Iowa Gift Guide of Locally Made Products

Want to support local Iowa producers this holiday season? Look no further than our Iowa gift guide. We’ve gathered a number of enticing treats and goodies that will inspire you to go all out with your gift giving this year. From cheese and coffee to candies and maple syrup, these artisan products are guaranteed to be a hit.

1. Cheese Spreads from Maytag Dairy Farms

According to Maytag Dairy Farms, cheese spreads were created at the start of the 1900s by tavern owners. But today you don’t need to own your own pub to present your loved ones with a delicious cold-packed cheese spread. You just need to order the Blue and Cheddar Cheese Spreads from this Iowa-based business to give a gift any cheese lover is sure to enjoy.

 

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2. Premium Coffee from Jumpy Monkey

Coffee is the gift that keeps on giving, especially if you introduce someone to a brand like Jumpy Monkey. With a variety of light, medium and dark roasts to choose from, you can easily find something to accommodate just about any caffeine-lover on your shopping list this season. And if you’re unsure which one is just right for each person, you can always present them with a gift card and let them choose for themselves.

See more: 29 Top Destinations for Holiday Agritourism

 

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3. Lemon Beer Cake Mix

If you’ve never made (or tasted) beer bread, you might be wondering why you would add alcohol to a baking mix. Beer yeast reacts with sugar to help baked goods rise, in addition to offering a unique flavor twist to the end result. This lemon beer cake mix from Molly & You makes one 9-by-13-inch cake or 12 large cupcakes.

4. Jam from Clear Creek Orchard

Apple cinnamon, dark sweet cherry and gooseberry are just a few of the countless jam flavors available at Clear Creek Orchard. These 12-ounce jam jars would make an excellent gift for anyone who proclaims breakfast is their favorite meal of the day. It’s also an easy choice for those people on your list who have everything – because can you really ever have too much jam?

5. Lotta Pop Popcorn

Lotta Pop has been making delicious popcorn in Iowa since the late 1960s. They offer everything from ready-to-cook kernels to ready-to-eat bags. They even have popcorn tins. While these are all good and well for your average popcorn consumer, you might want to take things to the next level and consider the popcorn making supplies if you know someone who is truly obsessed with the tasty treat. And as far as flavors go, don’t worry, you have a lot to choose from. Classic butter, dill, bacon cheddar, caramel and dark chocolate peppermint are just a handful of the options.

See more: 6 Annual Festivals That Make Iowa a Top Foodie Destination

6. Cinnamon-Infused Maple Syrup from Great River Maple

Maple syrup with a hint of cinnamon? Sign us up! Concocted with Grade A rich syrup and organic cinnamon spices, this delicious flavor from Great River Maple will make already delicious pancakes and waffles sing. You could even add on a bottle of their cinnamon maple sugar or go all out with one of their cinnamon gift baskets. They come in small and large with enough delicious treats to make any foodie smile.

 

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7. Handmade Candies from Beaverdale Confections

Candy has been associated with Christmas for centuries. Take the candy cane for instance: our first record of this popular treat crops up in 1670 in Germany. So trust us when we say there’s nothing wrong at all with handing out delicious boxes of candies to anyone in your family with a sweet tooth. Your options are virtually limitless at Beaverdale Confections. Sea salt caramels, s’mores to go, gummy bears and chocolate lollipops would all make excellent presents (or stocking stuffers) this year.

See more: What’s Growing? Iowa Produce Calendar 

8. Sausage Sampler from Amana

Who wouldn’t be tempted by this five-sausage sampler from Amana? Smoked summer sausage, beef salami, spicy Pfefferwurst and beef Thuringer are on the docket with this impressive gift. You can even throw in their German-style mustard, pepper relish and a pack of crackers to round out the gift.