Easy Semi-Homemade Gifts to Give This Year (2024)

Easy semi-homemade gift ideas to give this year including a favorite that I make every year. Christmas stovetop potpourri in jars is so pretty and colorful, making the whole house smell good! It’s as easy to put a few together as it is to open the jar, slice the orange, and toss the rest of the jar into a simmer pot or saucepan over low heat. Your house will smell soooo Christmassy! The aroma will put you in the holiday mood for sure.

These are perfect DIY gift ideas to give to a few friends and neighbors. And while you’re at it, make a few for yourself, too, so that you’ll have them on hand when you want your house to smell so delicious. Delicious is seriously the best way I can describe it! I store a few in the refrigerator and use them when people are coming over or when I just want to enjoy it myself. The blend of citrus, cinnamon, and all the spices is simply delightful.

Here’s what you need for the stove top potpourri recipe for an easy semi-homemade Christmas gift

​The potpourri ingredients:

• Twine or ribbon to tie around the jars (and maybe a gift tag too)
• Clean glass jars with a lid (large enough to fit in a small orange or tangerine)
• A bag of fresh cranberries
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• Star Anise
• Cardamom Pods
• Oranges (small enough to fit in the jar)

Instructions for easy homemade Christmas potpourri recipe

I like to use the taller Le Parfait Glass Jam Jars from The Container Store. I did swap out the lids for the red checked Bon Maman jam jars. Mason jars will also work.

To the jar, simply add one orange (or tangerine), a few cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and cardamom pods. Put the lid on and wrap a few layers of twine or ribbon around the bottom of the lid.

Prep time takes about 5 minutes and total time is not more than 10 or 15 minutes.

Here’s how to use the stovetop potpourri recipe

• Pour two to three cups of water into a medium sauce pan.
• Cut some orange slices or cut them into quarters and add them to the pan with water.
• Pour the rest of the jar into the water.
• Heat the water on medium high until it’s hot. Then turn to low and let it simmer.

Note: After a while, the water evaporates so you’ll need to add water throughout the day.

Can I substitute for any of the ingredients?

You can customize the ingredients you add to the jars based on the scents you like best. You could use lemons, grapefruit, or other citrus fruits instead of oranges. You may prefer apples too. Whole allspice or whole nutmeg would also work. You could try a sprig or two of pine branches or some fresh rosemary sprigs (or other herbs) or a piece of fresh ginger as well. You could even add some bay leaves. A vanilla bean or two might also be nice.

Easy semi-homemade gifts to give this year also include Tea & Shortbread boxes

This makes a nice holiday gift or a gift for any other time of year. It’s also a great little package to send to someone who is under the weather or for a “just a thinking of you” package!

My daughter and I love hot cinnamon tea and this one is so similar to the tea we have at the Carlyle. This year we went for tea on Madeline’s birthday and we both ordered cinnamon spice tea just like every single time! Even in the summer! Of course, I will be giving Madeline a tin of tea in her stocking.

I love to drink tea from a proper cup. You could certainly include a mug (there are so many fun monogrammed mug options), but I like a porcelain cup for drinking tea and these are from Williams Sonoma.

Of course, I had to include a little jar (or two) of honey and some homemade shortbread cookies wrapped up with bakers twine. A small box of Walker’s Shortbread would work too!

Here’s another post for a semi-homemade gift.

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