23 Canning Recipes For Homemade Christmas Gifts
Preserves and pickles make the perfect homemade Christmas gifts—thoughtful, useful, and straight from your garden. A jar of something delicious is always appreciated, especially when it’s made with love. Below you’ll find easy, beginner-friendly canning recipes that are great for gifting during the holidays.
In a hurry? Use our table of contents to go straight to the section that interests you
- Pickles and Fermented Favorites
- Sweet Spreads and Fillings
- Whole Fruits and Syrupy Preserves
- Tomato-Based Sauces and Staples
- Vegetables
Years ago, I discovered the joy of sharing jars of homemade preserves as gifts, especially during the holiday season when the warmth of homemade gifts is most appreciated.
It all started with my overflowing pantry after a summer of canning. To my surprise, these gifts were not just well-received, but they also sparked a tradition.
Friends started returning the empty jars with hopeful smiles and gentle hints about ‘next year’s batch.’ It’s a heartwarming holiday tradition that I cherish, sharing the harvest and a little homemade warmth with the people I care about. All of our canning recipes make excellent gifts.
Safety First
If you are new to canning, it’s important to know that canning must be done correctly, or it can be dangerous. Improper canning can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria and cause food poisoning.
For trusted, research-based instructions, I always recommend starting with the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s guide: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can. It’s a reliable resource for learning how to can safely and confidently. Please read the information in the Canning General Information section.
We love using garden produce to make delicious food. Check out all our recipes here.
Pickles and Fermented Favorites
These canning recipes bring bold flavor and satisfying crunch—perfect for gifting alongside a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, or a bottle of wine.
They make thoughtful additions to holiday baskets, charcuterie boards, or snack tables. Whether you’re wrapping them up or keeping a few jars for yourself, they’re always a hit.
Bread and Butter Pickles
Turn fresh cucumbers and onions into a batch of sweet, tangy bread and butter pickles with this easy recipe. Whether you’re canning or keeping them in the fridge, these crunchy pickles are perfect for snacking, burgers, and sandwiches.
Dill Pickle Slices
Dill Pickle Slices are easy to can at home and pack a bold crunch that makes burgers and sandwiches pop with flavor. Skip the pricey store-bought jars and enjoy the satisfaction of homemade pickles with just a few simple ingredients.
Easy Pickles
Easy Pickles are simple, delicious, and sure to be savored for months to come. No matter how you slice them, this fuss-free canning method delivers classic pickle flavor with minimal effort.
Bloody Mary Pickles
Bloody Mary Pickles offer a bold and zesty twist on traditional pickling, perfect for spicing up snacks and cocktails. Try this flavorful recipe for a unique way to enjoy your garden-fresh goodies long after summer ends.
Quick Pickled Jalapenos
Quick Pickled Jalapenos are the perfect way to preserve a bumper crop with minimal effort and maximum flavor. This easy pickling method delivers a spicy kick you’ll love adding to everything from tacos to sandwiches.
Chicago Giardiniera
Chicago Giardiniera is a spicy, tangy mix of cauliflower, carrots, hot peppers, garlic, and more that adds serious flavor to any sandwich. Keep a jar on hand for a zesty topping that brings crunch and heat to everything it touches.
Hot Pepper Rings In Hot Sauce
Hot Pepper Rings in Hot Sauce bring the heat with every bite, combining vibrant peppers and a tangy red sauce that wakes up your taste buds. Imagine opening a jar in the dead of winter and being greeted by that bold, garden-fresh aroma—it’s like bottling summer’s fire for the colder months.
Grandma’s Pickled Tomatoes
Grandma’s Pickled Tomatoes are a time-tested way to turn an abundance of fresh tomatoes into a tangy treat you’ll crave all year. This treasured recipe has been passed down for generations and offers a flavorful spin on classic food preservation.
Looking for more recipes to use up your garden harvest? Try our collection of healthy vegetable soups.
Sweet Spreads and Fillings
From pie fillings to rich fruit butters, these canning recipes capture the sweetness of the season in every jar. They’re perfect for holiday gifting—simple to make, beautiful to package, and always appreciated.
Homemade Apple Pie Filling
Homemade Apple Pie Filling is simple to make and tastes so much better than anything from a can—perfect for cozy desserts year-round. Follow the step-by-step instructions to prep your apples and water bath to make this sweet, spiced favorite with ease.
Cherry Pie Filling
Cherry Pie Filling is the perfect way to preserve the juicy goodness of your backyard harvest for delicious pies all year long. If you have a cherry tree in your yard, this easy canning recipe will quickly become a seasonal favorite.
