Consumable Gifts: 225+ Ideas for a Minimalist Christmas

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This list of consumable gifts is for you if you’re looking to have a special Christmas this year, but you want to avoid bringing too many more items into an already too-cluttered home. I’ve included a ton of variety so you can find something for anyone on your list.

What is a consumable gift?

A consumable gift is essentially something that can be used up so it’s not sitting around in the house from this time forth and forevermore. It’s a favorite idea for people who are trying to reduce waste and embrace a more minimalist lifestyle. Or for people who are just tired of all the STUFF.

It’s slightly different from an experience gift – which is another fantastic idea for minimalists and zero-wasters. Experience gifts are more centered around gifting events or experiences (as the name suggests) like tickets to the theater, museum memberships, plane tickets, etc.

We usually try to include an experience gift and a consumable gift at each of our kids’ birthdays and at Christmas so that we minimize the number of toys we have to store. And clean up at the end of the day!

Let’s take a look at all the different kinds of consumable gifts you could consider giving this Christmas.

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DIY Gifts

These gifts are ideas I like to try to incorporate for co-workers and friends. I can make up big batches of some of these things and then put together gift baskets or crates filled with all kinds of homemade goodies. It means a little something extra special when you gift something you’ve made yourself.

Food

1. Soup Mix in a Jar
2. Spice mix – You can use small glass spice jars to fill with different homemade spice mixes – Italian, Taco, Steak, etc. – and if you’d like you can include the recipes for them if they’re the from-scratch type. 🙂
3. Loose tea leaf mix
4. Brownie Mix in a Jar
5. Cookie Mix in a Jar
6. Pancake Mix in a Jar
7. Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
8. Homemade Granola
9. Homemade fudge
10. Soup Basket Delivery – I got this idea from Spoonful of Comfort. They’re a meal delivery service that delivers a container of soup for 4-6 people, bread bowls, and cookies for dessert. If you do canning, you could consider gifting a large can of homemade soup with homemade bread bowls and homemade cookies for dessert.
11. Holiday Cookies – who doesn’t love a tray of homemade cookies? Check out our favorite holiday cookie recipe!
12. Homemade Vinegar
13. Homemade Chocolates
14. Homemade Vanilla Extract
15. Candied Citrus Peels
16. Homemade Jams – again, if you’re a canner, you can gift homemade fruit butters or jams. If you’re gifting to another canner, they’ll be able to re-use the jars!
17. Fresh Baked Bread – check out my recipe for Sourdough Farmhouse White Bread.
18. Peanut Brittle
19. Homemade Caramel or Chocolate Sauce
20. Seasoned Salt – this is a great all-purpose seasoning
21. Dried Herbs – this works great if you have an herb garden.
22. Baked Goods – you can include things like mini muffins, brownies, scones, etc.
23. Crispy Chickpeas
24. Beef Jerky

Personal Care

These are some great ideas for homemade personal care gifts. These work especially well if you’re gifting someone who is trying to live a cleaner, non-toxic lifestyle.

My favorite resource for recipes like this is Our Oily House. She has a recipe for just about every natural product you can think of!

1. Sugar or coffee scrub
2. Lotion bar
3. Face mask
4. Dry Shampoo
5. Hairspray
6. Natural Deodorant – careful with this one – we don’t want to imply someone smells bad! 🙂 Maybe include it in a basket with other things too.
7. Lip Balm
8. Essential Oil Blend perfume 
9. Lotion
10. Body Butter
11. Bar of Soap

Household

Again, I have to recommend Our Oily House for all natural recipes!

1. All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
2. DIY Candles
3. Potpourri

Food Gifts

If you’re not interested in making your own gifts but still want to gift food, here are some ideas you could try.

Gourmet/Specialty

1. Hot Sauce Collection
2. Nut Butter Trio
3. Sweet Date Spreads – these come in cinnamon, chocolate, and vanilla flavors too!
4. Vermont Maple Syrup Sampler
5. Dessert Topper Blends
6. Infused Vinegar Collection
7. Locally Made Jams
8. Candy from bulk bins in a Mason Jar
9. Mushroom Coffee
10. Stonewall Kitchen Gift Sets – you could try this breakfast set or maybe a dessert topping collection.
11. Fruit Bouquets – I always use Edible Arrangements if I’m doing something like this!
12. Marinades and Sauces
13. Gourmet Coffee Beans
14. Fresh Fruit – think Harry & David. 🙂
15. Infused Oils
16. Gourmet Chocolate
17. Gourmet Popcorn
18. Artisan Salt
19. Specialty Mixed Nuts
20. Treats Gift Basket

