What makes a house smell inviting? Cookies and bread fresh from the oven. Aromatic spices. A stew in the crockpot.

Since we can’t always make and take these gifts to friends and family, I’ve culled some ideas for Hanukkah gifts that will carry with them the warmth and love you feel toward them. If your kids are four and up, they can help with the recipes. Or have them make gift cards and decorations for the jars. They’ll be proud and feel a part of the project.

Pumpkin pie spice 

I already know who is getting my first jar of Pumpkin Pie Spice! Bring the kids into this project, too. They can help you measure these beautiful spices: cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and ground cloves. Maria, creator of this recipe, had me at hello - “You only need 5 minutes and 5 spices.” Yup, I’m in.

She suggests using this to flavor fall pies, breads, cookies, and cakes, as well as yogurt, lattes, oatmeal (wow - would never have thought of that!) or roasted fall veggies. The photos with the recipe show how easy it is.

Hot chocolate mix

Then there’s the ever-popular hot chocolate mix. (Save some to share with the kids, of course!) This Martha Stewart recipe calls for sugar, cocoa, and salt. The giftee adds the whole milk. As Martha reminds us, this version is delicious, natural, and less expensive than store-bought mixes.

Sand art brownie mix

Need another chocolate recipe? Who doesn’t?  How about this Sand Art Brownie Mix? The drama here is in creating layers of white and dark: flour, salt, sugar alternates with brown sugar, cocoa, and vanilla and semisweet chocolate chips. (For our little ones, I’d leave out the chopped pecans.)

Pancake mix

And how about a pancake mix with quick-cooking oats, flour, wheat flour, brown sugar, dry milk powder, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and cream of tartar. The recipient just needs to add eggs, oil, and water.

Chocolate-dipped pretzel rods

We featured chocolate-dipped pretzel rods in a post a few years ago as an element in an edible menorah. This time, we recommend them as a gift, packaged in cellophane bags or tall glass jars. And make sure if your children are helping that they are old enough not to get burned.  This recipe calls for almonds, caramels, pretzel rods, white and dark chocolate chips, and sprinkles for added pizzazz.

Check out our Hanukkah Pinterest Board for tons of ideas! 

Hanukkah Shopping - Hanukkah Bingo Game

A family favorite since we first introduced it, Hanukkah Bingo is fun for parents, grandparents, and children 2 and up! It’s the feel-good game that brings everyone together. Gloss-coated for durability, it makes a perfect Hanukkah gift.

You also learn what all the symbols mean. And, because it doesn’t require reading, pre-readers can beat Dad. Now when does that happen? It is also a fast game, so you can play lots of rounds - and have many winners.

It earned the “TTT” (Top Tips and Trusted) designation from www.toytips.com with an A rating in all categories: movement, thinking, personality, social interaction - and fun!

Click here to see what else we have for your Hanukkah celebration.