10 Ways To Say Thank You With Food

Showing gratitude is a manners must, especially this time of year. Whether you're saying thanks for a physical gift, rewarding love and support, or just want to recognize someone's hard work (like when your friends helped you move your furniture from one place to the next), you need to show your appreciation in a significant way.

Sure, you could give the gift-giver verbal thanks, a handwritten note, an email, or even a shout-out on social media, but it's so much nicer to personalize your gratitude.

Cheers to a bubbly cocktail! A bottle of Champagne or wine is a welcome gift for many people. Make sure you include a note explaining why you specifically chose this bottle for them.

If the person you're thanking has a sweet tooth, consider brownies or cookies. You could send gourmet versions or make some on your own. 

Want to thank a caffeine lover? Give him or her a coffee store gift card, or present a bag of ground coffee or a box of tea bags. Better yet, subscribe the recipient to a coffee- or tea-of-the-month club. Subscriptions vary but typically are available for three-month, six-month or yearlong packages.

If you really want to dazzle a loved one, you could hire a personal chef to cook the recipient's favorite meal. Find a chef online or through referrals. You can also find a chef in your area by checking the American Personal & Private Chef Association's website. Or, if that is too lavish, show up at your loved one's home with a bag of groceries and cook a meal yourself. Just be sure to clean up afterwards!

"There is a reason the casserole never went away," says chef Tarver, who notes that casseroles can be elegant or old-fashioned. "Casserole screams love and comfort, especially if it is homemade." Tarver encourages gift givers to dedicate a day to make casseroles in disposable pans to freeze and later give away. "When you need a last-minute thank-you, pull one out of the freezer, throw together a quick salad, and buy a baguette, and you have an elaborate, yet easy, thank you," she says.

Share your garden's abundance with friends and family. Spend time making your favorite homemade jam creations and then gift them as thank-you gestures as needed. Some jam ideas you'll be sweet on? Check out our faves! 

Impress your family and friends with thank-you gifts of homemade fudge. This recipe for famous four-chip fudge serves 24, but it's so good, you may need to make a double batch.

If you want to impress or thank a beer drinker, enroll him or her in a craft-beer-of-the-month club. A sampling of beers every month or every few months is a great way to introduce your gift recipient to different beer flavors.

Gift baskets of fruit and snacks are classics for a reason: they're pleasant to look at and even better to eat. While they're available in many styles and at many prices, you could just simply craft one yourself! That way you can perfectly tailor it to your recipient's tastes. 

Get spicy! Say "gracias" by giving a zesty gift of hot sauce or gourmet spices. While this thank-you idea may be too potent for many people, those with a taste for hot foods will enjoy your gesture of gratitude.