13 Easy, Edible Gifts For The Holidays

The best holiday gifts are the ones you can eat! From adorable gingerbread men to candied pecans to rum cake, all of these homemade treats make lovely, delicious gifts. Just be sure to make extra so you can keep some for yourself!
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The best holiday gifts are the ones you can eat! From adorable gingerbread men to candied pecans to rum cake, all of these homemade treats make lovely, delicious gifts. Just be sure to make extra so you can keep some for yourself!

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These adorable Gingerbread Men (and gals) are crisp outside and soft inside -- and they taste as good as they look. GET THE RECIPE

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Sweet, orange-scented and chock-full of cranberries and walnuts, this bread is perfect for the holidays. It also freezes well, so you can make several loaves and defrost as the season goes along. GET THE RECIPE

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My husband calls these candied pecans "crack nuts" because they're madly addictive. The best part? You only need four simple ingredients to make them -- and if you start right now, you'll be done in 15 minutes. GET THE RECIPE

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Calling all coconut lovers! These macaroons are delicious plain but even more irresistible dipped in chocolate. They stay fresh for up to a week, making them ideal for gift giving. GET THE RECIPE

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Biscotti are twice-baked, oblong shaped cookies made intentionally dry and crunchy -- and these are made with a double dose of chocolate. When you dunk them in coffee or tea, they soften, becoming rich, fudgy and decadent. GET THE RECIPE

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Don't waste your money on those stale popcorn tins this year: homemade popcorn is so much better. This savory version, adapted from Crazy Good Italian by D.C. Chef and Top Chef All-Stars runner-up Mike Isabella, is tossed with garlic butter, Parmesan, and spices. It's insanely addictive (and, yes, crazy good!). GET THE RECIPE

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Packed in a jar or pretty tin, homemade granola makes the perfect edible gift. This version, inspired by the granola served The Inn at Occidental in Sonoma County, CA, is packed with crispy clusters of old-fashioned oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and toasted coconut. GET THE RECIPE

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Sweet, salty, spicy, and rosemary-infused, these nuts make the perfect hostess gift. I suggest making a double batch so you can keep some for yourself. But don't say I didn't warn you: they are highly addictive! GET THE RECIPE

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This is an old family recipe that's been passed down through the generations. I still remember baking the loaves with my mom and carting them off to every neighborhood potluck and holiday party. It's easy -- just a bit of mixing and stirring and, in about an hour, you'll have a house smelling of sweet autumn spices and two scrumptious, pumpkiny loaves. GET THE RECIPE

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A homemade bundt cake makes a lovely holiday gift -- especially when it's soaked in butter and rum! This recipe is a from-scratch version of the famous doctored-up Duncan Hines rum cake that my grandmother used to make. GET THE RECIPE

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Mandel bread is a traditional Jewish cookie similar to biscotti. The difference is that it's made with more oil or butter, so the resulting cookie is a bit richer and softer. You don't need to dip it in coffee or tea to enjoy it -- it's delicious all on it's own! GET THE RECIPE

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Buttery and tender with a thin layer of glaze that adds just the right amount of sweetness, these cookies are as delicious as they are pretty. They're also a pleasure to make: the dough is easy to work with and the cookies hold their shape perfectly when baked. GET THE RECIPE

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Old-fashioned gingerbread is the perfect treat to keep on hand during the holidays. This one is gingery enough to please the even most serious gingerbread aficionados but even young children gobble it up. GET THE RECIPE

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