The Best Gifts For Foodies [Updated Dec 2019]

Last updated on December 18, 2019

Are gifts for foodies leaving you stumped this holiday season? Need a foodie gift for a friend’s birthday? Here I’ll share with you a few of the best gifts for people who love food: decadent food gifts that are sure to ‘wow’ the lucky receiver.

This is a foodie holiday gift list for people who love cooking, hosting, and eating good food. See stocking stuffers, food birthday presents, kitchen products, and small gift ideas you can buy online. Consider yourself warned: you’ll want some of these gifts for yourself!

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links and items have been provided free for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Gourmet food gifts for foodies

Let’s start with cool food gifts for anytime of the year, but especially birthdays and holidays like Christmas — indulgent treats that cater to a connoisseur palate and will have your food-loving recipient’s mouth watering before they’ve even finished pulling off the wrapping paper. If the way to your friend’s heart is through their stomach, you’ll be best friends forever.

Indulgently delicious chocolate crumb cakes

There’s something about the Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake’s rich chocolate crumb cake that always leaves my guests raving. Maybe it’s the old family recipe, the natural ingredients, or way it’s always delivered perfectly fresh– no preservatives needed. While I love making desserts from scratch (like my triple chocolate bundt cake), when guests visit for an extended stay, it’s so helpful to have desserts ready to go. This is a great foodie gift to ship to someone’s house you are visiting so they don’t have to worry about making dessert. Or to send to loved ones on holidays or birthdays. 

Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cake offers a variety of flavors like blueberry and caramel. There’s a gluten free version, too, in case your recipient doesn’t do wheat flour! 

Shop Clarkson Avenue Crumb Cakes here. 

Gourmet licorice you can’t stop eating

You haven’t experienced real licorice until you try Anya’s Licorice. I sit here writing this as my mouth still tingles (in the best way possible) from this intensely satisfying black licorice. They have other flavors like mango, cherry and strawberry. But the black? That’s something special. This one is different because it’s made the old-fashioned way, by hand, with actual licorice root and molasses. Strong and just a little bit salty, more like Scandinavian licorice than Twizzlers.

If you’re looking for stocking stuffers for foodies, this is a good one: split up a gift pack into the individual size bars and cram them in those stockings! 

Shop Anya’s Licorice on Amazon. 

The Greek gift basket they won’t stop raving about

If you want to start someone’s kitchen off with a plethora of fine Mediterranean ingredients, Greek International Food Market is a great choice. You get a plethora of quality imported ingredients that make Mediterranean cooking accessible to anyone, all bundled up in a fun package that is exciting to open and looks great to display. There are two options: if you like it done for you, just choose a dollar amount (starting at $25) and get a basket chosen and prepared by their food experts. If you have specific ingredients in mind, shop their site and ask for specific items in the gift package. Mine came with greek pasta, beans, olive oil, tahini, and more. 

Order Greek foodie gift baskets here. 

Olive oil with a difference

Did you know you could get the rich flavor of the smokehouse hummus or smoky pesto without doing any roasting whatsoever? All you need is this Holy Smoke Olive Oil. Cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, cold-smoked with hickory, it has a wonderful savory smoke taste and just a little peppery bite. This is the perfect gift for that foodie friend who’s been bemoaning their lack of an outdoor grill– or the vegetarian friend who misses savory meat tastes. Delicious, healthy, and versatile, it tastes almost like bacon but is 100% vegan. 

Get this tasty olive oil on Amazon.

Here’s something unexpected: savory & sweet luxe caramels

Here’s a unique foodie gift for someone with a complex pallet. McCrea’s Candies makes these super interesting Luxe Caramels. They sell a sampler. I loved the black lava sea salt. And the rosemary was out of this world. That savory/sweet combo was like nothing I’ve tried before. They also have chocolate and scotch caramels that any foodie would be interested to try.

Shop McCrea’s Candies Luxe Caramels.

