Gifts-in-a-Jar: Jams, Spreads & Sauces

November 01, 2007
Photo: Oxmoor House
Homemade jams, spreads and sauces in festive jars are food gifts that are sure to please and a great way to show you care. 
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How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract and Never Buy Imitation Stuff Again

All photos by Teresa Sabga
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract and Never Buy Imitation Stuff Again Recipe
Infuse so good
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Hot Honey

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley
Hot Honey Recipe

If you like your food with an extra kick, this recipe is for you. Even something as sweet as honey can use a little heat, and we know plenty of Southerners who require a dose of hot sauce with every meal. Delicious drizzled over biscuits and fried chicken (and chicken-and-waffles) or whisked into a vinaigrette, this chile-infused honey will make a welcome addition to anyone’s pantry. Around the holidays, it’s smart to stock up on little presents to give to hostesses, neighbors, your kids’ teachers, or anyone else that might stop by. When you give a food gift, you know they’re going to actually use it, and giving something homemade adds the most thoughtful touch. This Hot Honey will stand out amongst the holiday bark, bourbon balls, spiced pecans, and chocolate-covered pretzels. Don’t get us wrong—we’d love to receive all of those wonderful treats—but Hot Honey is unique against the lineup of usual holiday gifts, and it’s especially perfect for your friend who craves a little spice. To gift, present it in a cute jar jazzed up with washi tape and wrapped with a pretty bow. This Hot Honey keeps well, too, so you can make a few batches to save up for gifting purposes and have some for yourself, too.

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Make Granola That Isn't Full of Life-Shortening Artificial Garbage

Video and Photos by Alex Tepper
Make Granola That Isn't Full of Life-Shortening Artificial Garbage Recipe
And give it to your friends
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Maple-Onion Jam

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Thom Driver
Maple-Onion Jam Recipe

We call to spoon the jam into 4 (8-ounce) jars, but you can also opt for 8 (4-ounce) jars to spread the love a little further.

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Homemade Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread Tastes Way Better Than Nutella

All photos by Teresa Sabga
Homemade Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread Tastes Way Better Than Nutella Recipe
A gift that can be enjoyed straight from the jar

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Dip Trio Appetizer Kit

Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Blake Ramsey Murray
Dip Trio Appetizer Kit Recipe
To make Southwest Chipotle Dip, Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar Dip, and Zesty Marinara Dip, combine all ingredients in a small jar or airtight container. Write mixing instructions on a gift tag or card.
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Bacon Jam

Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Blake Ramsey Murray
Bacon Jam Recipe
This crowd-pleasing savory condiment is fantastic on crackers and sandwiches (including grilled cheese).

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Carrot Cake Jam

Oxmoor House
Carrot Cake Jam Recipe
This is a wonderful jam that tastes just like Grandma’s carrot cake and is a real topping treat for biscuits, toast and waffles.

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Hot Pepper Sauce

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Hot Pepper Sauce Recipe
This colorful sauce with red and green Thai chile peppers is a great gift for people who like to add a little heat to their recipes.
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Fresh Herb Mayonnaise

Fresh Herb Mayonnaise Recipe
Use fresh herbs from your garden to make a tasty gift for your foodie friends.

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Homemade Caramel Sauce

Oxmoor House
Homemade Caramel Sauce Recipe
Christmas food gifts are especially welcome when they do double duty. This holiday sauce can be served as a creamy dip for fruit or as a topping for the impressive and delicious holiday dessert, Mile-High turtle Ice Cream Pie.

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Sun-Dried Tomato Jam

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Sun-Dried Tomato Jam Recipe
Tie a bow on a jar of this versatile spread and include a card with serving suggestions. Friends can enjoy it as a chutney, pizza sauce, or even spooned on a log of goat cheese for a speedy appetizer.
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Spicy Thyme and Garlic Oil

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Spicy Thyme and Garlic Oil Recipe
Pour this herb-infused dipping oil into an elegant bottle, fasten a sprig of thyme around the neck, and present it with a crusty loaf.

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Chunky Tapenade

Oxmoor House
Chunky Tapenade Recipe
Serve savory tapenade as an hors d'oeuvre with baguette slices and goat cheese, as a sandwich topping for assorted deli meats, or as a relish for grilled chicken or fish. Store the tapenade in an airtight container for up to one week.

