18 Homemade Baked Goods That Make the Perfect Holiday Gift Featuring our most delectable, gift-worthy recipes. Close Credit: ASIFE / Getty Images Baking sweet treats is a thoughtful way to show your loved ones how much you appreciate them, especially during the holidays. There are so many seasonal desserts to look forward to this time of year, and baking them as gifts makes the experience even more enjoyable. Whether you prepare a big batch at once or spend a day baking with your family to share with neighbors and friends, these recipes will inspire you to try new, decadent holiday recipes. All of the recipes are gift-worthy—some take time to prepare, while others come together quickly—so there's something for everyone. Share the sweetness and cheer this holiday season with homemade baked gifts. Our 26 Best Handmade Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List 01 of 18 Noel Nut Balls Credit: Joseph De Leo Noel nut balls are the stars of any holiday cookie tin. These rich nut-and-butter cookies are rolled in confectioners' sugar to resemble miniature snowballs. In Martha's family, the dough was traditionally made with a touch of bourbon—or orange juice—for extra flavor. View Recipe 02 of 18 Cookie-Press Cookies Credit: Jake Sternquist You can't go wrong with gifting cookie-press Christmas cookies to friends and family during the holiday season. This recipe makes up to 36 buttery vanilla cookies that are crisp and tender, with a delicate, crumbly finish. Dress them up with piping, sanding sugar, sprinkles, frosting, or melted chocolate. View Recipe 03 of 18 Panettone Credit: Bryan Gardner Panettone is an Italian holiday classic. This sweet, fruit-filled bread makes a thoughtful baked gift. While the loaves are often sold in stores and bakeries during the holidays, making one yourself to give is even more impressive. View Recipe 04 of 18 Gingerbread Cake Credit: Brie Goldman Snacking cakes make great gifts—they're quick and easy to prepare, and this gingerbread version is sure to become a holiday tradition. It's moist and fragrant, featuring molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and topped with a dusting of confectioners' sugar for a snowcap effect. View Recipe 05 of 18 Vanilla Bean Macarons Credit: Linda Pugliese While French macaroons aren't a traditional holiday treat, they make a delicious and stunning gift. When baking vanilla bean macarons, it's important to weigh the ingredients precisely for professional-level results. These won't keep long, but they make for a special treat for someone you're visiting soon. View Recipe 06 of 18 Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Credit: Bryan Gardner Simple yet irresistible describes these peanut butter blossom cookies perfectly. Chocolate kisses are perched atop soft peanut butter cookies, creating a festive sweet-and-salty treat. View Recipe 07 of 18 Chocolate Cinnamon-Swirl Bread Credit: Con Poulos Impress your friends with chocolate cinnamon swirl bread. This rich, babka-inspired loaf features pillowy layers filled with cinnamon-spiked chocolate for an indulgent twist on a classic treat. View Recipe 08 of 18 Chocolate-Hazelnut Biscotti Credit: Bryan Gardner Dunkable and giftable—what more could you ask for? This chocolate-hazelnut biscotti recipe delivers a double dose of chocolate, with both cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate chunks. These crisp cookies make a delicious morning treat with coffee, and your friends and family are sure to devour them. View Recipe 09 of 18 German Spice Cookies (Pfeffernusse) Credit: Brie Goldman Pfeffernusse means “pepper nuts,” a fitting description for these bite-size, rich cookies that deliver plenty of spice. Martha's version of the traditional German Christmas cookie includes a glossy glaze made with confectioners' sugar, milk, and a splash of kirsch. Finish them with crushed pink peppercorns or gold luster dust. View Recipe 10 of 18 Meyer-Lemon Shortbread Wreath Cookies Credit: Mikkel Vang These shortbread wreath cookies are the most impressive batch you'll make this season. The process takes up to seven hours, but the results are worth it. They're the perfect cookies to make with your family on a snowy winter day, then package up to share with friends and spread holiday cheer (and maybe save a few to enjoy yourself). View Recipe 11 of 18 Cranberry-Pistachio Biscotti Credit: Brie Goldman Biscotti are traditional Italian cookies that translate to "twice-cooked." The dough is shaped into long logs, baked until firm, cooled, sliced, and returned to the oven to bake again. The cranberry and pistachio pairing makes these biscotti perfect for holiday sharing. View Recipe 12 of 18 Peppermint Bark Cookies Credit: Lennart Weibull Traditional starlight mints top off these decadent chocolate chunk cookies. This recipe yields 30 cookies, and we recommend stacking 10 per bundle and wrapping them up to share with friends and neighbors. View Recipe 13 of 18 Gingerbread Cookies Gingerbread cookies are a nostalgic holiday essential. The aromatic blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, dark brown sugar, and molasses makes these decorative cookies irresistible. Cut them into any shape you like—gingerbread people, trees, snowflakes, or rounds. View Recipe 14 of 18 Shaped Icebox Cookies Icebox cookies are equal parts delicious and beautiful, making them the perfect sweet treat to gift to friends, family, or co-workers. Mix and match flavors like apricot and pistachio, almond and candied orange, white chocolate, or hazelnut—the pairing options are endless. View Recipe 15 of 18 Chocolate-Espresso Snowcaps There's no better duo than chocolate and espresso, especially in these snowcapped cookies. The key to perfecting these crackled treats is rolling each ball in confectioners' sugar twice to ensure it's thoroughly coated and no dark dough shows through. View Recipe 16 of 18 Rum Balls Credit: Brie Goldman These sophisticated bite-sized treats are a holiday favorite that everyone will love. Their small size and rich flavor make them ideal for gifting. Pack them into a cookie tin, tie it with a bow, and voila! View Recipe 17 of 18 Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars If your friends or family love pecan pie, they'll be thrilled to receive these chocolate pecan pie bars. They require only 25 minutes of prep time and are ready to wrap up with a bow in just two hours. View Recipe 18 of 18 Snickerdoodle Crumb Bars Credit: Alpha Smoot These snickerdoodle crumb bars feature layers of rich batter, crumbly streusel, and a topping of crunchy cinnamon sugar. They're a delectable seasonal treat to enjoy in the morning with coffee or tea—a hybrid of a coffee cake and snickerdoodle cookie. 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