What do you buy for the person who has everything? How do you buy holiday gifts for everyone on your list when you're on a tight budget? What kind of gift can you make yourself to show off and share your creative craftiness? I've got just the thing...

Here are my top ten ideas for sweet homemade gifts that you can make yourself without lots of cash or time on your hands. These ideas range from less than 30 minutes to a few hours to make, and you should easily be able to find all ingredients at your local grocery store.

Package these goodies in holiday cellophane bags (you can buy them just about anywhere nowadays, even the dollar store), or cookie tins. I love the tins with the see-through window lids! And don't forget to use wax paper or parchment paper to line the tins first. Add some holiday ribbon or trim to top off your packaging and you have a heartfelt gift that's ready for giving!

1. Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

These pretzel rods are fun to make because you can use so many different types of candies, nuts and toppings to decorate them with. Dip the pretzel rods in chocolate and then decorate to your heart's content and then allow to set on a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet. I like to stick mine in the fridge to speed up the process. And don't think you're only limited to chocolate. How about dipping them into hot caramel? Yum!

2. Homemade Fudge

The fudge my mother and sister made while I was growing up was creamy, dreamy, and always made over the holiday season. Making a pan of her famous fudge was certainly a Christmas tradition in our home, and you can find her recipe here.

Fudge also makes great holiday gifts for the sweets lovers in your life. I've found it best to make the fudge a few days ahead of time if you are going to package it as gifts. This way, it can dry out a bit and won't be too soft. Do this and it will be easier to wrap and will look more presentable. Wrap different flavors of fudge in separate packaging so that the flavors are not corrupted.

3. Pretzel Santa Hats

If you're the artistic type who has an eye for detail then you'll have fun making these cute Pretzel Santa Hats. All you need are a bag of mini pretzels, a bag of mini marshmellows, white chocolate candy melts, and red holiday sugar.

Assemble your ingredients at your workstation so you have everything on hand and then get to work! Dip half of the pretzel into the melted white chocolate candy melts and then gently dip into red holiday sugar. Then dip the bottom of a mini marshmellow into the candy melts and attach to your Santa hat. Allow to set. These will look great scattered amongst your holiday cookie tray!

4. Homemade Biscotti

Baking homemade biscotti - it's a lot easier than you might think!

Homemade biscotti is GREAT for giving as a gift! It looks so pretty packaged in cellophane bags and tied off with a ribbon. Add a gift tag and a package of your favorite coffee or tea, and you will have a thoughtful gift for your favorite coffee lover or cookie connoisseur. Here's the recipe for my favorite biscotti!

5. Chocolate-dipped peppermint candy canes

It doesn't get any easier than this, folks! Quick and inexpensive but with a pretty presentation, your friends will love these special treats. Dip peppermint sticks in any type of chocolate - white, dark, or milk, and decorate with a drizzle of a contrasting colored chocolate, or add some holiday sprinkles for an even more festive look. Double or triple dip them and you basically have peppermint bark on the stick!

6. Homemade Turtles Candy

These Homemade Turtles Candies are three-ingredient wonders! All you need is a bag of pretzel squares, a bag of pecans, and a bag of Rolo chocolate covered caramel candies. To make, assemble pretzels on a cookie sheet and top each pretzel with and unwrapped Rolo candy. Bake just enough to warm the candies so that they get gooey - about 5 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit or until soft. Remove the pan from the oven and gently press a pecan into the top of each one and then allow to cool. That's it! Now wouldn't these look pretty gifted in a holiday tin with a window lid?

7. Holiday Thin Mints

These Homemade Holiday Thin Mints Cookies are so fun and easy to make and they taste just like the famous girl scout version but with a holiday twist. These are a great project to do with older kids (think tweens & up!) Get the directions for how to make them here.

8. Chocolate Pretzel Wreaths

Aren't these pretzel wreaths just lovely? Made by Simone at

S-Küche, you can find her directions for how to make them here!

9. Hot Chocolate Bombs

You didn't think I'd forget these did you? Hot Chocolate Bombs are HOT right now and with a little practice you can learn how to make them too. Liz from Sugar Geek Show made the ones in the photo above and guess what? She shows you on her blog how to make them with step-by-step detailed directions and beautiful photos.

10. Dark Chocolate Detox Bites

Do you have a health-conscious friend? Then they will love these Dark Chocolate Detox Bites that are encrusted with nuts and berries. Created by Sue at The View From Great Island, she shows you how to make them with directions and beautiful photos on her blog.

If you try any of these at home be sure to stop back and leave a comment and let us know how they turned out for you! What kinds of special homemade sweets gifts do you like to make at home?

Which is your favorite?

Pin this post!