If their jam of choice is Bonne Maman
If they can’t get a reservation at Carbone
For the tinned fish fiend
If you know someone who still hasn’t stopped raving about their latest tinned fish find, plans entire trips around niche restaurants or insists their phone eats first, congratulations, you know a certified foodie. Having a friend or loved one who always knows where and what to eat next is a gift in itself. But when it comes to finding a gift for someone who takes eating seriously, the pressure is on to find something they haven’t tried before and that lives up to their standards.
If the thought of shopping for your foodie friend makes your palms sweat, you’ve come to the right place. As a sweet treat aficionado and condiment connoisseur myself, I’m always on the lookout for delicious gifts. Over the years, I’ve racked up a collection of unique food gifts you can ship straight to someone’s doorstep, including personal favorites and picks recommended by the cheffiest members of our staff.
From decadent chocolates to cheese boards galore, we have something here for every kind of food lover. And if you’re still hungry for inspiration, our library of gift ideas, including gifts for coffee lovers and edible gift baskets, is brimming with delicious finds.
For the olive oil snob
For the friend who gets excited about a really good olive oil, the Brightland Pantry Trio is a gift that won’t collect dust in the cupboard. It comes with peppery olive oil, Champagne vinegar and orange blossom honey, plus a gorgeous gold pouring spout and mini whisk for mixing up homemade salad dressings and marinades. This set’s elevated pantry staples will definitely make everyday meals a little more special.
For someone who eats a worrisome amount of salt
This Icelandic sea salt collection makes a fun addition to any spice rack — just take it from home and gifts editor Amina Lake Patel, who has received and gifted this set. She said it “makes everything feel fancier,” thanks to the unique varieties, like striking black lava, smoky birch and herbaceous Arctic thyme salt.
Sweeten their morning ritual
As someone who can never get enough of specialty lattes, I can vouch for Nooly’s dreamy almond coffee syrup. It’s an easy way to make any old cup of java feel a little more whimsical, with buttery, nutty notes that are reminiscent of a fresh croissant. It’s a fun gift for pastry lovers or anyone who enjoys experimenting with their coffee at home.
For the Swedish candy connoisseur
Swedish candies are elite sweet treats, and BonBon’s gift boxes take them to the next level. Each signature pink gift box is packed with a mouth-puckering assortment of the brand’s bestselling candies. You can send a small box as a sweet little surprise or go all-in with this whopping 2 pounds of treats for anyone with a sweet tooth, especially if they love sampling new flavors.
There’s always room for dessert
Bundt cakes are an underrated alternative to cupcakes, which is why I love Nothing Bundt Cakes. The brand’s “bundtlet” box comes with 12 individually packaged cakes for fellow dessert lovers. I’ve loved gifting bundts to family members and seeing them fawn over the charming little sweet treats. You can mix and match flavors, from chocolate chocolate chip and white chocolate raspberry to seasonal pumpkin spice.
If they treat breakfast like dessert
Move over, Dubai chocolate. Scarpato’s pistachio and chocolate panettone is an indulgent treat worth sharing. The traditional Italian sweet bread is made in Italy’s Pasticceria Scarpato using a recipe dating back to 1888. Filled with rich pistachio cream and dark chocolate chips, this panettone is a delicious sidekick to coffee or tea. It’s also shipped fresh in a festive gift box, making it a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves trying sweets from around the world.
Easier than getting a reservation at Carbone
Carbone’s pasta sauce brings a taste of the iconic restaurant home without the reservation or the bill. The slow-cooked sauce will make weeknight spaghetti or lasagna feel like fine dining. It’s also a handy pantry staple for those days when you simply can’t concoct another recipe. Editorial director Chelsea Stone has raved about Carbone’s sauces in the past, saying her pasta dish was “the best I’ve ever managed to whip up at home, and above all, it was really easy.”
Truly colossal cookies
Levain Bakery’s signature cookie tin is a pretty safe bet for anyone with a sweet tooth. The iconic blue tin comes packed with eight or 12 of the bakery’s famous cookies, with several assortments to choose from, including “Chocolate Lovers” and “Fall Bounty.” Each chunky cookie is individually wrapped with a hand-tied blue ribbon, and the tin features an illustration of the famous West 74th Street bakery.
If their charcuterie boards are works of art
Fresh pears, cheese and crackers are foolproof gifts for all. Packed in a reusable wooden crate, this gift basket includes about six of the brand’s famous Royal Riviera pears, sharp white cheddar cheese, three-seed crackers and a mix of nuts. It’s a gorgeous balance of fresh fruit and savory bites, all finished with a hand-tied bow.
