Need some last-minute gifts you can throw together quick or have delivered instantly? Here are some terrific last-minute gift ideas everyone will love!
Whether you missed shipping deadlines or need a little something extra for a friend or family member, these last-minute gifts ideas take just minutes to throw together or seconds to get delivered electronically.
Check out these clever ways to have your gift list covered — even if you need them in the next few minutes!
Last-Minute Gifts You Can Have Delivered Instantly
Digital gifts are a total lifesaver. Especially if you’ve been racking your brain for a present for someone who has everything they want and really doesn’t want more stuff. An online class or digital subscription may be just what they wanted, and you can have it to them in minutes, no shipping required.
–> If you want something physical to give, you can print out a page from a website and turn it into a certificate of something to be delivered later. (Works with physical gifts that won’t arrive in time as well!)
Masterclass
Masterclass is such a brilliant idea. You can give someone access to an enormous library of thousands of lessons from experts in a variety of fields.
Whether they’d like to hone their cooking skills with chefs like Wolfgang Puck or Alice Waters or study music with world-renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma or Mariah Carey, there’s something for everyone. What tennis enthusiast wouldn’t like a class with Serena Williams? Maybe a photography class with Annie Leibowitz or a course on comedy with Steve Martin?
Find out more about Masterclass’s offerings here.
E-Books
Got an avid reader on your list? A Kindle Unlimited subscription allows the recipient to choose from an astonishing array of titles on any subject. They don’t even need a Kindle! You can download an app that lets you read them on any device.
Or maybe you’d prefer to pick out some specific titles, like an e-book on gardening or a guide to crafting your own body care.
Audiobooks or Audible Subscription
If they like to listen to books, an Audible subscription is perfect, letting them access thousands of titles. Many are read by the authors themselves, while others are read by celebrity actors.
You can get a gift subscription to Audible here.
Courses from the Herbal Academy
Know someone who’s interested in herbs or plants? The Herbal Academy offers amazing herbalism and foraging courses to help them advance their plant knowledge.
Whether they’re a beginner or experienced with herbs, Herbal Academy offers options for every skill level, including introductory and advanced courses, a foraging course, or a course on mushrooms, plus mini courses on topics like herbal skin care and perfume-making. Here’s a complete list of their offerings.
You can also purchase a year-long subscription to the Herbarium, a vast library filled with exclusive classes, plant monographs, and more.
You can also get a gift certificate that allows the recipient to choose according to their own interests and skill level. They even have a pretty downloadable gift certificate that you can print or send electronically.
Uncommon Classes from Uncommon Goods
Perfect for the person who has everything, Uncommon Experiences make unique gifts.
With classes on flower arranging, mixology, cheese making, pickling, and lots more, there’s something for everyone on your list.
Check out the unusual offerings at Uncommon Goods.
Kids Cooking Classes
My kids and I learned a ton when we took the Kids Cook Real Food online course. They offer courses for kids at different levels, or you can choose the VIP package that includes lifetime access to all their classes.
Find out more about Kids Cook Real Food here.
You can also find loads more classes that teach kids all sorts of valuable life skills here.
Grocery Budget & Meal Planning
Would someone on your list like to become a meal planning pro or learn tricks for saving money on healthy food? Get them Don’t Waste the Crumbs’ highly-rated Grocery Budget Bootcamp or Meal Planning Made Easy courses.
Other Experience Gift Ideas
Other experience gifts can be ready in minutes, like
- A gift membership to a museum or zoo
- A homemade certificate for a from-scratch meal or a night of babysitting
- Tickets to a show or concert
- Gift certificate to an escape room
Not sure they’ll want it or which dates they’d prefer? Make a certificate by printing a page from the website of the venue and purchasing the tickets for them afterwards.
Super Quick DIY Last-Minute Gifts You Can Make
If you’d rather go the DIY route, there are SO many things you can put together in a matter of minutes. Many of these last-minute gift ideas require just a couple ingredients and a quick stir or shake.
Lots can be made with things you already have, so you don’t even need to go shopping.
Here are 25 last-minute gift ideas you can DIY super quick!
EASY Last-Minute DIY Gift Ideas
Need a super-quick last minute gift? Check out these creative ways to make homemade gifts in minutes.
These easy DIY lavender sachets are super-simple to make — even if you don’t sew. Check out this simple tutorial and enjoy spreading the relaxing scent of lavender!
This insanely easy bath salt recipe requires nothing more complicated than mixing epsom salts with your favorite essential oil. Ready in minutes!
