Cheap Gourmet Food Gift Ideas

If you want to give a gourmet gift but not blow your whole budget, take a look at these ideas. Not every gourmet gift has to be as expensive as it looks. You can send something yummy for under $30. Your recipient will never guess how little it cost you and will absolutely love the surprise of opening a mouth-watering treat or gourmet gift basket.

Think about gourmet cheesecake as a gift. They come in so many flavors from original to marbled to chocolate or berry. You can order them online, but you can also find them in warehouse stores in the frozen aisle to bring to a friend’s house for a hostess gift. If you want to ship your gift, choose a company you know like All About Gifts & Baskets or Harry & David and you’re sure to get top quality products.  If you are sending them as a corporate gift to an office, consider getting the mini cheesecakes so that everyone can choose the flavor that they like best. 

Because you choose how many cookies to send, you can go to your local bakery or online to a popular site like Cookies by Design or Gourmet Cookie Bouquets and select a gift of cookies for under $30. There are so many tasty varieties to choose from that there’s sure to be something your recipient will love.

One of my favorite, unique cookie gifts are giant fortune cookies.  They are about the size of a football and come dipped in all kinds of delectable things like caramel or Belgian chocolate.  Inside, you can customize a foot long fortune with whatever message you'd like.  They are under $30 and will definitely leave a lasting impression!

Many companies will ship a fresh box of gourmet chocolate truffles for under $30. These melt in your mouth treats always appear more expensive than they actually are. And they taste heavenly. This is one gift most people don’t think to purchase for themselves, so it’s a nice indulgence.

In addition to truffles, you can often find chocolate gift baskets or towers overflowing with all kinds of delectable treats such as chocolate dipped oreos or pretzels, Ghirardelli chocolate squares, and gourmet hot cocoa. Things like chocolate covered cookies or giant fortune cookies dipped in rich Belgian chocolate usually cost around $20 (or $30 including ground shipping).

Keep in mind that chocolate will melt during the summer months unless it is shipping overnight air. Remember that air shipping can cost upwards of $50 even for a small package so if it is summer, opt for another gift that won't melt in the heat.

Popcorn is now all grown up. It’s not just the buttery, greasy-good treat that you love from the movies. Now gourmet popcorn comes in caramel and chocolate flavors with nuts and other goodies mixed in. Look for unique flavors like cheddar cheese or pizza-flavored corn in decorative tins. A much beloved gift everyone enjoys.

If you are handy in the kitchen, you can always pop up your own popcorn and make some gourmet treats to send to your loved ones, friends, and collegues.  Below you'll find a video with tips on creating healthy popcorn in flavors like chocolate and caramel.

Forget about the super sweet cakes with gobs of frosting. Now cupcakes are deliciously flavored gourmet treats that adults go crazy for. Many companies have gotten the shipping process so perfected that your cupcake order will arrive without a sprinkle out of place.

Select from red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting or marbled cappuccino cupcakes. Have a special note written in icing. You can even have a photo sprayed onto each cupcake in edible inks and icing.

Cupcakes are perfect gifts for just about any occasion or holiday. With all the sprinkle, icing color, and decoration options, these creations will have their mouth-watering anytime of year. They aren't just for birthdays anymore!

Areas that are known for their abundance of delectable fruits will now ship them cheaply anywhere. What could be more inviting than opening a crate of oranges in mid-winter or New England apples if you can’t get them at home? Fruit is always a popular choice and you don’t have to break the bank to send it.

Be sure to buy the fruit from a reputable online company that guarantees the delivery of their produce. Fresh fruit is an excellent choice for someone that has just gotten out of the hospital or a person that likes to eat healthy. You can even find companies that sell fresh organic fruit at reasonable prices. Think about sending this to mom for Mother's Day or her birthday. She'll certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness!

If you really want to save money, you can make many gourmet treats for under $30. Why not make brownies or cookies using the finest chocolates, vanilla, nuts, and chips you can find? The quality of the ingredients really does make a difference. And for what you’ll spend on ingredients, you can make batches of home-baked goodies for the price of sending just one pre-packaged gift. Just be sure to wrap your creations in cellophane and another layer of tin foil to avoid spoilage. Ship them in an airtight container that’s well padded so that they arrive in the shape you sent them. Even better, hand deliver your gourmet items for a special treat.

For some really easy brownie recipes, checkout this Kicked Up Brownie Mix Recipes lens at Squidoo!