Coming from Italian immigrants with humble beginnings, I’m very familiar with Italian Christmas traditions and authentic Italian recipes. I’m an Italian foodie and home cook who would absolutely LOVE getting a basket made up of these Italian food gifts for Christmas.
It’s a lovely and ideal gift for an Italian foodie or anyone who likes Italian cuisine! After all, you did research and put forth effort to make this thoughtful gift.
So, make an Italian food gift basket for a Christmas gift to an Italian food lover this holiday season and make them happy. I’ll give you authentic products, many are made in Italy, for gift ideas that are a taste of Italy and Italian cuisine.
Many of these gift ideas are perfect for a special occasion so don’t limit all of them to Christmas gifts. Add a bottle of wine because that’s always a great addition.
You can make a wine and cheese basket or a desserts basket or an Italian kitchen basket with gourmet pasta, extra virgin olive oil, bread sticks, espresso and other great additions. There are so many delicious options with an Italian food gift basket.
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Here are some basket gift ideas:
- coffee and cookies
- pasta gift basket with oil, vinegar, olives, etc.
- Italian snacks- breadsticks, tarrali, cheese, olives
- wine and Italian cheese basket (of course!)
- Italian cheese and cured meats
Plus, you can buy the products online and then make them from the comfort of your own home while drinking a Christmas cocktail.
You can good Italian restaurant gift cards to your gift basket or, attach the gift card to a Panettone for a quick gift!
Italian Food Gifts for Christmas
Panettone
Panettone is a traditional cake that’s very popular to eat at Christmas-time. It’s a tall cake that’s ready-to-eat, and made with candied fruit. Bauli is popular and good-quality brand made in Italy.
This particular item has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Additionally, it doesn’t contain genetically modified ingredients or hydrogenated fats. It makes the perfect Italian gift to put in a homemade holiday basket or to give as a single gift.
Pandoro
Pandoro is also a traditional cake that’s very popular to eat at Christmas-time. This tall, eight-pointed star cake is dusted with powdered sugar and ready-to-eat. It doesn’t contain dried fruit like Panetonne. There are no chemicals, additives, or preservatives added.
Fabbri Italian Panettone Bread Cake with Limoncello Cream & Candied Lemon Peels is a delicious dessert that’s imported from Italy and perfect for a holiday gift basket because it is the ultimate festive cake, with a hint of limoncello and lemon peels that are baked into the sweet dough.
Italian Coffee, Cookie and Chocolate Gift Basket
A coffee and cookie gift basket is perfect for the coffee lover with a sweet tooth.
Made in Italy, Illy espresso is one of the most popular Italian brands in Italy. Use this dark roast, ground Italian coffee to make great-tasting espresso or drinks containing espresso.
Consider adding a Moka machine to your gift basket. Used it on a stovetop. Made in Italy, it’s a budget-friendly way to make espresso at home. Also, a milk frother is a good addition to the basket so whoever you give it to can make cappuccinos and lattes as well.
Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Coffee Blend is a premium quality, light to medium roast that’s mild and creamy. It too is perfect your morning cappuccino!
La Dolce Vita Classic Italian Almond Biscotti are perfect for dipping in coffee and therefore perfect for your coffee and cookie basket. These cookies are delicious when you don’t have time to make them from scratch.
Italian Rainbow Cookies are perfect to put in an Italian gift basket. Three colorful thin slices of almond cake separated by raspberry jelly and finished in a silky dark chocolate are delicious and taste perfect with coffee.
Amaretti Del Chiostro Di Saronno Authentic Italian Amaretti Cookies that are crunchy cookies that are great for dipping in coffee or tea. They’re gluten-free cookies and come in a red tin perfect for Christmas gifts.
Perugina Baci are a popular Italian traditional chocolate made with fine Italian dark chocolates filled with a chocolate-hazelnut cream center and a whole hazelnut.
What would an Italian gift basket be without Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread? Dip breadsticks or pretzel sticks in it or spread on waffles or bread. There’s no questioning it’s popularity in the U.S. I grew up on it.
Handcrafted and hand-painted Vietri ceramic bottles filled with the Italian Limoncello of Sorrento that’s made in Italy is the perfect choice for an Italian gift basket. After the Limoncello is consumed, you’re left with a cute ceramic bottle and shot glasses to reuse!
This organic extra virgin olive oil is made in Puglia, Italy where the olives are harvested and crushed the same day to capture the freshness. It’s a wonderful dipping olive oil.
Made in Italy, this aged balsamic vinegar of Modena is dense, fragrant and aged for three years in antique wooden cask. It’s a traditional balsamic vinegar for salads and cooking.
Taralli crackers are like Italian breadsticks that have been twisted into a round shape. These Italian snacks originate from Puglia, with a classic recipe that includes simple, natural ingredients like wine, olive oil, salt and flour. Tarrali are the best crunchy snacks from Italy. They taste great with wine and cheese! I have a homemade recipe for tarrali.
Made in Italy from the island of Sardinia, these Tuscanini Parchment Crackers are great for snacking or eating with cheese. They’re baked, not fried.
Flora Foods Italian Olives Cerignola with Pits are handpicked from Italy and left intact with their pits for a truly traditional experience.
If you’re wondering why I didn’t include any jarred tomato sauce in the list, it’s because true Italians will not use it and frown upon it. We make our own homemade tomato sauce or gravy.
Include some homemade Italian Anise cookies too!
Don’t forget the clear cellophane roll to wrap the baskets or use the basket bags.
Making a gift basket or buying some of these Italian food gifts is a great way to give the taste of Italy to anyone who appreciates the Italian cuisine and its rich culture.
Therefore, use this gift guide this holiday season to make beautiful gourmet gift baskets with authentic Italian gifts for your friends who love Italian food. Consequently, it’s a wonderful gift.
See all of my Italian and Italian inspired recipes!
Merry Christmas!