Apple Butter
Apple Butter is a velvety smooth spread packed with rich apple flavor, perfect for slathering on toast or spooning over oatmeal. This homemade apple butter for canning is a great way to use up lots of apples—no peeling required!
Slow Cooker Pear Butter
Slow Cooker Pear Butter is smooth, creamy, and full of warm autumn spices—an irresistible spread that’s perfect for toast, baking, or gifting. With no peeling or added sugar required, this easy crockpot recipe makes canning a batch of naturally sweet pear butter almost effortless.
Whole Fruits and Syrupy Preserves
Preserve whole fruits in syrup or spice for beautiful jars that are so tasty. They also look stunning in a gift basket. These elegant canning recipes make memorable homemade Christmas gifts that feel both special and heartfelt.
Pickled Figs in Syrup
Pickled Figs in Syrup bring a rich, tangy sweetness that pairs beautifully with roast meats like chicken or duck. Grab some fresh figs and a handful of simple ingredients to create a unique and elegant addition to your next meal.
Spiced Port Plums
Spiced Port Plums are rich, festive, and full of warm holiday flavor—perfect for gifting, entertaining, or adding to a seasonal cheese board. Shelf-stable for up to 2–3 years, they’re a delicious way to preserve plums and bring a touch of elegance to any celebration.
Canned Brandy Spiced Pears
Canned Brandy Spiced Pears are rich, aromatic, and infused with just the right touch of warmth to elevate your fall and winter meals. If you have an abundance of pears, this home canning recipe is a flavorful way to preserve the season’s bounty with a cozy twist.
Tomato-Based Sauces and Staples
Stock your pantry with versatile tomato canning recipes—ideal for weeknight dinners, pizzas, or dipping. These savory staples also make fantastic homemade gifts.
Pair a jar of marinara with a package of pasta, Salsa with a bag of tortilla chips, or ketchup with grilled burger spice mix. They are a useful, heartfelt present anyone would love to receive.
Authentic Marinara Sauce
Turn fresh tomatoes into something truly irresistible with this small-batch marinara sauce. It’s rich, savory, and perfect for pasta, pizza, or dipping—and we’ve even included easy canning instructions so you can enjoy it all year long.
Homemade Tomato Ketchup
Homemade Tomato Ketchup is tangy, rich, and surprisingly easy to make—especially with the help of your Instant Pot. If you’ve got more tomatoes than you know what to do with, this flavorful recipe is a must for your canning list.
Canned Spaghetti Sauce
Canned Spaghetti Sauce is a flavorful way to preserve your garden tomatoes and herbs, creating a versatile staple for your pantry. Use it with pasta, meatballs, or spread it on pizza for a homemade touch any night of the week.
Tomato Coulis
Tomato Coulis is a smooth, light sauce with fresh French flavor that adds elegance to pasta dishes or stuffed vegetables. It’s the perfect choice for nights when you want something simple yet refined on your plate.
Canned Whole Tomatoes
Canned Whole Tomatoes are bursting with herbs and flavor, preserved in the bold and aromatic Kavkaz style for a truly unique twist. Canning whole tomatoes is a simple and delicious way to enjoy your summer bounty long after the season ends.
Homemade Salsa
Homemade Salsa is a classic crowd-pleaser packed with garden-fresh tomatoes, perfect for topping tacos or scooping with crispy tortilla chips. It’s one of those feel-good snacks that never goes out of style and always disappears fast.
Vegetables, Raw, Packed, and Ready
Simple, no-fuss vegetable canning recipes that bring a touch of summer freshness to your winter meals. They’re also great for gifting—pair a jar with a handwritten recipe card, a cozy soup mix, or a loaf of fresh bread for a thoughtful, nourishing present.
Raw Packed Sweet Corn
Raw Packed Sweet Corn uses a no-blanch method, letting the canning process cook the kernels for you while preserving their sweet, fresh taste. It’s an easy and efficient way to put up summer corn so you can enjoy it long after the season ends.
Raw Packed Green Beans
Raw Packed Green Beans bring back the nostalgic flavor of summer with every bite and are a staple in any home canning pantry. If you’ve ever snapped beans on the porch with your grandma, you know the joy. Just be sure to use a pressure canner for safe preserving.
Canning is a wonderful way to preserve your garden harvest and create meaningful homemade Christmas gifts. These easy recipes are perfect for sharing—or keeping on your own shelf for months to come. Print your favorites and give a few a try. Don’t forget to pin this post so you can come back to them anytime!