The best holiday gifts for diehard foodies

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See our full holiday gift guide.

Hostess Munchies

After a 20-year absence from grocery stores shelves, Hostess Munchies are back. Available in six flavours including Tangy Ketchup and Old School BBQ—a nod to the original lineup. $3

Montreal bagel spice

A crunchy, lightly toasted concoction of onion, garlic, poppy seeds, black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds that can be sprinkled on everything from salads and eggs to breadsticks and, of course, bagels. $12

Chili miso condiment

Zing’s thing is pantry shortcuts—sauces and seasonings inspired by third-culture flavours that dial-up everyday dishes. One such zinger is Sacha-ish, a tangy chili miso condiment made in collaboration with Taiwanese-Canadian TV host Pay Chen. $13

Jar of pickles

When you care enough to send the very best, Marty Strub hand-packs four generations of locally grown pickle expertise into each mason jar. $15

Pre-made latkes

Skip the tsuris this Hanukkah—all that grating—and serve these fried-to-perfection potato pancakes, which come with the sauce of your choice: sour cream, apple or blueberry. Bubbe doesn’t need to know they’re from United Bakers, the beloved Toronto dairy restaurant that’s been in business since 1912. $16 for six

Italian sweet bread

Longo’s authentic Curato Il Panettone Classico is made with real butter, candied orange peel, raisins and no artificial preservatives or added colours. It’s the ultimate host gift or slice to enjoy with loved ones. For added sweetness, try Longo’s Curato Il Panettone Chocolate Cream—a buttery version filled with rich chocolate cream and studded with chocolate chips. Learn how to turn this holiday classic into four amazing recipes with the Loft Cooking School. $12.97 for a 908-gram package

Gourmet cookies

Winning the holiday potluck is as easy as strolling in with half a dozen of these soft-baked delights by Toronto’s favourite cookie artisan Andrea Christensen. Her delicious creations come in a rotating line-up of fancy flavours like almond croissant, chocolate knafeh and tiramisu. $26 for six

Keith Lee–approved treats

The internet’s favourite food critic Keith Lee dropped by Biscuits to Baskets, a backyard bakery and espresso bar in Ajax, to try their cake flight. He liked it so much that he left a $2,500 tip. $27

Pancake kit

If there’s one thing Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, the Liberty Village bastion of brunch, is known for, it’s their fluffy-as-a-cloud buttermilk pancakes. Now, after 35 years, you can enjoy them at home with Mildred’s Pancake Essentials Kit—blueberry compote and maple syrup included. $43

Exclusive membership

Gift the extraordinary with a membership to the Barrel Hunter Club—a Canadian community for modern epicureans. Not just another wine club, it embraces an inclusive philosophy, offering unparalleled exploration of wine, spirits and food. The Master Sommelier delivers monthly discovery sessions and in-depth guided tastings featuring hidden gems and rare vintages. Experience exclusive events in upscale venues, and access curated wines and spirits through the members-only online store.

Non-alcoholic bitters

Australian zero-ABV spirits brand Lyre’s beat out its alcoholic rivals at the World Spirits Competition when its Italian orange bitters—a rich blend of blood orange and red citrus flavours—was named the best new cocktail ingredient. $55

Tea bundle

The tea lovers bundle from Kebaonish includes seven distinct blends, each embodying one of the Anishinaabe’s Seven Grandfather Teachings. $76

Cheese making kit

Give a person cheese, and they’ll have a lovely evening. Teach them to make their own (burrata, ricotta, queso blanco and five other kinds), and they’ll have eternal happiness. Just add milk. $62

Coffee subscription

For coffee aficionados who have bean there and drunk that, a subscription box from De Mello—a Vaughan roaster that seeks out small producers across the globe—is just the ticket. $105

Non-alcoholic beer

Kick-start Dry January with a case of Jack Pine by Harmon’s, a Toronto craft brewery that makes rich, flavourful beer that just happens to contain less than 0.5 per cent alcohol. This citrusy pale ale is bursting with flavour for the hoppiest of holiday seasons. $17

Maraschino cherries

For wannabe mixologists, consider this supersized tin of maraschino cherries. Made in Italy with Luxardo marasca cherry syrup, it contains nearly six kilograms of candied goodness. $111

Hanukkah basket

Toronto Baskets has curated a very noshable selection of Hanukkah treats, including dark chocolate, dry-roasted peanuts, blueberry fruit spread, crackers, olives hand-stuffed with volcanic Turkish pepper, and two—yes, two—kosher wines. Hanukkah sameach. $269

Matcha making kit

Get the matcha party started with this kit that comes with a four-gram sample of three leaf blends, a Japanese cotton tea towel, a cleaning brush and a Cuzen matcha maker. It’s the green tea equivalent of a high-end espresso machine. $489