Do you exchange gifts with your neighbors at Christmas? Rather than a traditional cookie plate, try giving the gift of a cozy, festive-smelling home. A Christmas simmer pot kit is a simple to make, inexpensive, and useful gift that anyone can enjoy.

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What do you give for neighbor gifts? Or do you give them at all? The ideas for simple, made-in-bulk gifts abound on Pinterest, and it seems like many families have a favorite to give. I know that every year I am going to get homemade marshmallows from one neighbor, and English toffee from another.

I love all the treats, but there are A LOT of them this time of year. So for the past several years, I’ve opted to gift my neighbors something a little bit different. Variety is good, right?

I give the scent of Christmas.

More specifically, I give an orange, cranberries, cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes pine (or rosemary) all packaged up nicely with directions for how to make a Christmas simmer pot.

What IS a Christmas simmer pot?

A simmer pot basically means tossing some simple aromatics into a pot with some water and simmering it on the stove until your house smells absolutely AMAZING.

There are lots of options for ingredients, but our classic Christmas scent of oranges and spices is my favorite. In fact, each year my husband always reminds me that I can’t just give them to other people. We have to make one (or several) for ourselves, too.

Bonus idea: If you add all the ingredients to apple juice instead of just water, you get some yummy cider (don’t use pine for this kind). Smells and tastes good…even better!

Why Choose a Christmas Simmer Pot Kit as a Neighbor Gift?

There are so many reasons simmer pots make a great gift. They are…

• Practical: It’s a perfect gift for neighbors who already receive plenty of sweet treats.
• Budget-friendly: The ingredients are relatively inexpensive, especially when bought in bulk.
• Kid-friendly: Assembling the gifts makes for a great family activity that even young kids can help with. My kids look forward to it every year, and we’ve gotten a pretty good conveyor belt-like system going the last few years!
• Customizable: You can tailor the ingredients and packaging to fit your budget and style.

Want to make your own? Here’s everything you need to know!

Tips for Buying Ingredients on a Budget

1. Oranges: Watch for holiday sales—or consider using small mandarins instead of full-size oranges.
2. Cranberries: Stock up when they’re on sale for $0.99 per bag, or buy at Costco.
3. Cinnamon sticks: Don’t buy them at the normal grocery store. They’re so expensive! Purchase in bulk from Costco or Amazon to save significantly. Break long sticks in half to double your supply (plus, they’ll fit in gift bags better).
4. Cloves: Check bulk bins at stores like Sprouts for a better price than prepackaged jars.

Pro Tip: If you’re making many kits, planning ahead and shopping sales can save you a lot.

Only you can decide if it’s worth going to three different stores to save money. If you’re only making a handful of kits, it’s not a big deal, but if you make 30+ (like we do), you will save some money. I just pick the ingredients up when I’m doing my normal grocery shopping in the weeks leading up to Christmas, so it’s not a big deal for me. You can definitely opt to just get everything at one store to simplify.

Creative Ways to Package Your Simmer Pot Gift

There are many ways you can package your gifts. I like to stick with options that are budget-friendly and low-effort but that still look thoughtful and festive. Here are my favorite ideas:

• Cellophane bags: Clear cellophane bags are super simple, showcase the colorful ingredients beautifully, and look great with a festive bit of ribbon (or red & white baker’s twine).
• Kraft paper bags: Super inexpensive. Turn a simple brown lunch bag into a rustic, farmhouse-inspired gift. Get inspiration here.
• Festive ribbon or twine: Add a pop of color with your favorite ribbon.
• Printable tags: Use one of my free or premium designs for the perfect finishing touch. (available below!)

Gift Tags

Because I’ve been doing these gifts for so many years now, I’ve designed two sets of gift tags for you:

If you want to use the red and white tags (pictured above), click the button below to download them. Enjoy!

A few years ago, I created a NEW printable gift tag (because designing things like this is how I spend my free time). If you prefer this whimsical version, you can get it in my shop!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make these kits ahead of time?
Yes! The ingredients will stay fresh for up to a week in the refrigerator. For longer storage, keep the cranberries separate and add them just before gifting.

2. Can I customize the ingredients?
Absolutely! Swap out rosemary for pine or add allspice for a unique scent.

3. Can the simmer pot be turned into cider?
Yes! Replace the water with apple juice (skip the pine) for a delicious holiday drink that smells and tastes amazing.

Want more SIMPLE Christmas ideas? Try these:

• Five-minute Easy Fudge Recipe
• Printable Christmas Bingo Game
• Christmas Gift Treasure Hunt for Kids
• Printable Christmas Gift Tags that Kids Can Color!