blend
I was given this homemade Christmas present from my sister-in-law two years ago and thought it was such a fantastic, lasting gift! Not being a coffee drinker, I was even more excited to have a warm (or cold) drink ready to go when I was craving something special. It was a fun way to keep in touch with her, living on opposite sides of the state, and I knew it was a homemade gift we had to include in this list!
Chai latte blends are quite simple, requiring only ground spices and sugar. You can make a batch in bulk to then distribute into a jar of any size. Again, labels and ribbon and festive tape are the best way to add personal touches to this gift. Add a tag or verbally share the measurements for making a cup of tea (1tablespoon to 8oz water) and you’re all set!
A base recipe you can tweak is 2 cups unsweetened tea powder, 1.5 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon allspice, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon cardamom, 2 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon cloves, and 1 teaspoon nutmeg.
Tools needed for homemade chai latte blend:
- Sugar
- Unsweetened tea powder
- Spices
- Jars
Body Scrub
Sometimes, a classic coconut oil body scrub is all you need to feel pampered and refreshed. You truly need very little for this gift but it leaves a lasting impression. Free of fragrances, fillers, preservatives, plastics, and all the nasty things hiding in store-bought exfoliators. It’s great for a lip scrub or on your legs before a shower. It smells tropical and sweet and a little bit goes a long way!
To make this body scrub, brown sugar is added to a bowl and melted coconut oil is poured on top. Give it a good mix, adding a bit more of either ingredient so that it’s not too dry or sopping in oil, separate into jars, and you’re done! This homemade Christmas gift is best prepared closer to the time of gift giving, and be sure to encourage the receiver to use it within a few weeks for best results.
Tools needed for Homemade Body Scrub:
- Coconut Oil
- Brown Sugar
- Jars
Hot Cocoa Mix
Hot Cocoa Mix makes another affordable but delicious Christmas gift. This is a great activity to include kids in, allowing a little reward of sampling their hard work at the end. All you need is jars for gifting, cocoa powder, and sugar!
A good ratio to follow is 2 cups granulated white sugar to 1.5 cups cocoa powder. If you’d like, ¼ teaspoon salt adds some dimension and boosts the flavor. This makes about 16oz of mix that you can distribute into small jars. For individual servings, scoop 2-3 tablespoons of the mix into warm milk, stir until no clumps remain, and enjoy!
To add variety, crush up dye-free peppermint candies or tie a peppermint stick to the jar. Adding a few teaspoons of cinnamon or including a cinnamon stick on the side is always delicious. And if you know you’re recipient has kids, mini marshmallows are fun!
Tools needed for Hot Cocoa Mix:
- Cocoa powder
- White Sugar
- Jars
- Labels
Jam
This one might be more advanced but worth the effort! Christmas jams have a special place in my heart. We’re gifted a jar (or two) every year from old friends who are masters in the kitchen and create a cranberry Christmas jam that I’m addicted to. There’s something so delicious about a homemade jam and I’m determined to make it this year.
You can create a classic strawberry jam or search Pinterest for a festive twist. You’ll need a few things before beginning, and while we aren’t masters of homemade jam *yet*, here’s a list we compiled after some research so you can see if you’re up for the challenge before beginning.
Tools needed for Homemade Jam:
- Large saucepan
- Immersion blender
- Sterilized canning jars with lids
- Stock pot
- Jar lifter
- Funnel
- Fruit (fresh or frozen)
- Sugar
- Pectin
- Jars
Baked Goods Box
Growing up, Christmas cookie parties were my favorite. Gathering at a friend’s house in our pajamas, drinking hot cocoa, and working around the table to choose a variety of cookies to take home was simply fantastic. It reminded me that the table, whether we’re all sitting down together for a meal or we’re admiring the frosted sugar cookies, draws everyone together. Food touches the heart and sweets are a love note.
These boxes make great secret gifts. A family friend calls her 3 boys “elves” and they run up to our homes as sneaky as they can to make a surprise box drop. With the age of Ring cameras, it’s not as easy to get away without getting caught, but we love hearing her young kids giggle as they share the Christmas joy.
Making a baked goods box takes more effort than some of the other options we’ve shared so far, but it’s one that can be done with friends and family in the kitchen with you! Prepare your favorite Christmas cookies, Grandma’s fudge recipe, some mini cinnamon swirled sourdough, as much variety as you want. You can spread this out over a few days, prepping dough one day, baking another, boxing and gifting a third. It’s a great time to play some music, put on an apron, and enjoy preparing a treat for your loved ones to enjoy.
If you’re looking for an added activity, purchase simple kraft boxes and use a Sharpie or colored pens to decorate the boxes yourself, adding personalization with every stroke. Another option we linked is a set of classic Christmas tins. Complete it with a bow and a little note before dropping it off on a friend’s porch!
Tools needed:
Hand Embroidery
While hand embroidery is not for everyone and this homemade Christmas present requires more time, it is an incredibly touching gift to make and to receive. Having made many for friends and family over the few years I’ve learned, hand embroidery allows you to sink into a meditative prayer through the repetitive motions of each stitch, and the quiet, hands-on activity draws you out of your own mind and into the present moment.
Hand embroidery gifts can be a classic hoop with a hand drawn or downloaded pattern (Etsy has many) or a personalized item like a t-shirt, sweatshirt, baby onesie, or blanket. If you’re new to this art form, you can begin with a prepared embroidery set that includes step by step instructions and all the necessary tools. These are found at craft stores and online (we’ve linked a few below). YouTube has many resources for learning different stitches and Pinterest is full of inspiration.
Tools needed for hand embroidery:
- Hoops
- Fabric
- Thread
- Patterns
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