If your house is anything like mine, the last thing you need this time of year is another trinket to dust or one more mug squeezing its way into an already-full cabinet. So this Christmas, we’re keeping it simple, cozy, and actually useful. I’ve been putting together what I’m calling Holiday Homesteading Baskets, a thrifted basket lined with tissue paper and filled with easy, homemade consumable gifts that people will truly enjoy. Think simmer pots, caramel corn, cinnamon ornaments the kids made, homemade jam, and even a soft western tee from Prairie City Apparel.
I’ll be honest: I’m a total sucker for mason jars. There’s just something about the old-fashioned homestead aesthetic, the way they look lined up in a basket, tied with twine, holding something delicious, it’s like a hug from grandma’s kitchen in jar form. They make every little gift feel extra cozy and thoughtful, and I love that touch for my Holiday Homesteading Baskets.
Perfect for Pinterest holiday crafts, western Christmas ideas, and rustic handmade gifts your people will actually use.
10 Easy Handmade Consumable Gifts for a Western Christmas
1. Simmer Pot in a Jar (Oranges + Cinnamon Sticks)
Nothing says “cowgirl Christmas” like a cozy simmering stovetop. Layer dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise in a mason jar. Tie it with twine and tuck it into your basket for an instant ranch-house vibe.
2. Homemade Soy Candles
Clean-burning, rustic, and so easy to personalize. Use mason jars or thrifted glassware. Add warm, wintery scents like cedar, vanilla, or orange-spice to make a simple but beautiful gift.
3. Homemade Caramel Corn
This has become a family tradition, I’m not sure I’d be allowed at Christmas if I didn’t show up with some carmel corn. It's a sweet treat everyone reaches for (seriously, it’s addictive). Make a big batch, scoop it into kraft or clear treat bags, and tie with twine. Adds a fun, festive pop to your basket.
4. Applesauce Cinnamon Ornaments (Kid Craft)
These smell amazing and bring in that nostalgic, homemade charm. Plus, the kids love helping with these, win-win for busy ranch mamas.
5. Homemade Jam
When I make jam in the fall I purposefully make some in the quilted 4oz jars for Christmas gifting or an easy hostess gift during the holidays. Wrap the lid with a scrap of calico or plaid ribbon for that classic prairie touch.
6. Homemade Jerky Packs
A cowboy favorite every single time. Package homemade jerky in small kraft bags and add a cute western sticker. Perfect for ranch hands, husbands, and the guys who never know what they want.
7. Handmade Stenciled Dish Towels
Skip the baked goods this year and give something both charming and useful! Did you know you can use a stencil and acrylic paint to make a cute, one-of-a-kind dish towel? I still have one I made years ago, and it’s holding up beautifully. Fold it neatly or roll it and tie with twine to slip into your Holiday Homesteading Basket, it’s practical, rustic, and has that homemade touch that makes people smile.
8. DIY Hot Cocoa Mix
Layer cocoa powder, powdered milk, sugar, and mini marshmallows in a jar. Add a candy cane for stirring. It fills out a basket beautifully and feels cozy and classic and the kids will be sure to love it.
9. Wax Fire Starters
Easy, practical, and perfect for cozy winter nights by the fire. Use muffin tins to hold homemade wax fire starters, simply melt leftover candle wax, mix with sawdust or dryer lint, add some cute stick, moss, cinnamon sticks, or dire orange slices to make them look festive and smell delicious. Slip one into your basket for a gift that’s both charming and useful, adding that little “homestead hug” feeling to the whole collection.
10. Prairie City Apparel (Wear-All-Year Western Tees & Cozy Layers)
Not consumable, but definitely useful. A soft western graphic tee or cozy hoodie from Prairie City Apparel fits perfectly into a Holiday Homesteading Basket. Ranch mamas wear these all year long, layered for chores, dressed up for errands, paired with denim for rodeo weekends. It’s the kind of gift that never ends up in the back of the closet. Plus, she'll feel cute, confident, and like cowgirl every time she wears them! Shop our best sellers here!
Putting together these Holiday Homesteading Baskets has quickly become one of my favorite parts of the season. There’s something so sweet about gifting things made with your own two hands, simple treats and practical pieces that bring comfort without clutter. And I’ll say it again: mason jars make everything feel extra cozy and nostalgic, like a little hug from grandma herself. Whether you fill yours with simmer pots, homemade jam, caramel corn, kids’ ornaments, or a comfy Prairie City Apparel tee, these baskets are heartfelt in the most down-to-earth way. Here’s to a slower, simpler western Christmas… one handmade treasure at a time.