This article originally appeared on Food52.com.

You’ve all heard the expression, “It’s the thought that counts.” It’s probably what you told yourself after a dinner guest brought Franzia as a house gift or your great aunt gave you socks for your birthday … again.

While we do our best to be grateful for every gift that comes our way, we want to give gifts that are more than plain old thoughtful. Instead, we want to give gifts that leave our loved ones in awe of our great culinary prowess. Gift-giving isn’t a competition, but if it were, these homemade treats would blow all of the other gifts out of the water.

We recommend that you save yourself phone calls from your friends and family and go ahead and include the recipe along with the present. Save a little something for yourself, too. You deserve a present for (almost) surviving the holiday season.

Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How

For the big kid:

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups by Carey Nershi

Reader support helps sustain our work. Donate today to keep our climate news free. All donations DOUBLED!

For the person who appreciates squash just as much as pumpkin: 

Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How

Homemade Winter Squash Butter by Sarah (The Yellow House)

For the friend who believes candy is a food group:

Homemade Candied Ginger by PhoebeLapine

For the person who sees toast as a vehicle for delicious spreads:

Roasted Apple Butter by Carey Nershi

For your nuttiest friend:

Homemade Nut Butters by Marissa McClellan

For the spice fiend: 

Almost Instant Chai by petitbleu

For the person who still thinks shrubs are just small trees:

Fresh Apple Shrub by Marissa McClellan

For your snappiest relative:

Whole Wheat, Triple-Ginger Ginger Snaps by Megan