Bumblebeez started a "Christmas Gift Ideas" thread that may be helpful...click on the link :O)

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas Gift Ideas thread

Thanks for that.

Cheryl,
I've found that treats that can be frozen are most appreciated. It seems that everyone has an overabundance of goodies at that time of year, and something that can be saved for later is a true gift!
Alternately, I have given gift certificates, saying something like "Merry Christmas! On Jan. 20th of 2010 there will be a loaf of fresh home-baked bread delivered to your home. Christmas lasts all year long!"
This is less stressful for me (all the baking doesn't happen at once) and the recipient has something to look forward to and doesn't have to cope with yet another dozen cookies at Christmastime.

For a bunch of years I made candles. I had several piller molds and for a month or so every November there always was a candle or 2 cooking in a water bath in the sink!

Along the lines of what marlin said, I would most like to receive a mix in a jar. It looks pretty if you layer the ingredients, and on a busy night, a jar with a note that says "add half a stick of melted butter and a cup of water" or whatever looks a lot less overwhelming than finding and printing a recipe and starting from scratch.

Sooz-thanks for that link. Good ideas there.

Cheryl-
I make a bundle of goodies for all my kids' teachers (32 this year!). The buckeyes and the decadent chocolate-covered homemade marshmallows are usually the biggest hits, followed by homemade peppermint patties. These are all very easy to make, but tedious...BUT SOOOO worth the effort. I also usually add something savory, like a cheddar cookie or scone, or spiced pecans. Good luck!

Probably my favorite homemade gift a couple of years ago was something inedible -- cross-point bookmarks. But for edibles, I like to get savory things. I love sweets, but I don't need them and there is alaways so much sweet food that time of year that I welcome cheese straws (or wafers), spiced nuts, and homemade pickles.

But there is one sweet food I love to receive because they don't have to be eaten right away: I loooove getting jellies and jams!

If money is tight, why not make some frozen bread dough for gifts. Just make the dough, wrap then freeze. Make a label for list of ingredients, instructions for thawing and baking. This is particularly good for those who don't know how to make bread (or not able to). They can thaw the dough out in the fridge overnight and bake it first thing in the morning. Dough can be made into rolls, boules, braids, wreaths, and sandwich loaves. I bet your friends and families will love you for that.

I also vote for the jellies. So many are very pretty, especially the hot pepper ones. I also like the bake it yourself cookies. I bookmarked this one from Bakerella.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/