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Sweet Onion Relish

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Sweet Onion Relish Recipe
This low-calorie onion relish doubles as a topping for grilled meat or chicken or as an appetizer served with crackers or spooned over warm brie. Make a few extra batches to keep on-hand so when guests at your party ask for the recipe, you can just present them with their own jar.
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Lemon Verbena Vinegar

James Carrier
Lemon Verbena Vinegar Recipe
Just three ingredients results in a stunning homemade gift that can be made months ahead. Pack it with a bottle of extra-virgin olive oil for a do-it-yourself vinaigrette set.For other flavored vinegar options, try Lemon Thyme Vinegar and Purple Basil Vinegar.

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Raspberry-Almond Jam

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Raspberry-Almond Jam Recipe
This spoonable jam can double as a fruity topping for waffles or ice cream. Use frozen berries if fresh ones aren't available, then tuck a jar in a gift basket with some homemade scones or recipe cards for a sweet wintertime treat.

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Citrus Curd

Oxmoor House
Citrus Curd Recipe
Package tangy Citrus Curd in pretty jars tied with a ribbon. Offer gift recipients the suggestion to serve the curd over warm bread, fresh fruit, ice cream, or pound cake.
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Ginger-Pear Preserves

Ginger-Pear Preserves Recipe
Lemon and ginger highlight the flavor of luscious fall pears. Spoon this condiment into glass jars and tie with gold ribbon or raffia to show off its warm, tawny color.

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Peachy Barbecue Sauce

Lee Harrelson
Peachy Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Your family and friends will be eating high on the hog when they receive a bottle of this phenomenal sauce. Sweet, tangy, and spicy all at once, it's so good you'll want to keep some for yourself.

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Kumquats in Spiced Syrup

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Kumquats in Spiced Syrup Recipe
Resembling tiny baby oranges, kumquats have a sweet, perfumed skin and tart flesh. This recipe turns them into succulent golden orbs—an impressive and elegant holiday gift.
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Sweet-Hot Honey Mustard

Sweet-Hot Honey Mustard Recipe
Take along a jar of this zippy condiment the next time you're invited to a holiday dinner. Delicious with roasted meats, it's a thoughtful hostess gift and keeps for up to a month.

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Peach-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Peach-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette Recipe
This sweet and tangy vinaigrette can be drizzled over fresh greens or used as a topping for pork or chicken. Packaged in a decorative bottle with a homemade tag, this recipe makes an ideal gift for the cooks on your list.

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Red Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Red Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette Recipe
Pair this sweet, piquant vinaigrette with fresh greens and tangy goat cheese. It also works as a marinade for chicken or pork.
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Roasted Pine Nut Butter

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr
Roasted Pine Nut Butter Recipe
A little 2- or 3-ounce jar of this indulgent nut butter makes a fine food gift, like a present of caviar.

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Vidalia Onion & Peach Relish

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Vidalia Onion & Peach Relish Recipe
Give the gift of summer in a jar with this sweet onion and peach relish. to make your gift even more special, give a jar of the relish along with a round of goat cheese and some gourmet crackers.

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Caramelized Ginger Pears

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Caramelized Ginger Pears Recipe
A jar of these gingered pears is both a tasty and thoughtful gift. Suggest serving this homemade food gift over a favorite dessert, or over baked brie and serve as an appetizer.
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Cranberry Orange Marmalade

Iain Bagwell; Melanie J. Clarke
Cranberry Orange Marmalade Recipe
A lazy simmer transforms just four ingredients into a sweet-tart spread. Spoon the marmalade into glass jars to show off its dazzling color and tie with matching ribbon.

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Chunky Hot Sauce

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Harget
Chunky Hot Sauce Recipe
Fermentation is the secret to this robust, piquant sauce. Use your favorite chiles here, or blend fiery ones with sweet ones to customize your own. As for the consistency, we love the sauce in all of its chunky glory, but if you want a smooth, looser take, press it through a wire-mesh strainer.

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Ultimate Fudge Sauce

Oxmoor House
Ultimate Fudge Sauce Recipe
This creamy sauce tastes delicious over ice cream, cheesecake, or warm brownies. Try stirring some of the sauce into coffee or use it as a fondue-type dip with fresh fruit and cubed pound cake.
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Quince-Lemon Marmalade

Quince-Lemon Marmalade Recipe
With its gorgeous color and tangy flavor from quince and lemon, this traditional marmalade would make a great gift.

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Holiday Jam