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

1. Sparkling Juice
2. Kombucha
3. Loose Leaf Tea – Harney & Sons is my favorite!
4. Old Fashioned Soda
5. Hot Cocoa Mix
6. Hot Chocolate Bombs
7. Hot Apple Cider Mix
8. Sports Drinks
9. Electrolyte Rehydration Mix
10. Soda Stream Flavor Syrups – this is a great idea if the recipient has a soda stream they use regularly!

Alcoholic Beverages

1. Nice bottle of wine
2. Bloody Mary Mix
3. Bottle of Liquor
4. Bitters
5. Gin Making Kit
6. Vodka Infusion Kit

Coupons & Gift Cards

1. Coffee gift voucher – this is a little different than just a Gift Card – it’s a homemade card where they can check off a certain number of coffee dates with YOU where you treat. Great gift – coffee and quality time all in one!
2. Gift card from a favorite local shop
3. Car Wash Certificates – who doesn’t love going through a car wash? But many consider it more of a luxury than a necessity.
4. iTunes gift cards
5. Coupons for your services – think babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, etc.
6. Starbucks or Coffee Shop gift card
7. Cleaning Services gift cards – If you have a person on your gift list who might need a little extra help around the house, you could consider a gift card for window washing, gutter cleaning, landscape work, or even just a run-of-the-mill house cleaning!
8. Donation to a favorite Charity – you’ll want to know the person receiving this gift well enough to know what would mean something extra special to them.

Personal Care

I have heard great things about Toups & Co Organics for natural skin care and makeup. I’ll be switching my own makeup out for their products as I run out. The first few items on this list can be found at Toups & Co – and I’ve provided links for the rest!

1. Makeup – concealer,
2. Body/face oil 
3. Chapstick
4. Shampoo bar
5. Face Mask
6. Bar Soap
7. Dry Shampoo
8. Body Oil
9. Face Oil
10. Natural Deodorant
11. Conditioner bar
12. Essential Oil Perfume
13. Lip Scrub
14. Bath Salts
15. Bath Bomb
16. Sugar Scrub
17. Face Scrub
18. Moisturizing Hand Cream
19. Whipped Body Butter
20. Hand Sanitizer
21. Natural Loofah
22. Natural Sea Sponge
23. Cuticle Oil
24. Argon Oil

Subscriptions

Grocery/Produce Boxes

1. Imperfect Foods
2. Misfits
3. Farm Fresh To You
4. Farm To People
5. Local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Membership

Entertainment

1. Audiobooks (ex. Audible) 
2. Digital subscription to a favorite publication

Subscriptions for Kids

1. KiwiCo Crates – Hands on science projects
2. Creation Crate – Choose a STEM subject, and your recipient will receive a box filled with everything they need to tackle new skills
3. Universal Yums – Snacks from around the world!
4. We Craft Box – a great way to provide fun crafts each month

Miscellaneous

1. Bath Bevy – curated bath and body kit
2. Beer/Wine of the Month Club

Household

1. Candles
2. Fire Starters
3. Fresh Flowers
4. Incense
5. Essential Oils Starter Pack

For Men

While I’m not sure if this is true of all men, the men in my family are notoriously difficult to buy for. If that’s the case for you, here are some ideas that might help.

1. “Man Crates”
2. Grill Sauce Collection
3. BBQ sauce
4. Gourmet Mustard
5. Jamaican Jerk Sauce
6. Bacon Gift Set

For Kids

If you’re looking for your family gifts this year to have less permanent footprint, here are bundles of ideas for your kids that they’ll be very excited about – and that won’t still be around when they’re done. 🙂

Activity Books

1. Paint By Sticker
2. Mystery Mosaic
3. Water Wow
4. Mazes
5. Human Body Activity Book
6. Awesome Engineering Activities
7. Backyard Bug Book
8. 50 States Activity Book

Arts and Crafts Kits

Most of these are a little high maintenance for my kids (or maybe just too high maintenance for their mother…). But if your kids love all kinds of arts and crafts these are some great ideas for kits they might enjoy.