Read our review
For the captain of the Dubai chocolate bandwagon
For the friend who can’t get enough of the viral Dubai chocolate craze, Compartés’ 20-piece Pistachio Bites Gift Box is a decadent gift they’ll adore. Each truffle is filled with the brand’s signature pistachio knafeh ganache and wrapped in premium dark chocolate. The elegant green packaging makes it feel extra-special, too.
If they’re always feeding their starter
Sourdough-making is on the rise and this kit brings together all the essentials for the entire process. It comes with everything, from a starter to decorative dusters for their loaves. Whether they’re a first-time baker or sourdough savant, this food-safe, BPA-free set is a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves a good kitchen project.
If they put chips in all of their sandwiches
You may be wondering, why would I gift someone an oversized tin of Spanish potato chips? Bonilla’s chips are simply the best out there, and worthy of the hype. They’re made in Spain with just three ingredients: high-quality Spanish potatoes, olive oil and sea salt. It’s a fun gift for the snack lover who appreciates a little extra crunch.
For the friend who treats peanut butter like it’s an entire food group
Buddy Buddy is one of my favorite coffee shops in New York, thanks to the indulgent Belgian nut butter dribbled into each latte. This six-jar bundle is a delicious way to explore the coffee shop’s flavors at home. It includes all six varieties from the brand, from classic peanut butter to hazelnut cacao and even pecan pie, to upgrade the time they spend eating peanut butter straight from the jar.
Upgrade their holiday hosting game
Boarderie’s Classic Cheese & Charcuterie Board takes the work out of putting together an impressive snack spread. The board arrives fully arranged and ready to eat with hand-selected items like artisan cheeses, cured meats, dried fruit, nuts, chocolates and olives. Better yet, it also comes with a wood serving board and bamboo cutlery, so there’s no need to spend time arranging everything. We’ve devoured many a themed Boarderie board here at CNN Underscored, and can confirm it’s a great gift for hosts or anyone who loves entertaining.
A true slice of New York
If you know, you know. Roberta’s handmade, Neapolitan-inspired pizzas can’t be beat. They’re baked in a wood-fired oven imported from Italy, then blast-chilled to preserve their freshness. Each pie is made with the same ingredients used at the iconic Brooklyn restaurant, from scratch-made dough to handmade mozzarella. Choose from three pizzas: a classic margarita, provolone-topped Famous Original or cheddar, kale and chili Baby Sinclair.
For the carnivore diet devotee
There’s no better way to treat the meat-lover in your life than with a proper New York strip steak, and Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu New York strip is a delicacy worth splurging on. Cut thick with generous marbling, these steaks are known for their rich, juicy flavor. All they have to do is throw it on the grill.
Because they can’t live without bread
A Wildgrain gift box is a thoughtful way to deliver just-baked goods straight to someone’s door and a fun pick for anyone who loves fresh bread, flaky pastries and pasta, but doesn’t want to make everything from scratch. You can customize each box with everything from artisan sourdough breads to fresh pastas. They even have vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options. Most items can go straight from the freezer to the oven in 25 minutes or less, and who doesn’t love saving time? Patel has also received this box in the past and said she “appreciated the ability to have piping-hot croissants on a Sunday morning without any of the prep work.”
For the tinned fish fiend
Fishwife’s collection is a seriously impressive upgrade from plain old sardines from the grocery store. This colorful assortment that comes in an illustrated gift tin has everything: smoked salmon, albacore tuna, Fly By Jing salmon, smoked rainbow trout in chimichurri, and so much more. Many varieties are hand-packed in Spain using traditional “conservas” techniques, too. Editorial director Chelsea Stone is a huge fan of Fishwife, though she notes that it’s pricier than other options. But the fun packaging and tasty flavors are worth every penny.
If they’d rather go to Milk Bar than an actual bar
Back in the day, I would plan day trips to Milk Bar just to try out its famous Cereal Milk soft serve. Now, I can order it straight to my door. The Little Somethings gift set includes both cookies and adorable bite-sized truffles that can be easily shared. Everything ships nationwide in insulated packaging, so you can send a little taste of the bakery straight to someone’s home.
To add to just about everything
Fly By Jing’s Bestsellers bundle is a fun way to turn up the heat in their kitchen. The set includes four of the brand’s signature sauces and condiments, from its Original Sichuan Chili Crisp to a sweet-spicy Sichuan sauce. It also comes with two types of noodles for easy weeknight meals. It hits the spot every time, to the point that senior lifestyle editor Tamara Kraus has been spicing up her meals with this AAPI-owned brand’s sauces for years.