Unique condiments to dress up everyday meals

Carrot pesto? How fun! These Freak Flag Organics condiments are good gifts for adventurous eaters. If you’ve got someone on your list who just delights in weird flavors, do a random pick and then enjoy their face when they take a first taste. Freak Flag Organics has many condiment flavors, from carrot pesto to chimi-verde (which I love on on sous vide turkey breast). They can inspire any home chef to make the most of their meal. 

Shop Freak Flag Organics.

Gourmet Italian cooking, just waiting to be made 

Want to gift an Italian meal, ready to cook? Then try this foodie gift idea – the quintessential Colavita sampler. It includes all the basics: olive oil, wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red sauce, linguine, crushed tomatoes (which are perfect for homemade tomato sauce), and pasta. There’s even a cookbook included. With ingredients from this kit, you can easily make homemade pizza taste like it came straight from Italy. Everything is high quality, and I love the classy vinegar and oil bottles. This sampler comes packed neatly in a cute tote bag: a gourmet Italian kitchen on the go. 

Shop Colavita Sampler Tote Gift Bags.

You might also like Vineyards and Wineries That Ship Gifts

Maple syrup goodness, fresh from Maine

Have you got a foodie on your list that also cares about health, and puts a high priority on sustainability? How about a gift that ticks all the boxes: locally produced, sustainably gathered, and a healthy sugar substitute? This pure Maine maple syrup comes in a cute 100 ml jug. The grade A amber has a rich, full body and is sweet but natural tasting. It can be used as syrup on breakfast breads or pancakes, in holiday baking, or as healthier sugar substitute in any recipe. 

Shop gourmet Maine maple syrup. 

The best gourmet coffee gifts for foodies

There are people who love their food, and then there are people who love their coffee. If you’ve got a friend who is all about the strong black stuff but can’t stay home by their coffee machine all day long, try gifting a coffee they’ll love.

Instant coffee for those who don’t know how awesome it is

This instant coffee is lightweight and compact, packaged in individual servings that are easy to pack in a bag. It can dissolve in hot or cold water. And it tastes good. Like, good enough to be real coffee. Your friend will love you. 

Shop Alpine Start’s original blend or dirty chai latte. 

Get up and go bars

What better way to endear yourself to an overworked foodie than with caffeine-infused bars that will make their day just that much smoother? Eat Your Coffee bars are non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and made with organic ingredients. They’re also naturally caffeinated with real, fair trade coffee (comparable to one cup). A six count mix pack includes 2 Fudgy Mocha Latte, 2 Peanut Butter Mocha, and 2 Salted Caramel Macchiato.

Shop Eat Your Coffee bars.

Fine Italian coffee

Do you need a gift for a foodie who loves the finer things in life? This coffee can be found in high end establishments like select Four Seasons and the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Caffé Umbria from Seattle makes a smooth medium roast coffee with notes of fig and milk chocolate called Gusto Crema. It’s great as both espresso or coffee by the cup. 

Shop Caffé Umbria coffee on Amazon or visit their site for monthly subscription gifts.

Kitchen decor for foodies

If you’re a food addict, the kitchen is probably the most important room in your house! That’s why kitchen decor gifts might be ideal for a food connoisseur– they make that special place just that much more inviting. 

Cute washable kitchen rugs

These rugs are great because they prevent fatigue when you’re in the kitchen cooking. I could have used these especially when I was pregnant and cooking long recipes like my sous vide short ribs! They come in two sizes, (24”x34” and 24”x76”) and fit nicely in front of the sink, before the stove, or by a food prep island. 

See one of my favorites, this patterned Taryn rug. 

Food prep gifts for foodies

Another good direction to explore when hunting for gift ideas for foodies is food prep gifts. These are specialty items your recipients are unlikely to have in their kitchen– but, once they receive your gift, they’ll wonder how they lived without it! 

A foodie gift idea to make food last longer

It’s hard to constantly run to the grocery store for things that go bad quickly. This is especially my issue with gourmet fresh-baked bread and the fresh herbs which I love for taking food photos for Sip Bite Go and adding flavor to dishes and salads daily. 