1. Bead Art
2. Spirograph
3. Wood Burning Kit
4. String Art
5. Magnetic Mini Tile Art
6. Clay Jewelry Making
7. Diamond Art
8. Rock Painting Kit
9. Coloring with Clay
10. 3D Wooden Puzzles
11. Sequin Art
12. Sand Art

Arts and Crafts Supplies

1. Colored Pencils
2. Markers
3. Crayons
4. Watercolor Paints
5. Pens & Pencils
6. Tape
7. Erasers
8. Scissors
9. Glue or Glue Sticks
10. Art Set

Educational Kits

These are great projects, especially for homeschoolers!

1. Paper Maker – this is great if your kids are studying Ancient Egypt.
2. Mind Blowing Science
3. Color Chemistry
4. Gross Science
5. Earth Science Kit
6. Mega Gem Stone Dig Kit
7. Owl Pellet Mystery
8. Magic Chemistry Set
9. Fossil Digging Set

Life Skills

I love these kits, since they encourage kids to develop both interest in and knowledge about some important traditional skills.

1. Learn to Sew Kit
2. Soap Making Kit
3. Make Your Own Bath Bombs
4. Lip Balm Making Set
5. Kids Embroidery Kit
6. First Book of Knots
7. Baking Kit

Personal Care

1. Bubble Bath – my kids always love a bubble bath, and this particular one is fragrance free for those with sensitive skin.
2. Bath Bomb
3. Color-changing Bath Tablets
4. Lotion
5. Mini Hand Sanitizer

Hobbies/Sports

Gardening

1. Flower Bulbs
2. Flower Seeds
3. Vegetable Seeds
4. Mushroom Growing Kit
5. Gardening Gloves – these aren’t exactly consumable, but they’re the kind of thing that wear out a lot. Seems like they would be appreciated!
6. Bird Seed Ornaments – These are better than bird feeders in that they are completely consumable, and are a great way to invite more birds to your yard or garden.
7. Herb Garden Kit
8. Indoor Smart Garden – if you have a little extra money to spend, this is a great idea for your favorite indoor gardener.
9. Edible Flowers Kit

Craft supplies

1. Specialty Yarns – a nice wool blend with alpaca or cashmere is always a special treat for a crocheter or knitter.
2. Quilting Fabric – various cotton fat quarters are a great gift for any quilter.
3. Scrapbooking Paper
4. Washi Tape
5. Paints
6. Adult Coloring Book
7. Markers – try and go with a large variety of high quality fine-tipped markers for coloring.
8. Colored Pencils
9. Embroidery Floss
10. Needlework Fabric
11. Gift Certificate for Custom Framing – if you’ve ever done a needlework project you know how much custom framing can cost. This is a great way to make it possible for someone to afford a really nice framing job for a project they’ve worked hard on.

Sports

1. Golf Balls – okay these are not exactly consumable – but if you know anything about golfing, you know how often these disappear! While you’re at it, maybe throw in a bag of golf tees too.
2. Protein Powder – if you have an athlete in your life, you’re almost guaranteed they’ll appreciate some extra protein powder.
3. Sports Drinks
4. Electrolyte Rehydration Mix

Practical

These aren’t the gifts I would traditionally think of as fun to find under the tree on Christmas morning – they are deeply practical. But, if you know someone on your list who really appreciates saving a little cash and a trip to the store, then these items might be just what you need.

1. Toilet Paper
2. Hand Soap/Sanitizer
3. Safety Razor Blade Refills
4. Charcoal Water Filters
5. Floss
6. Bamboo Toothbrushes – great for someone who’s trying to use less plastic!
7. Deodorant – for heaven’s sake, be careful here!! LOL
8. Diapers & Wipes
9. Tissue Pocket Packs
10. Dish Soap

Miscellaneous

1. Dog or Pet Treats
2. Lavender Sachets – these are a great non-toxic alternative to traditional air fresheners. Put one in the car, in drawers, or in closets for a natural, fresh scent.
3. Next Year’s Calendar
4. Day Planner
5. Journal or Diary
6. Wrapping Paper – if you have a friend who gets excited about wrapping gifts in beautiful paper, this is a great recyclable option that is also compostable.
7. Notebooks or Notepads
8. Stationary – you can even get some personalized to make this gift extra special.
9. Nice Pens
10. Refrigerator Notepads
11. And, of course – cash!

I hope this list has been of help as you plan your holiday this year. Leave a note in the comments if you have more ideas for great consumable gifts! Merry Christmas!