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Look closely at my parents’ Christmas tree and you’ll notice that, in addition to many snowflakes and reindeer, their ornament collection is absolutely stacked with food ornaments. I don’t mean on-theme candy cane and Christmas cookie ornaments, though certainly they have those as well. We’re talking tiny glass hot sauce bottles, sparkly cloves of garlic, miniature plastic margaritas, and even a delicate caprese salad on a string.
My mother loves a Christmas tree ornament that commemorates a moment—she’s the type to find the perfect bauble as a souvenir from every trip—and because our family is pretty food-focused, most events have an edible aspect that can be memorialized forever in the form of a Christmas decoration. The year I thought putting Sriracha on everything was an identity, I found a mini bottle ornament in my stocking. My sister, whose love of brussels sprouts blossomed when she went to college and started cooking for herself, soon found a tiny brassica under the tree. And after my now fiancé came home with me to visit my parents for the first time and sweetly made us all breakfast, my mom sent him a small blown-glass stack of pancakes to hang from our wimpy bodega fir. Every major and minor event is catalogued this way, which makes decorating the tree each year a memorable and often hunger-inducing experience.
Even if you’re not at a place to overhaul your entire ornament collection to more closely resemble your go-to take-out order, food Christmas ornaments make great gifts if you’re looking for something last-minute, or for a cute little addition to a larger gift. They’re retro and endearing in a slightly kitschy way. Celebrate a friend’s signature drink or a family member’s favorite treat with a decoration they can pull out year after year, letting everyone who checks out their tree know exactly what matters most.
Breakfast foods
The most important meal of the day deserves some representation on your tree in the form of a glass Christmas ornament. Of course, you can with something classic like a stack of pancakes, or an ode to their takeaway coffee obsession. But it's fun to go super specific, like a glittery avocado toast (topped with everything but the bagel seasoning, obviously) for your favorite avocado-aficionado.
Comfort favorites
The dishes that always hit the spot, now super small and without an expiration date. Gift them to a friend or sibling who recently moved away from home and could use some familiarity during the holiday season.
Farmers market finds
Little (fake) fruits and vegetables make particularly festive decorations. Compile a small ornament set for the couple that goes to the farmers market every weekend, or for your roommate who insists on dragging you out of bed every Sunday in the spring to grab some fresh strawberries.
Pantry staples
You always have them on hand, so shouldn’t your tree? Pick the item your loved one always keeps around—maybe their fridge isn't really stocked unless it contains a jar of pickles. Maybe a love of tinned fish is their entire personality. Or maybe their oats get a scoop of peanut butter every morning, without fail.
Bar fare and apertivo
It's five o'clock somewhere…and that somewhere is on your Christmas tree. Get in the happy hour spirit with some drink ornaments—seasonal or not—along with the bar snacks you always enjoy while sipping.
Sweet corner
Perhaps the best food ornaments are the ones that hint at the sweetness of the holiday season. (Free tip: The only way to make these sweet trinkets better gifts would be to pair them with the real baked goods that inspired them.)
Favorite tools
Is there anything better than a tiny Instant Pot on a string? Only a full-size Instant Pot that makes you beans in 20 minutes.
Fun snacks
Make sure to treat your Christmas tree like your pantry. That is, stocked with your favorite snacks at all times.
