By Virginia Allen
The idea for the perfect Christmas gift for my pastors came to me in the middle of summer. Sure, it was a little involved, but I had more than enough time to pull it off. Fast forward five months — it’s 11:30 p.m. the week before Christmas, and my hands are greasy as I pulse the food processor in my kitchen, trying to get the right consistency for homemade cinnamon bourbon butter. I gave everyone a bottle of wine the following year.
I’m all for homemade gifts — but if you work a full-time job and your Decembers look anything like mine, with a Christmas party or special gathering every Saturday of the month, I have some easy alternatives for you.
Below are seven gift ideas for your co-workers, your kids’ teachers, or your pastoral team at church.
Local Coffee
We’re blessed to live in a day and age when local coffee roasters can be found in small towns and big cities alike. While gifting a bag of coffee — even a nice one — from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s is a great option, a bag from a local roaster shows you put a little extra time and thought into the gift. Throw in a mug if you want to elevate it further.
Good Loaf of Bread
No, you don’t have to bake the bread. More power to you if you’d like to, but a nice loaf from a local bakery, tied in brown paper and twine, will do the trick.
Pair the bread with a little jam or homemade butter if you’re up for the challenge. It’s a practical gift for busy people during the holidays — something quick but special for a family snack — and it carries beautiful spiritual significance.
Christ is the “bread of life,” and Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, which literally means “house of bread.”
Trader Joe’s Wine
If you’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s nearby, you’ve probably discovered that their wine selection is hard to beat for the price. If you want a nice wine without spending a lot, Epicuro Nero d’Avola or Epicuro Aglianico are lovely Italian reds that taste — and look — much more expensive than their under-$10 price tag.
Local Honey
Local honey is not only practical but also helps with allergies and is great to have on hand heading into flu season. If you’re not sure where to find it, Google or ChatGPT can point you in the right direction.
Consider tying a little wooden honey dipper to the jar with some ribbon to make it more festive.
Mini Mason Jar Mulling Spice
Everyone wants their home to smell like gingerbread cookies have just come out of the oven at Christmastime. Mulling spice is the easiest way to achieve this.
You can find many recipes online, but a simple blend includes cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, whole cloves, star anise, dried orange, and whole black peppercorns. While a local health-food store will likely carry these, we don’t always have time to track everything down during the holidays, so Amazon is your best bet.
This is also a fun gift to assemble with kids, who can help measure out the spices for each jar. Tie a bow around the top, and you have a great little gift.
Airbnb Gift Card
This one isn’t necessarily a budget-friendly option for a large group, but even a $50 Airbnb gift card might be all the motivation someone needs to finally book that weekend getaway they’ve been talking about for months.
It also creates a wonderful opportunity for future connection, since the recipient will likely want to tell you all about the trip you helped make possible.
Plants
A little succulent or cactus makes a great low-maintenance gift — even for the brownest of thumbs. And for friends who are plant people, consider blessing them with a beautifully potted plant for their home or office.
Plants are gifts that keep on giving; if cared for properly, they’ll continue to brighten living spaces for months or even years to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Virginia Allen is a podcast host and senior news producer at The Daily Signal, where she co-hosts the “Problematic Women” podcast. She covers immigration, border security, Israel, and national security.
Originally from New England, Allen earned a government degree from Regent University. After a year in South Africa as a missionary, she began her media career in Washington, D.C. with The Heritage Foundation and The Daily Signal.
