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30+ Food Gifts for Everyone Who Loves to Cook (and Eat)

Snacks, spices and full-on meals — these gifts won’t last long after being unwrapped.

collage of ice cream, meat on a cutting board, sea salt, truffle oil, maple syrup, and chili seasoning

By Grace Cooper

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Nothing says you love someone like giving them something to eat. Spice up their life with something new to cook with, or if they can’t find their way around the kitchen, get them some snacks that’ll hold them over between takeout meals. From spicy condiments to sweet and savory treats, these food gifts won’t last long after being unwrapped. And they’re the perfect pick-up for the holiday season.

The notoriety of Milk Bar in New York City is hard to overstate, but now everyone can get its super sweet treats delivered to them no matter there they live. The cookies probably travel the best, and they have a longer shelf life.

Arby’s may “have the meats,” but Porter Road has the meat you actually want to eat.

While this specialty olive oil from California won’t be your everyday cooking oil, it’s a great one to have on hand for special occasions.

Famously the cake that Tom Cruise gifts his friends and coworkers each holiday season, this white chocolate coconut cake is as stunning as it is delicious.

Can’t find a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle anywhere? This maple syrup, aged in retired Pappy bourbon barrels, is a pretty good consolation.

Harry & David is a classic when it comes to mail-order gifts, and David’s gift tower is a perfect intro to what the brand offers.

Haribo’s reign of gummy sweet dominance is over. Behave is just as good (arguably better) and the flavors — raspberry, passionfruit and lychee — actually taste like what they are.

righteous sampler craft jerky and biltong bundle, 12 packCourtesy

Best Gift for Meat Eaters

Righteous Felon Righteous Sampler Craft Jerky and Meat Sticks, 12-Pack

For the carnivore in your life, gift this craft jerky sampler pack. They’re packed with great flavors and should last them a long time (in theory).

Yes, salt is a gift, and there are huge followings for Maldon, one of the best flakey sea salts on the market.

Keep your hot sauce in your bag, but also keep a jar of chili oil in there, too. Gift Fly By Jing’s must-own chili crisp alongside some other favorites from the brand.

Truffle makes everything feel luxurious, even when it’s a hot sauce you slather onto some tacos.

Two 8 oz Filet Mignon Steaks + Jacobsen Black Pepper Infused Salt packageHuckberry

Snake River Farms Two 8 oz Filet Mignon Steaks + Jacobsen Black Pepper Infused Salt package

Nothing says quality time quite like a home cooked meal for two, especially for those with the heart of a foodie. If that sounds right to you but you don’t know where to go from there, filet mignon is a surefire hit every time, and this kit has everything you need to make it a reality.

Magic Spoon is recreating the nostalgia of eating sugar-packed cereals from your youth, but with a breakfast staple that’s significantly better for you and won’t result in the same sugar-induced crash.

For the grillmaster in your life, this comprehensive spice collection will have them grilling up a storm.

Your giftee knows when they’re getting a box of chocolates you bought last minute at the drug store. These truffles, which are basically edible pieces of art, are not those cheap chocolates.

four unopened pints of ice cream and one opened pintMarco

Best Gift for Ice Cream Lovers

Marco Ice Cream, 5 Pints

When we say Marco’s ice cream is spicy, we mean it in a couple ways. A few flavors, like Thai Coco-Lime and Aztec chocolate, are mouth-tingly spicy. But all of its ice creams use a delicious blend of spices from Brooklyn Spice Company.

Made with organic, California-grown olives, this olive oil is a delicious addition to your salads, bread and stovetop dishes. Plus, it gets bonus points for looking great on your counter too.

Venchi Artisanal Italian Chocolate Advent CalendarFood52

Best Gift for Chocolate Lovers

Venchi Artisanal Italian Chocolate Advent Calendar

Why buy a regular box of chocolates when you can buy them 24 days of artisanal Italian chocolate?

Fried chicken lovers know the skin is the best part. Now you can eat a whole bag of them, and you’ll probably never eat potato chips again.

If they’re super into coffee or trying to curb their daily Starbucks habit, this international coffee gift pack is for them.

Brownies straight from the Barefoot Contessa herself. Don’t be surprised if these are the best brownies they’ll ever eat.

Is it possible for cereal to relieve a cup of coffee of its holy duty? OffLimits is made with a caffeine kick courtesy of Chamberlain Coffee, and it’s absolutely weird and delicious.

Tinned fish is back — just check out the tinned fish date night trend on TikTok — and this gift set will be a tasty, protein-packed surprise.

For the foodie who travels to cities for specific dishes, they’ll have a monthly supply of the best cuisine from around the States.

If they’re into wine, give them a tasting experience of wines around the world in this wine advent calendar.

If you know someone whose motto is “the stinkier the cheese, the better,” they’re surely going to love this curated box of cheese and accoutrements from Jasper Hill Farm.

Whittard of Chelsea Tea Advent Calendar for TwoFood52

Best Gift for Tea Drinkers

Whittard of Chelsea Tea Advent Calendar for Two

For the tea drinker in your life, this advent calendar is not only a fun surprise but it will also leave them with a whopping 96 bags of tea from the United Kingdom.

This bouquet will give a regular bunch of flowers a run for their money.

This brunch delicacy from LA’s Factor’s Famous Deli is a special treat for anyone.

Pappy Whiskey may be hard to find, but you can still get that same barrel-aged taste in a homemade old fashioned.

Baked By Melissa offers the perfect little flavor-packed bites. Why eat one cupcake when you could eat ten? Just kidding. (Or are we?)

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