35 Best Food Gifts 2022

Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

We rounded up Oprah's favorites, and then some.

There are only a handful of gifts that are truly foolproof. The kind just about anyone might open for any festive occasion—a big birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day, an anniversary, the holidays, or even just because—and squeal with true delight. That includes beautifully scented candles and snuggly pajamas, of course, but there's one thing that's perhaps even more trustworthy: food, glorious food.

Edible gifts are not only extremely practical (everyone has to eat, right?) but also offer endless options that'll fit every taste, both literally and figuratively. Need a gift for a person who loves to cook? Consider one of the many DIY food kits, which come with everything required to make homemade soup dumplings, ravioli, challah, and, yes, wine. Or perhaps you're shopping for someone who's more passionate about eating than cooking? In that case, you can't go wrong with a gourmet food gift like freshly baked cookies, pillowy-soft pretzels, or even a fully stocked picnic basket.

Plus, thanks to a growing number of online delivery options, you can send unique food from all corners of the country (think: birthday cakes made by a famous New York City bakery and a selection of cheeses from Vermont and New Hampshire). Ahead, we've compiled a list of the best food you can give (or send!) as a gift, from tasty treats you can order on Amazon to some of Oprah's favorite foods. Bon appétit!

Love the idea of a gift you don't have to wrap? Oprah says you can't go wrong with this breakfast table upgrade. In fact, she even suggests using it beyond pancakes and yogurt—it's great as a beverage sweetener, too.

Chocolate is never a bad idea—especially when it looks as artful inside and out as this one does. It's so much more than your average box of truffles, too. "You know I love a good produce haul. So when I saw that this family-owned chocolate company was taking California-grown fruits (like apricots, strawberries, and more) and dipping them in chocolate for this gift box? I just had to include it on my list," says Oprah.

What better way to start off someone's day than with a full New England breakfast feast? This new and improved design comes complete with a wooden crate and Stonewall Kitchen foods, including fluffy pancake and waffle mix, pure New Hampshire maple syrup "leaf," traditional scone mix, gourmet coffee, a tea sampler in a wooden chest, and delicious blueberry jam!

Help upgrade a friend's wine-and-cheese nights with a selection of handcrafted cow's milk cheeses from Vermont and New Hampshire.

Celebrating birthdays remotely can be tough, but funfetti cakes like this one from the New York City–based Momofuku Milk Bar make it better. Rest assured, cakes are specially packaged with insulation and ice packs so that they can arrive on your loved one's doorstep in one piece.

Classic chocolate-covered strawberries are a delectable treat for almost any occasion—birthdays, graduations, thank-yous, holidays, or even just to say "I love you." Plus, the mix of milk and dark drizzle add special flair to this mail-order gift.

A kit to grow organic oyster mushrooms in the comfort of the kitchen is a unique gift a foodie will definitely appreciate.

Send this thoughtful and unique gift basket that has basically everything one would need to enjoy a wonderful picnic at the park. You can even add wine or dessert for good measure.

Does it get fancier than personalized, buttery shortbread cookies delivered to the doorsteps of the special people in your life? Not sure what message to write? These cookies also come in sweet "I love you" and "happy birthday" options.

Can't make it for the holidays but want to send a thoughtful gift? This gourmet popcorn tin is festive, generously large, and comes with traditional butter, caramel, and cheesy cheddar flavors.

There's nothing twisted about this glorious gift. The 20-piece pretzel set includes three types of heat-and-eat soft pretzels (Bavarian-inspired Wheelhouse, light and fluffy Turnbuckle sticks, and SlidePiece mini buns), four flavors of salt (White Truffle, Lemon Rosemary, Chili Lime, and Classic), and everything seasoning. That, according to Oprah, "will thrill all who still believe in carbs."

For the friend who can never choose just one dessert: This decadent delight—which is handmade by Illinois-based Blissful Brownies—combines gooey fudge brownies, chewy chocolate chunk blondies, and a layer of creamy caramel sauce.

