Key Ideas
-
Spice mix ornaments make great tree decorations or stocking stuffers for Christmas.
-
Buy materials and spices in bulk to save money and assemble by hand for a fun bonding experience with your family.
-
Construction is simple and decoration can be as plain or intricate as you want.
Your halls have been decked with every Christmas decoration you could find for weeks now. Your Christmas tree looks exactly the same as it does every year, from the lights and tinsel to the ornaments that you've used since childhood. This year, consider freshening up your decoration strategy. Growing up, my family sometimes hid presents in the tree rather than under it. This gave everyone a special surprise and wrapped up the gift giving portion of the day. Add a touch of our tradition to your home by hiding this year's gifts in plain sight as decorations! Spice mix Christmas ornaments do double duty: they’re a great gift for all the home chefs in your life and bring a little extra fun to this year’s festivities. Making ornaments for your coworkers, neighbors, friends, and family gives you a few moments to relax during the chaos of holiday plans. Halloween has pumpkin carving. Thanksgiving has plenty of prep time. But when it comes to Christmas, wrapping presents is a solitary task. Start a new tradition this year by making spice mix ornaments together as a family.
What Is a Spice Mix Ornament?
A spice mix ornament is exactly what it sounds like: a clear Christmas ornament that contains a special blend of herbs and spices. Sure, you could buy some Old Bay or Mrs. Dash and call it a day, but where’s the fun in that? A homemade ornament shows that you know the recipient’s preferences in a concrete way, adding a layer of love and care to your gift. Buying spices in bulk lets you make truly customized combinations that’ll elevate a quick dish like egg noodle lasagna into a fine-dining experience. Whether they’re tucked away in the stockings or hiding in plain sight on the tree, spice mix ornaments are sure to be a crowd pleaser this Christmas.
Why Should I Make a Spice Mix Ornament?
Let's be honest, pretty much everyone has caved at least once by grabbing dinner out to avoid having to think up a meal to cook. With prepared spice mixes on hand that take the guesswork out of crafting scrumptious flavors, your loved ones will be able to enjoy delicious dishes well into the new year with minimal effort. Give a Korean BBQ dry rub to your favorite home chef so they have an excuse to experiment with a new cuisine. Make a mesquite blend for Dad to top off the top rated grill and grill accessories you got him this year. You can even test out a special blend ahead of time to elevate your smoked meats for Christmas that will blow your family away! From making a few spice mix ornaments for your favorite coworkers to sharing the fruits of your herb garden with the neighbors, spice mix Christmas ornaments are an exciting way to add a little extra flavor to your holiday presents this season.
What Are the Most Popular Spice Blends?
Popularity among spice blends is subjective. Factors like where you grew up and what your parents cooked have as much influence as what restaurants are nearby. At the end of the day, choose spice blends you think your family and friends would like! After all, we all know someone who can’t handle any spice. Simple blends like seasoned salts add a pop of garlic, herbs, or other unique flavors without overwhelming their taste buds. For the neighbor from down south, create a unique Cajun blend that’ll give them a taste of home. Add a pop of Hawaiian flare with a tropical staple like Li Hing Mui powder. For any family members who love to travel, choose one of the top 40 spice blends from around the world to give them access to a new world of flavor without paying for a trip abroad.
Don’t let this DIY gift idea stress you out. If you’re not sure where to get started, IWAE is here to share some of our favorite spice blends and seasonings to make this holiday extra tasty.
Italian Seasoning
Italian food is a staple in the United States with pre-made Italian mixes littering the shelves of every major supermarket, but do you know what goes into this prominent blend? Based on this homemade Italian seasoning recipe from an Italian-American chef, the required mix of herbs and spices is simple yet powerful! Combining basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, parsley, and some optional red pepper flakes for a little heat, you can gift the bold, herbaceous flavors of the Mediterranean. This is a great option to use up any spare herbs from your garden so none go to waste!
Chili Seasoning
Nothing warms the soul like a steaming hot bowl of chili on a cold winter day. Whether you serve your chili straight up, in mac’n cheese, or on top of from-scratch corn bread, this chili spice blend is sure to deliver. Marrying the taste of salt, cumin, cayenne pepper, black pepper, onion powder, and chili powder offers a balanced mix that’ll elevate your favorite stew to new heights. You can even add your own twist with inclusions like smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, brown sugar, cocoa powder, coriander, or chipotle pepper to tailor the flavor to your tastes!
Pumpkin Spice
Believe it or not, the pumpkin spice flavor we associate with most fall treats has nothing to do with pumpkin and everything to do with the spices in this seasonal staple. This pumpkin pie spice blend will make a knock-out Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, sweet and warm spiced nuts, or it will add a cozy, autumnal twist to your morning coffee. This simple combination of cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg brings new life to all sorts of dishes, so encourage your recipients to use their imagination!