That’s why a stash of Fresh Paper is a must in my kitchen. These sheets keep fruits & veggies fresh for up to 2-4x longer, naturally. They’re made with organic spices that naturally slow down spoilage, over-ripening and wilting. 8 sheets is approximately a 2-month supply, and these sheets are biodegradable, compostable, & recyclable. 

Shop Fresh Paper on Amazon. 

A fun foodie gift the kids will love

Kids will love these dino pancakes. Their personal chef will love how easy it is to whip breakfast up! For something different and whimsical, try the Whiskware line of kitchen tools. These brunch helpers use Blender Ball technology to quickly blend pancake mix or whisk together eggs for omelets. They also have a salad dressing mixer so you can throw in olive oil, vinegar, spices and a squeeze of lemon to make a tasty salad dressing.

Shop the pancake art kit, individual batter mixer, egg mixer, and the salad dressing mixer. 

Everyone’s favorite metal spatula 

A spatula that can handle nonstick pans? Yes, please! But that’s not all this MannKitchen spatula is good for. It turns out to be the absolute best spatula for cast iron; ideal for doing that final sear on your sous vide recipes. 

There’s also a garlic press which matches it in rugged goodness: roomy, easy to clean, and with a bit of mechanical advantage that will make crushing garlic that much easier. 

Shop this heavy duty spatula. 

Drinks for foodies (beer, wine, spirits)

If your foodie friends are more into drinks than eats, here are some suggestions that may make their day.

Small batch vodka (that supports a good cause!)

I love supporting businesses that are doing good things. And, I love trying new cocktails! Blood Sweat Tears Vodka is hand-crafted from grain to glass using soft white winter wheat. It’s a clean, sleek, and balanced spirit with spice, pepper, and an edgy finish. The brand partners with Best Friends, which is creating no-kill animal shelters at an unprecedented rate. 

This vodka retails for $27.99. Find it near you. 

Ready-to-drink cocktails

I love these on-the-go drinks by Two Chicks Cocktails. They’re made of real spirits, with the essences of fruit and botanicals, and the packaging is just gorgeous. No prep time necessary- you can’t get a quicker cocktail anywhere. Take these on the go for a picnic with my best Caprese salad and make ahead Mexican salad. 

Find Two Chicks Cocktails near you.

HAHA… Shiraz On The Shelf

Gotta love a mompreneur with a good sense of humor! This tongue-in-cheek parody of the much loved/hated Elf on the Shelf features a wine glass that a magical fairy fills each night to help the harried, under appreciated moms (or anyone really) out there survive the holidays. This perfectly packaged gift set includes a designed wine glass and hilarious illustrated booklet with your new favorite inappropriate Christmas poem. 

Shop Amazon for Shiraz On The Shelf.

Cute to-go wine glasses

All wine drinkers will enjoy Snowfox glasses. These glasses actually keep your drink to within two degrees from when it was poured, ensuring it tastes the way it was meant to be from start to finish. Lightweight with a one millimeter thin rim, they make for an elegant table setting. That doesn’t mean these are flimsy, though– in fact, they’re said to be shatterproof, and I believe it. Use these for a backyard BBQ so you can safely sip Chardonnay while grilling sous vide shrimp kebabs.

Shop Snowfox wine glasses.

Cookbooks make great foodie gifts

No foodies gift guide would be complete without cookbooks! Here are a few interesting cookbooks for foodies…

The Brisket Chronicles is for anyone who loves to BBQ, braise, smoke, and cure meat. 

Steak and Cake has more than 100 recipes to make juicy steak, tacos, and to finish it off: cake! 

Umami Bomb celebrates the most beloved unami-packed dishes. 

This S’mores cookbook is filled with more than 50 playful recipes. It’s perfect for people with firepits and people who love to camp. 

My sous vide cookbook is great for people getting into sous vide cooking. A couple recipes to check out on here? See this sous vide turkey, sous vide chicken wings, and sous vide Brussels sprouts.

Let me know if you have more ideas for the best gifts for foodies! And don’t forget to sign up for the Sip Bite Go newsletter.

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