This is for the people who measure love in sprinkles, judge holidays by cookie count, and believe dessert should arrive at the party looking like it owns the place. When you gift sweets, you’re not just handing over sugar; you’re offering a little slice of holiday magic.
Your Holiday Sweets & Treats Guide: Because Sugar Is a Love Language
A curated roundup of the season’s best treats, from artisanal panettone to iconic cookies and holiday ice cream, all chosen for the people who understand joy by the bite.
Credit: Marisa Lynch
Eataly Dolci Heaven Gift Box
Think of this as the Italian answer to “aww honey, you baked,” only nothing here risks staying in the oven a minute too long. Eataly’s box pulls together classics like truffles and amaretti, all packaged with the kind of presentation that says, I got you the good stuff. It’s an easy all-in-one gift for the person who swears they “don’t do dessert” (but secretly will).
Levain Holiday Cookie Tin Gift Set
For the “I’ll just have one” types, that is not going to happen. You may want to order multiples. Levain Bakery’s signature gooey, gargantuan, ridiculously delicious cookies arrive in a tin you’ll want to keep long after the holidays. The assortment includes the seasonal Dark Chocolate Peppermint along with originals like Chocolate Chip Walnut and Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip. Enough said.
Bona Furtuna Double Chocolate & Malvasia Panettone
Elevate anyone’s holiday game with this luxe panettone from Bona Furtuna, which blends rich chocolate and sweet Italian wine (Malvasia) with the craftsmanship of a traditionally fermented Italian cake. This gift says I found something artisan that tastes incredible and I’m also trying to show off a little. It is perfect for the person in your life who could use a bit of buttering up.
Jyan Isaac Panettone
For your West Coast friends you forgot to order a gift for in time to ship, the handcrafted, naturally leavened panettone from Jyan Isaac Bread is both a last-minute win and a feel-good story. During the pandemic, 19-year-old Isaac started baking sourdough in his parents’ kitchen, and by 2022 he was producing 5,000 loaves plus bagels each week. Gifting this panettone means you are not just handing over cake; you are handing over proof that great bread can rise out of chaos and a kid with a starter and a dream. (for Los Angeles local pick up only!)
Jeni’s Splendid Holiday Collection
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream this holiday, especially when the flavors include Boozy Eggnog and Cranberry Panettone with chocolate sprinkles. Jeni’s ice cream is a mini celebration in a pint. The Splendid Holiday Collection also includes Dulce de Leche, White Chocolate Peppermint, and Pistachio Macaron, creating a full holiday lineup of pure scrumptiousness. It is perfect for the person you want to tell, “I'll stop the world and melt with you.”
Marianna Fierro Cannoli Plates
Not edible, but the perfect meta dessert gift. These beautiful 6-inch white ceramic plates feature original cannoli artwork by LA-based designer and illustrator Marianna Fierro. They are dishwasher safe, and each purchase supports meal donations. For the food lover who has everything, pair them with a box of actual cannoli (maybe from the next item down) and you have a gift that checks both the stylish décor and delicious treat boxes.
Ferrara Bakery Little Italy Dessert Pack
From the legendary 1892 family-owned bakery in NYC’s Little Italy, this sampler delivers classic Italian sweets like hand-filled mini cannolis with sweet ricotta cream, chocolate chips, and diced citron, as well as handmade rainbow cookies. Gift this and you are essentially offering a slice of La Dolce Vita or, for dramatic effect, “Leave the cannoli, take the cookies.”
Baked by Melissa Christmas Cupcake Gift Box – 25 Pack
Here is the one gift you can send to anyone, and smiles are almost guaranteed. From colleagues to in-laws, these mini seasonal cupcakes, with flavors like Snowcap, Christmas Sugar Cookie, and Vanilla Fluff, arrive in hand-illustrated holiday packaging from Baked by Melissa and deliver festive cheer without the sugar-coma guilt trip.
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