Everything Bagel Seasoning
Who doesn’t love a bagel topped with that special seeded seasoning? The delectable blend that makes up everything bagel seasoning brings a new realm of flavor to your homemade bagels, toasts, pastries, and anything else you desire. Simply combine poppy seeds, caraway seeds, white and black sesame seeds, salt, garlic, and onion for a delicious topper that’ll leave everyone craving seconds at your next brunch get together.
Taco Seasoning
It’s taco night! You’ve got ground beef, cheese, lettuce, pico, salsa, sour cream, and all the accoutrements you could ever need: Now it’s time to bring it home with a savory and spicy seasoning that’ll take your tacos to the next level. Rather than buying a packet of pre-made mix and hoping for the best, this recipe for homemade taco seasoning is guaranteed to bring the heat. With nothing more than garlic, onion, ground chile, salt, pepper, and some optional additions like cumin and Mexican oregano, this spice blend is sure to become a go-to recipe for years.
Lemon Pepper Spice
If you’ve been sleeping on lemon pepper all these years, it’s time to wake up! This lemon pepper seasoning blend will upgrade your chicken wings, fried catfish, pork chops, and any other dish with bright and bold flavor. Stir up the lemon zest, black pepper, salt, garlic, onion, and an optional touch of MSG for a kick of citrusy flavor that’ll leave your taste buds celebrating.
Jerk Spice
For the spice lovers in your life, it’s time to crank it up a notch. Jamaican jerk seasoning is a common addition for many meats and proteins like chicken and shrimp. Even vegan and vegetarian cooks love to spice up asparagus and cauliflower with this unique blend of flavors for a kick-butt meal that’ll leave them panting. Combining a whopping 14 ingredients, this spice blend is easily the most complex on our list. This mouthwatering blend of garlic, onion, allspice, cayenne, red pepper flakes, thyme, brown sugar, paprika, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, parsley, salt, and black pepper brings a burst of flavor to any dish.
How to Make a Spice Mix Christmas Ornament
Now that you’ve gathered up your herbs and spices, it’s time to collect the rest of the pieces. You’ll only need a handful of materials to get these gifts ready for Christmas morning:
- Fillable, food-grade Christmas bauble ornaments with a cap
- The herbs and spices in each seasoning mix
- A mixing bowl and stirring utensil, ideally a whisk
- A funnel with a spout that fits into the opening under the ornament cap
- Aluminum foil to cover the opening under the ornament cap
- Any decorations you want to adorn the outside of the ornament
- Common additions: ribbons, bows, stickers, tags
If you’re not a DIYer who wants to build their own ornaments, you can buy plastic fillable Christmas bauble ornaments from a variety of vendors. Just make sure that the ornament you choose is made of food-grade plastic and you follow safe storage guidelines to ensure no chemicals leach into your spice mix. We also recommend avoiding glass ornaments.
Once you’ve chosen an ornament to fill, simply follow the instructions to combine your spices into the perfect mix, grab a funnel to pour the blend into your bauble, and add the finishing touches. Tags should list the recipient and outline the flavors in the blend while bows, ribbons, and other decorations tie the whole thing together. Whether you’re using these as ornaments on the tree, stocking stuffers, or sealing multiple in a box for your favorite chef, making them is a breeze.
1. Combine the herbs and spices in a mixing bowl until homogeneous.
(Be sure to keep the seasoning ingredients close by to write them down on the labels!)
2. Use a funnel to avoid spilling while you pour the blend into the ornaments.
3. Cover the top of the ornament with aluminum foil to seal in all the spices and keep the mix fresh.
4. Screw on the ornament cap tightly and securely.
This will make sure your loved ones won’t have to deal with spice mix seasoning their other presents instead of their dinner
5. Fill out the tags with the spice blend ingredients, intended recipients, and any other information you want to share.
6. Label each ornament with the appropriate tag.
7. Add any other decorations you’d like!
Use ribbons, bows, stickers, art, and anything else your heart desires to show you mixed lots of thought and love with the spices.
As a note, it’s best to use these spice blends quickly, especially if the ornament doesn’t have a tight seal. This will prevent the spices from losing their potency and mitigate any flavor transfer from the plastic ornament.
Spice It Up This Season With IWAE
The beauty of spice mix ornaments is that you have the final say in the flavor palate. Not sold on the spice blends we’ve shared here from some of our favorite chefs? Choose a popular family spice recipe that's been passed down for generations! Our 2025 Christmas Buying Guide gives you some great options for big gifts this holiday, but one large box under the tree is like a meal without any sides or seasoning. Spice up your gift giving this year with a delicious homemade spice blend that’ll leave your loved ones asking for another next year.
