Whether you’re shopping for a bookworm, a football fan, or a foodie, Nebraska makers have a gift that fits. Discover the items worth buying this holiday season.
Let’s be honest—by December, holiday shopping can start to feel like a never-ending slog of the same big-box items and rushed online orders. Buying from Nebraska makers is an easy way to shake things up. Your money goes straight to a local entrepreneur—whether that’s a beekeeper in Holdrege, a toffee maker using her grandmother’s recipe, or a mother-daughter team running a lavender farm—and it stays in the community.
Local gifts also tend to have a story behind them, which makes them feel much more thoughtful than something mass-produced by a major brand. From small-batch sweets and Husker game day baskets to candles and apparel made right here in the state, these Nebraska-made finds are the kind of gifts people remember (and ask where you got them).
Keep reading to discover the best Nebraska-made gifts to give this holiday season, sorted by the recipient.
For the bookworm
Book lover mini gift box
This gift box, sold by Made in Omaha, is filled with goodies for that loved one who always seems to be curled up with their new favorite book. It includes several locally made items, including Hearth and Craft Co.’s Bookstore candle, a bookmark from Retro Pop Paper, two stickers from The Cold Hearted Co., and a chocolate bar from Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates for $33.
The hand-wrapped box comes with a handwritten note and no pricing information, so you can ship it straight to the recipient if you’re not able to see them in person this holiday season.
Adult blind date with a book
Even if you’re not familiar with the “blind date with a book” trend, your bibliophile friend probably is. This gift idea takes inspiration from the trend, where books are wrapped up so their title and cover are hidden.
This present from Christal’s Crafty Corner, a small, family-owned business, includes a wrapped pre-loved book, clues about the book, and a curated selection of reading accessories like bookmarks, annotation tabs, and highlighters for $25.50.
For the fashionista
Milk & Daisy apparel
Meg Rutledge launched her apparel brand Milk & Daisy—named after her dogs—to support her family during the pandemic after her husband was laid off. And when her T-shirt reading “Toddlers, honestly, we’re not for everyone” went viral, it landed her an invitation to appear on the “Today Show.”
Now you can shop that famous shirt, along with other tees, hats, and sweatshirts, including plenty of Nebraska-themed designs, in adult, youth, and toddler sizes and check the whole family off your shopping list.
Lux by Leslie apparel
Leslie Sikyta started Lux by Leslie in early 2020 by making children’s bracelets to sell at the local farmers market with her then three- and five-year-old daughters. Today, the shop’s expanded offerings include apparel, jewelry, and accessories like handbags and hats.
The Nebraska-themed T-shirts and sweatshirts are among our favorites for gifting.
H.Flynn Designs clothing
Hayley Reed started H.Flynn Designs in her parents’ basement, but now she employs more than 25 women who design, cut, and sew the apparel at a downtown production facility. The brand also has a store in Lincoln’s SouthPointe Pavilions mall.
We think the patchwork Nebraska T-shirts and sweatshirts would make great gifts. Or, if you’re shopping for a University of Nebraska student or grad, check out H.Flynn Designs’ officially licensed apparel for the school.
For the foodie
Assorted chocolate meltaways
Baker’s Candies has been crafting silky-smooth chocolate meltaways and other sweet treats since 1987. This family-owned company is famous for its signature meltaways, which start at $4.95 for a 4-ounce bag and are available in a variety of flavors, from dark chocolate orange and dark chocolate cherry to milk chocolate peanut butter and milk chocolate mocha.
For holiday gifting, we suggest one of the larger assortment boxes or tins.
Artisanal honey gift set
Betty Sayers started keeping bees as a hobby after moving back home to Holdrege. She soon had more honey than she knew what to do with, so she teamed up with a neighbor and a local brewer to create her first product, spicy beer mustard.
Today, her business Buzz Savories sells artisanal honey, beeswax candles, honey mustard, and that original spicy beer mustard. Our top picks for gifting include a honey gift set ($52), a spicy-and-sweet set ($55), or a beeswax candle making kit ($98).
Toffee holiday sampler
Tasty Good Toffee founder Katie Becker makes small-batch toffee by hand, using her grandmother’s recipe. The lineup includes classic flavors alongside more inventive options, such as churro, butter rum, and White Hot!, which pairs white chocolate with local ghost pepper.
For gifting, go with the holiday three-pack sampler of butter rum, pumpkin spice, and hot cocoa toffee for $45.
Cooking chef apron
Omaha-based Artifact has been making premium, small-batch goods since 2010, with most items designed for a specific hobby. The cooking chef apron, for example, makes a great gift for the home cook in your life. It starts at $98 and comes in nine colors, with removable straps that can be worn cross-back or standard.
If you’re also shopping for a gardener this holiday season, check out Artifact’s gardening bags and aprons; for crafters, consider the knitting and crocheting totes and project bags.
DIY jerky maker bundle
Everyone has that one friend who is obsessed with beef jerky. This gift is for them. Nebraska Star Beef’s DIY Jerky Maker Bundle comes with everything needed to make jerky at home, including a round roast cut specifically for jerky making, ground beef, two seasonings (there are seven flavors to choose from), and detailed instructions for $149.99.
For the football fan
Nebraska Husker tailgating gift basket
This basket, sold by GROW Nebraska for $274.99, has everything a fan needs for game day—and all the products are made in the Cornhusker State. It comes packed in an insulated picnic basket with tons of snacks like popcorn, cheese, and crackers, plus koozies, game-day tattoos, and Husker logo stadium cups.
For the pet parent
Pet treats gift basket
For the friend who treats their dog like family, this gift basket ($105.99, also from GROW Nebraska) is sure to be a hit on both ends of the leash. It arrives in a Nebraska-shaped basket and is filled with treats like bison beef sticks and peanut butter and honey biscuits, plus shampoo and paw balm for the pup who loves being pampered.
For the spa day devotee
Hand-poured candle
Melissa Rae turned a hobby into a business—Soul Tribe Co.—during the pandemic, selling candles that are made with 100% soy wax, cotton wicks, and non-toxic fragrances. They arrive in eco-friendly packaging, are cruelty-free, and cost $40.
Soul Tribe Co.’s Zodiac collection features crystal-infused candles with a fragrance blend inspired by each Zodiac sign, while candles in the Aura collection also feature crystals and are designed to pair a gemstone’s energy with the mood-shifting power of aromatherapy.
For gifting, you can add a note at checkout, which gets handwritten on a card and packed with the order with no prices shown.
Face mask bundle
The Salvy Lady is a small, woman-owned company that makes natural body care products. The $20 face mask bundle is a good gift option for anyone who could use a spa night at home. It includes one of each of the brand’s face masks: moisturizing Coconut Matcha Lime, relaxing Lavender Chamomile, and soothing Rose Hibiscus.
Moisturizing lavender spa bundle
Founded in 2019 by a mother-daughter trio, Our Lavender Co. launched its online shop of clean, organic lavender goods and later opened a small storefront on the family farm, where visitors can see the lavender fields in person.
The moisturizing lavender spa bundle includes a sugar scrub, body butter, lip balm, and essential oil for $75. Other products include lavender neck wraps and pillows, plus culinary items like lavender simple syrup and extract.
