Food & drink gifts make some of the best options for the hard-to-buy-for, for hostess gifts, and for fellow foodies! The Harrisburg area is lucky to have some terrific options to choose from, and you should have no trouble selecting a few items from below for anyone on your list! Plus, doing so supports a small business — what could be better?
Want me to recommend a custom gift package for your friends/family? DM me!
Click below to find your gift
- Gift Guide: Food & Drink
- Calicutts Spice Co.
- Cocoa Creek Chocolates
- Raising the Bar Bakery
- Talking Breads
- Cornerstone Coffeehouse
- Spiked Cherries
- Lancaster Brewing Co.
- Tröegs Independent Brewing
- Ploughman Cider
- HOLLA Spirits
- D.G. Yuengling & Sons
- PRESS Seltzer
- Crook & Marker
- Flying Embers
- Wines ‘Til Sold Out
- WANT MORE GREAT GIFT IDEAS?
- CHECK OUT MY ENTIRE #SHOPLOCAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE AND MY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS LIST.
Gift Guide: Food & Drink
Calicutts Spice Co.
I’m a huge fan of Calicutts Spice Co. From ground spices to their proprietary blends, I have stacks of Calicutts’ spices in my cupboard. They are easily giftable, for established cooks and aspiring sous alike. I love to pair their Fire Salt with some heirloom kernels for popcorn lovers or one of their collections with a cookbook as go-to gifts.
This year, check out the new Americana Spice Blend Collection, which is perfect for any home cook in any season. The gift set includes Calicutts’ Sweet & Smoky BBQ, Honey Mustard, Fried Chicken, and Ranch seasonings.
Bonus: Save 15% on online purchases with code: SARA 15
Cocoa Creek Chocolates
Cocoa Creek Chocolates — located in both downtown Mechanicsburg and downtown Camp Hill — has all kinds of unique, handmade, beautiful, and delicious things for you to create your own dessert buffet or dessert charcuterie board. They even have a few boards made-up in store if you need to grab one on the go!
Cocoa Creek Chocolates has the most divine handmade chocolates and truffles — each with its own story — which makes them perfectly giftable, as well. Bonus, there are lots of vegan and gluten-free options!
Visit Cocoa Creek Chocolates at 18 South 18th St., Camp Hill, and at Brittle Bark Company at 50 West Main St.#B, Mechanicsburg.
Raising the Bar Bakery
One of my go-tos in the Broad Street Market, Raising the Bar makes fantastic cakes, cookies, pies, breads, and more. (I’m partial to their Whiskey Cake and Lemon Bars.) This holiday season, surprise your sweet with a gift card to Raising the Bar. If you’re hitting any parties or traveling for the season, a Raising the Bar Treat Box is the perfect hostess gift.
Shop Raising the Bar at the Broad Street Market and follow them on Instagram for delicious updates!
Talking Breads
Another fantastic area bakery is Talking Breads, located on W. Lisburn Road. This year, they are featuring a Brandied Fruit Cake for your holiday festivities and gift-giving! Plus, they offer Grazing Boards loaded with charcuterie, local cheeses, veggies, and fruit, plus pickled veggies and bread. These are ideal for gatherings of any size!
Visit Talking Breads at 1619 West Lisburn Road, Mechanicsburg, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook for updates!
Cornerstone Coffeehouse
I love Cornerstone Coffeehouse for so much more than the coffee (though that is on point, too!). This holiday season, make shopping a breeze with a variety of options. Choose from gift cards (physical cards available in-store, or order gift cards online and schedule delivery), plus other great items — while supplies last — including hand-dyed bleach tie-dyed sweatshirts, travel mugs, campfire mugs, tea advent calendars, holiday tea blends, holiday flavored coffees, and organic/fair trade coffees.
Visit Cornerstone Coffeehouse at 2133 Market St., Camp Hill and follow on Instagram and Facebook for updates!
Spiked Cherries
The ultimate (adult) stocking stuffer: Booze-soaked cherries! Spiked Cherries Original and Spiked Cherries Balls of Fire are the perfect treat, whether you’re snacking on them from the fridge door (or making a deconstructed chocolate-covered cherry, a la my husband) or using them in cocktails or desserts, these tasty little treats will delight anyone lucky enough to find them in their stocking.
Find Spiked Cherries anywhere beer is sold, including GIANT Food Stores.
Lancaster Brewing Co.
Give the amazing gift of craft beer and good food with a Lancaster Brewing Co. gift card this holiday season. Gift cards can be purchased easily online in nearly any denomination.
Plus, just in time for Black Friday, Lancaster Brewing Co.’s Winter Warmer is back. Here’s the word on this cold-weather seasonal: No silly spices here… Our Winter Warmer redefines the term full-bodied, with its monster malt bill, and extended cold aging, delivering deep, incredibly developed malt richness. British and American hops bring an even bitterness to the party and a 8.9% ABV, the jolly warming finish.