They know the city is the fifth character
There’s a reason New York City’s Magnolia Bakery is world-renowned. Its rich banana pudding is one of my favorite sweets to indulge in when I’m in Manhattan. The classic recipe layers fresh bananas and vanilla wafers with creamy vanilla pudding for an indulgent treat. Better yet, it comes in two party-ready sizes: a small bowl that serves up to eight people and a large one that serves up to 20. No matter which option you choose, this is a delicious excuse to skip making dessert from scratch. Associate testing writer Maxwell Shukuya confessed to helping himself to seconds and thirds when he first tried the famous pudding.
If their drawers are full of those tiny gingham jars
Bonne Maman’s Made for You gift box is the definition of a sweet little treat. It comes with eight darling mini jars of preserves and honey, featuring flavors like apricot, fig, orange marmalade, raspberry, strawberry, cherry and wild blueberry. Packaged in a charming illustrated gift box, it’s a thoughtful gift for a host, neighbor or anyone who appreciates a well-stocked breakfast table.
Because s’mores shouldn’t be reserved for camping trips
You can’t go wrong with a campfire classic. Dandelion Chocolate’s kit comes with everything needed to build a seriously good s’more, including three varieties of ready-to-melt dark chocolate, pillowy house-made vanilla marshmallows and crisp, whole wheat graham crackers. All packaged in a reusable, ’70s-inspired kit, it’s a fun gift for anyone who loves a nostalgic treat.
For the friend who just went to Japan and yearns to go back
Bokksu’s Seasons of Japan box is a fun way to bring some Japanese culture back home with a curated assortment of Japanese snacks and treats inspired by the country’s four seasons. With the range of flavors and unique sweets, it’s a nice surprise for anyone who loves trying something new or has a soft spot for Japanese snacks (or just won’t stop telling you about their trip to Japan). Our outdoors editor Kai Burkhardt has raved about the variety and deliciousness of its contents.
Read our review
For the dairy queen in your life
For the friend who always has room for ice cream, Jeni’s bestsellers collection is a sweet way to stock their freezer. Jeni’s is, indeed, that good thanks to James Beard Award winner and founder Jeni Britton, who uses smooth buttercream sourced from family-owned dairy farms. This bundle comes with five pints of the brand’s most popular flavors: Brambleberry Crisp, Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Darkest Chocolate, Salted Peanut Butter and Salty Caramel. It’s a fun gift for anyone who loves sampling new flavors; our associate testing writer Maxwell Shukuya even said this ice cream is at the top of his list.
There’s a reason people say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. But shopping for someone who takes their eating seriously requires a little more effort than grabbing the first box of chocolates you see at Target. You wouldn’t want to gift a peanut brittle basket to someone who hates peanut butter, for example.
Start by thinking back to meals you’ve shared, their dietary restrictions and their eating habits. Is your foodie friend still raving about the sardines they had in Portugal? Do they have a sweet tooth or prefer savory snacks? Are they the type to splurge on specialty olive oil or get excited about a proper New York steak? Do they have a Yelp or Beli account you can secretly stalk? A gift that taps into their particular food hyperfixation will feel much more personal than a generic basket of treats.
Now, for the important logistics: If you’re shipping food, check whether it needs to be refrigerated, frozen or eaten within a certain time frame. Make sure your friend or family member will be home to accept the delivery, especially if you’re sending something perishable. When in doubt, shelf-stable treats like specialty condiments or tinned fish are great options.
At the end of the day, a true foodie is often adventurous enough to try a new snack or discover an unexpected flavor. After all, the best food gifts aren’t just delicious. They’re the ones that leave a lasting impression.
CNN Underscored’s editors carefully curate each gift guide to include a selection of products tailored to the person you’re shopping for. Gift ideas in this guide include products hand-tested by our team, foolproof presents we’ve given (or have been given) ourselves, new products from our favorite brands and trending items taking over our social feeds. Our aim is to inspire you to gift creatively by presenting you with gifts you may not have seen or considered (but if you’re seeing some repeat products in our guides, it probably just means we really love them).
For this guide, CNN Underscored associate testing writer Carolina Gazal scrolled through her saved Instagram reels and favorite food memories to assemble a mouthwatering list of gifts for foodies. She tapped into her own favorite snacks in addition to asking CNN Underscored foodies for their most memorable treats.
