Homemade BBQ Gifts For The Holidays

It’s holiday time! This year give them a delicious homemade gift.

There’s something special about receiving a handmade gift. Anyone can order something off the internet, but a homemade treat says that you care. And it doesn’t have to be time-consuming. It only takes a minute or two mix up a special BBQ rub or a nut mix then put it in a jar with some ribbon on it.

Below are some of our favorite recipes that make tasty treats around the holidays. Almost everything here is shelf stable so you can just put the food in a good-looking package then parcel it up for gifting to everyone on your list.

Roasted and smoked nuts are some of the most delicious snacks to make. Just soak them in water so they pick up more smoke, salt them or sprinkle on your favorite seasoning, then stick them on the smoker. Done. Get all the details in our complete guide to making roasted and smoked party nuts. Then dig into some of our all-time favorite flavor combos like Smoked Almonds with Memphis Dust, Roasted Rosemary Cashews, and Beefy Beer Nuts.

If you’re a fan of Nat King Cole, we even have a recipe for classic Chestnuts Roasted On An Open Fire.

Once your nuts are roasted or smoked they way you like them, put them in a glass jar or clear bag and tie it up with some ribbon. Or mix the nuts with dried fruit, chocolate chips, and chopped beef jerky using our Homemade Trail Mix recipe. Then they’re ready for gifting to your favorite BBQ-loving snacker.

Want something even easier? A killer spice rub makes a fantastic gift for BBQ fans. Just stir together a few seasonings then put the mix in a glass jar with a bow on top. Seasonings Greetings! Read our article on the science of BBQ rubs then mix up a few blends for the grill jockeys on your gift list. We’re partial to Meathead’s Memphis Dust because it’s good on just about everything, but so is the Simon & Garfunkel Rub, and Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow Crust, and the Close to Katz’s Pastrami Rub. So many good choices…

Got a dessert person on your list? Check out our recipe for Cold Smoked Chocolate Chips. The secret to making them is a pan of ice in your grill. That allows you to smoke the chocolate without melting it. Once smoked, the chocolate chips keep well at room temperature and they lend a delicious kiss of smoke to anything from chocolate chip cookies to chocolate puddings to our Homemade Trail Mix!

For the real chocoholics, mix up some Lusty Chocolate Truffles. They look stunning in a simple box and truffles are one of the most rewarding desserts to make because they’re so darn easy. For smoky truffles, make them with our cold smoked chocolate chips! Once the truffles are rolled into balls and dusted, they can be stored in the fridge until you need them. They do keep at room temp for a few hours, but in a hot room, they will start to melt, so give truffles to friends, neighbors or co-workers soon after you take them out of the fridge.

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If you’re looking to ship a gift to a dessert person across the country, go with our Pecan Tassies. These irresistible treats keep for a week at room temp and can be shipped anywhere. Just package them up in a gift box then secure them in a bigger shipping box.

No matter who’s on your holiday list this year, everyone will appreciate a delicious gift that you made yourself. It’s all in the packaging. Just get a few nice jars or boxes, tie up your homemade BBQ gifts with ribbon or a bow, and you’re good to go. Happy Holidays!