As they say, variety is the spice of life—and that's exactly why we love this Oprah-approved gift set. It features three of the Italian brand's bestselling seasonings: truffle and rosemary sea salt, truffle and parsley sea salt, and its award-winning truffle zest—all of which can be sprinkled on eggs, pasta, popcorn, pizza, fries, and more. "I took the truffle and rosemary sea salt out of my bag at a restaurant, and the waiter asked, 'You travel with that?' I said, 'Do you have it here?'" Oprah said in 2017.

If they're like most people, your friend or family member has probably spent more time—and money—on their favorite food delivery apps (hello, DoorDash and Grubhub!) during the past few years. So encourage them to give their go-to Chinese spot a much-deserved break, with this clever kit. It includes everything they need to whip up some tasty, takeout-worthy Xiao long bao (a.k.a soup dumplings), including a bamboo steam basket, parchment paper rounds, dough rollers, a wooden spatula for the filling, agar agar powder, and, of course, instructions.

This trio features two Oprah-approved, truffle-oil-infused hot sauces—the classic Truff Hot Sauce and the seasonal White Truff—as well as an even hotter option. "What can I say? The packaging is cool, the hot sauce is sublime," Oprah said in 2019. "I live for the black truffle version, but this white-truffle-infused limited release is slightly sweet, slightly exotic, and every bit as delicious. Put it on everything. Give it to everyone."

If your friend or family member is anything like us, they probably use lemons almost every day. So make sure they never run out of their favorite ingredient again thanks to this fruit tree. The potted present, which can grow up to two feet, will thrive by a sunny window, on the porch, or planted in the yard, and will eventually produce little Meyer lemons they can pick and enjoy in freshly baked scones, delicious dressings, and their favorite cocktail.

Chances are you've got a friend or family member who screams for ice cream. So here's the scoop on a gift they're virtually guaranteed to love: Each of Jeni's holiday collections—Grand Holiday and Splendid Holiday—contains six pints of the Ohio-based brand's extra-creamy frozen treats, including limited edition seasonal flavors (think: White Chocolate Peppermint and Cognac with Gingerbread) and crowd-pleasing classics, like Gooey Butter Cake. Even sweeter? You can also choose to pick your own mix, featuring just the holiday flavors: Mexican Hot Chocolate, Sugar Plum, Pistachio Macaron, as well as the two above.

The perfect DIY gift for friends who love to bake, this box comes with everything you need to bake bread—baking mix, baking yeast, malt powder, cinnamon, raisins, vegetable rennet, cheese cloth, banneton, bread lamé, and a dough scraper. They'll be churning out sourdough in no time.

Perfect for the budding pastry chef, this gourmet DIY kit contains premium cake mix, six rainbow-hued coloring gels, cream cheese frosting mix, and colorful candies—basically everything they'll need to whip up their own version of the Instagram-famous Rainbow Explosion Cake.

Warning: Things are about to get spicy—thanks to these five, freshly ground seasonings. Not only are they made by one of Oprah's favorite chefs, Chef Kenny Gilbert, but the unique blends (from Cinnamon Coffee Rub to Raging Cajun) also come with recipes that incorporate them. "Note: The fried-chicken seasoning should be declared a national treasure," Oprah said when she chose the set for her 2020 list of Favorite Things.

Monica Chon is the former editorial fellow at Oprah Daily, previously OprahMag.com.

Discover Oprah's Favorite Hot Sauce from Truff

Designer Lela Rose Does Happy Hour

45 Cookout Menu Ideas

Oprah's Favorite Pizza Recipe—with a Healthy Twist

What to Bake from Joanna Gaines's New Cookbook

Honey Butter Layered Biscuit Bites

Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate Crust

Bake a Batch of These Yummy Brownie Cookies

Taste the Rainbow

Apple-Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese & Pesto

Beets, Blood Orange, and Radicchio Salad Recipe

Pineapple Chicken Satay with Sunshine Sauce