25 Creative Non-Treat Neighbor Christmas Gifts

Spread cheer this Christmas with these healthy, inexpensive, and creative gifts for your friends and neighbors!

Sometimes, the best gifts are simple, thoughtful, and clutter-free. We’ve compiled a list of some outside-the-box ideas for delighting the people you care about this season. Find the one that’s just right for the people on your “nice list!”

Homemade spice blends from Super Healthy Kids.

(Image credit: Keeper of the Home)

Mix up a batch of taco, marinara, or ranch spice blend to share with a neighbor.  If you have a favorite recipe using these blends, add it too.

Bowl of fruit

Do you have a mountain of mandarins or a gazillion grapefruit  growing on your tree?  Even if you don’t, you can buy some in-season fruit to share and include a note wishing your neighbors a healthy and happy holiday.

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Cookie ingredients, recipe, and cookie cutter

Using Super Healthy Kids whole wheat gingerbread cookie recipe as an example, into a gift bag, you can add a storage bag with the brown sugar, another storage bag with all of the other dry ingredients, a cookie cutter, and the recipe to lead to baking fun.  Or you can make the cookies to hand out to your neighbors.

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Paper plates from How Does She

Yep, paper plates, along with a note saying, “Don’t let your dishes pile up this busy holiday season. Let our family ‘do the dishes’ this week! Merry Christmas!” are a simple and thoughtful gift.

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Pancake Mix from Skip to my Lou

Purchase a container of your favorite pancake mix- or you can use this homemade pancake mix recipe and include a note saying, “We’re “pouring out” Christmas wishes and hoping you have a Christmas to “flip” over.

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Birdseed ornament by ChaChing on a Shoestring

Make birdseed ornaments, put them in a mason jar or storage bag, and attach a cardinal gift tag to give your neighbor’s lovely bird visitors.

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Measuring cups or spoons.  Most people can use a few more measuring cups or spoons, especially at holiday time.  Attach a note saying, “Wishing you joy beyond measure.”

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Tape on a magnet from How Does She

Tape rolls constantly disappear at my house, especially during the holidays.  Help your neighbor find his tape anytime he needs it with tape on a magnet.  Adhere a magnet to a roll of tape with the message, “Christmas time is always a rush, with so much to do and no time to hush. We hope this tape on the fridge in full site will keep you from the store one more night.”

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Peppermint Bath Bombs by Super Healthy Kids

Give the gift of a soothing bath over holiday break!

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Hand Soap from All Things Thrifty

Give your neighbors the gift of a germ-free Christmas! You can never have enough backup hand soap, right? And don’t forget the cute tag that says “Just soap’n you have a Merry Christmas”.

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Muffin mix from Super Healthy Kids

Give 2 1/3 cup master muffin mix as well as instructions for how to make the muffins with additional mix-ins, along with a note saying, “You’re getting MUFFIN for Christmas.”  If you prefer, you can bake muffins instead and use the same note.

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Gingerbread Playdough Kit from The Idea Room

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This playdough is so soft and smells heavenly! Best of all, it’s packaged dry so your recipient can mix it up whenever they want it.

Popcorn

Give a bag of microwave popcorn or a container of popcorn kernels with a note saying, “Just poppin’ by to with you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

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Bread

Make mini or regular sized loaves of your favorite bread to share Christmas joy.  Eat Sleep Make has an adorable printable for you to attach, and Super Healthy Kids has several bread recipes to pick from, such as banana pecan bread, pumpkin cranberry bread, and more.  Six Sister Stuff has two great gift tag suggestions.  One is “Any way you “slice” it, you’re sweet neighbors.”  Another is “You have always been there when you were “kneaded.”

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Gingerbread sugar scrub cubes from A Pumpkin and a Princess.

 

These sweet gingerbread sugar scrub cubes could be given with a note wishing your neighbors a relaxing holiday season.

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Peppermint sugar scrub from A Pumpkin and a Princess.

This sugar scrub has a beautiful layered presentation, and again, it could be given with a note wishing your neighbors a relaxing holiday season.

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Potted herb from Positively Splendid

Herbs smell amazing and are a practical gift that can be used in cooking.  Attach a note saying, “Wishing you a flavorful holiday season.”

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Blanket from Jacolyn Murphy

The holidays can be stressful- and cold!! Who wouldn’t love a cozy new blanket to snuggle up with on winter nights? Add a cute tag that says “Just settle down for a long winter’s nap!” or “To All a Good Night”.

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DIY Snowman Kit from Inspiration Made Simple

How fun is this? Not only is it an adorable gift packed into a cellophane bag or little tin- but it has the bonus of being a great activity for the whole family! If you live somewhere that doesn’t get snow- try making a mini version with a container of white play dough! This gift is sure to be a hit with any family with younger children.

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Lemonade from All Things Thrifty

Need a quick, last minute gift? This is perfect. Add a tag that says ‘You’re Simply the Best!’ and you’re good to go!

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Printable Card Games from Making the World Cuter

We made this for our friends last year and it was a huge hit! Everyone is looking to spend more time with their families and friends during the holidays, and this was the perfect way to help them do that.

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Trail mix from Super Healthy Kids

Make a trail mix, and throw in some whole wheat Chex.  Then add a label as follows:  Santa “Chex” his list twice so be comforted that as a neighbor you have been extra nice!

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Bananas

Here is another healthy treat to share with your neighbors.  Give them a bunch of bananas with a note saying, “You are the best BUNCH of neighbors.”

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Root ‘Deer’ Floats from Thirty Handmade Days

So simple and fun- this gift is a real showstopper! Fun for kids- but I know a lot of adults that would go nuts for this.

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Christmas potpourri from Twelve on Main

Help your neighbors have a house that smells of Christmas with this scent-sational Christmas gift.

Whether you choose one of the ideas listed above or a simple but meaningful note wishing your neighbors the happiest of holidays, taking the time to celebrate and bring joy to your neighbors and friends is a way to share and spread holiday cheer.