Visit Lancaster Brewing Co. Harrisburg at 469 Eisenhower Blvd, Harrisburg and follow on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Order gift cards online here.
Tröegs Independent Brewing
Any beer lover will flip for some sweet swag to go with The Most Wonderful Beer of the Year Variety Pack (recommended), and Tröegs Independent Brewing has some of the best, most original, and interesting beer-related merchandise around. This year’s shop is loaded with won’t-find-them-elsewhere designs from Art of Tröeg alum artists, including limited edition holiday ornaments by Jim Hauser, or Let’s Go to the Brewery can sleeves and stainless steel resort pint by Devin Watson. Pair this Mad Elf Buddies sweatshirt with a six by the same name, and your buddies will be happy this holiday.
Shop Tröegs General Store in-person at the brewery, 200 East Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, or online. Follow on Instagram for brewery exclusives and more.
Ploughman Cider
If you have a cider lover on your list, I have the perfect gift idea.
Ploughman Cider recently launched its Ploughshares Cider Club, which delivers delicious, farm-made cider direct to your door.
You can purchase a gift membership, or just select some ciders and swag from Ploughman’s online store.
Join Ploughshares here and shop online here.
HOLLA Spirits
Give the gift of spirits with Holla Spirits. The York-based vodka maker makes 13 flavors, from original to Peanut Butter, so you’re sure to find something for anyone on your list.
Upgrade your pal’s bar cart with a HOLLA trio — I recommend these holiday-ready flavors like PBV (maybe with some Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, below!), Cherry It!, and Amazement.
Custom 3-packs ship anywhere in Pennsylvania, as do any of HOLLA vodkas!
Shop HOLLA Spirits online here or shop individual HOLLA Spirits at Pennsylvania Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores.
D.G. Yuengling & Sons
One part Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, on part HOLLA Spirits PBV Peanut Butter Vodka = the perfect gift? I think so.
America’s Oldest Brewery and America’s most iconic chocolate company joined again to create Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, a limited-edition seasonal beer perfect for sweater weather. Yuengling’s Porter is a classic for good reason, as is Hershey’s chocolate, and this pairing is perfect. It marries perfectly with the porter’s existing chocolate notes with pleasing sweetness — without being cloying or dessert-like.
Grab a six-pack wherever beer is sold. Bonus points for pairing it with HOLLA’s PBV, which you can fine at Fine Wine & Good Spirit stores.
PRESS Seltzer
For the friend who truly adores spiked seltzers, please send her this upgrade. Matte white slim cans holds my favorite seltzer, PRESS Premium Alcohol Seltzer.
PRESS is my go-to seltzer brand (and I’m not the only one), and it’s sure to impress anyone on your list (even, perhaps, seltzer naysayers). Its interesting flavor combos and effervescence make these a pleasure to drink.
Find PRESS Premium Alcoholic Seltzer near you.
Crook & Marker
Crook & Marker offers a remarkable line of organic, gluten-free products made with “supergrain” alcohol, and my favorite of the bunch are these two ready-to-drink cocktails. The Paloma mimics the cocktail of the same name (tequila, grapefruit), and I would throw a dash of grapefruit bitters on top for a little something extra. The Cocolada will transport you to the beach with its blend of coconut and pineapple.
Gift these to BFF who loves cocktails but hates to make them. Or, simply serve them at your next holiday gathering. Don’t forget my #1 tip for elevating your hard seltzer.
Flying Embers
For your friend who’s always dabbling in the latest beverage trends, send ’em a case of Flying Embers, or stock your bar with some of these this year. I’m a fan of the Pineapple Chili Hard Kombucha (6.8% ABV), and you can add a splash of vodka and a few dashes of orange bitters to amp things up. The Wild Berry (4% ABV) goes well with a splash of rosemary simple syrup and some rye whiskey for a new take on a holiday cocktail. Psst – they make hard seltzers, too.
Find Flying Embers where beer is sold or order online.
Wines ‘Til Sold Out
Name something that looks better under the Christmas tree … Wines ‘Til Sold Out (or WTSO) is my go-to for wine shopping all year long, and their Holiday Collection is now open!
WTSO makes sending wine to friends and family (or yourself) easy — and affordable, with incredible deals on top wines. Friends always ask me if the wines are good — I’ve never been disappointed with anything I’ve received in more than five years as a customer. You can find a few of my holiday picks in my Thanksgiving wine pairing post — they will please all season long.
This Cyber Monday, log on for WTSO’s Cyber Magnum Monday Marathon. It runs 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, offering deals on 10-15 new bottles — red, white, and sparkling – every hour for 12 hours. All are large-format bottles (1.5L or 3L) — Perfect for gifting or special holiday gatherings. Shipping is FREE with all orders, regardless of price. All orders ship Monday, Dec. 6.
Bonus: Save $5 off your first order of $25 or more with code SARA5
WANT MORE GREAT GIFT IDEAS?
CHECK OUT MY ENTIRE #SHOPLOCAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE AND MY BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS LIST.