This easy cedarwood melt and pour soap from the Nerdy Farm Wife has a warm woodsy scent and includes a rope for easy hanging in the shower!
Homemade Rose Petals Bath Soak is easy to make. Soothing and perfect for last-minute gifting.
This incredibly easy bath salt recipe requires just 2 ingredients to make lovely-smelling bath salts great for relaxing and soothing sore muscles. They're inexpensive, too!
These Roasted Rosemary Nuts are the perfect easy healthy snack that the whole family will love. Perfect for gatherings and gifting too!
Stovetop candied pecans without egg have a rich, spiced flavor and only take 10 minutes to make with a few pantry staples!
3-Ingredient DIY Vegan Instant Hot Chocolate Mix (Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo)
A super simple 3-Ingredient DIY Vegan Instant Hot Chocolate Mix you can whip up in a flash! Sugar-free, gluten-free, paleo, and top-8 allergy-free!
Homemade vanilla extract comes together in just a few minutes and makes a great DIY gift. It needs to sit for at least 8 weeks before use, but you can always give it to someone and label with a "ready to use" date, for the perfect last-minute gift.
Preserved lemons are a high-end culinary specialty that are actually really quick and easy to make. Find out how from Grow Forage Cook Ferment.
Adaptogenic Hot Chocolate takes hot cocoa to whole new level! Vegan and dairy-free, pack this in a pretty jar with a gift label for anyone on your list who could use some stress relief.
These absurdly easy no-bake chocolate clusters are a snap to make and utterly delicious. The people you give them to will ask for them year after year!
A grown-up treat with a delicately balanced dark bittersweet chocolate natural orange peel, this beautiful bark is easy to throw together.
This sugar-free ginger syrup is delicious in drinks, and a jar of this preserved ginger makes a wonderful homemade gift.
Easy spice gift basket to give as a hostess gift or a treat for your favorite foodie this holiday season. Plus cute printables to use as tags!
This Three Bean Chili Mix Gift Jar is quick and easy to prepare. It makes a perfect homemade holiday gift.
Pickled cranberries are a tasty treat that is tart, sour, and sweet. Great for a holiday appetizer, cranberry pickles are uniquely delicious.
Strawberry DIY Lip Scrub made with all natural ingredients like all-natural cane sugar, coconut oil and Vitamin E and real strawberries!
This simple sugar scrub requires only a few ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and takes just a couple minutes to make. A perfect very last-minute holiday gift!
Easy to make, this homemade Whipped Body Butter recipe uses just 3 ingredients. Customize it with your favorite essential oils.
DIY Decoupage Coasters are a simple project for turning a napkin and ceramic tile into a pretty coaster.
This simple homemade potpourri uses foraged and inexpensive flowers, herbs, and essential oils so it's budget-friendly and fun to make. A quick, easy, and cheap homemade gift.
Create stunning pressed flower ornaments for a beautiful handmade gift.
This chunky crochet headband is a fast beginner-friendly project using less than one skein—perfect for gifting. It takes only 30 minutes to finish this cozy, pretty headban.
Other easy last-minute gift ideas you can make in a flash
- Buy loose herbs from the bulk bins at a natural food store and put them in a pretty jar (like these). You can give single herbs like lemon balm or rose petals, or have fun combining them in customized blends. Find out more about DIY herbal tea blends here.
- You can do something similar with bulk spices — which cost 75% less in general than buying them in bottles — and give them singly or combine them in homemade spice blends, like a mixed Italian seasoning, pumpkin pie spice, or taco seasoning.
- Just like vanilla extract, you can also make lemon, orange, mint, or coffee extract by steeping whichever ingredient in alcohol with instructions for the recipient about when to strain them. Pine needle tincture can work the same way, and it can be used as a culinary extract or an excellent medicinal.
You can find other creative gift ideas in our other gift guides:
- Gifts for Tea Lovers
- Gifts for Gardeners
- Herbal Gifts
- Easy Homemade Gifts
- Handmade Gifts You Can Buy
- Best Foraging Books
What are your favorite last-minute gift ideas? Please leave a comment to share with the rest of us scrambling to finish our holiday gifting!
Save these last-minute gift ideas for later!
Susannah is a health and environmental writer focusing on gardening, foraging, medicinal plants, and sustainability. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and was a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. Find out more and grab your copy here.
Hi, I'm Susannah, a garden geek, energy nerd, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies. Need some simple, practical solutions for living healthier and greener? You've come to the right place! More about me and my green projects
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