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The Spice House Gift Guide: My Family’s Favorite Blends
Quality spice blends for home cooking
10/6/20266 min read
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share things my family actually uses.
I’ve been cooking with The Spice House for years. I still grab grocery store basics like everyone else, but when I want dinner to taste a little more elevated, their blends are what I reach for.
They’re what make a Tuesday night sheet pan of roasted veggies taste like I tried way harder than I did. And they fit right into our mixed-diet kitchen, where I cook plant-based for me and add extras for my husband and little one.
So when people ask me what to get the mom, the host, the in-laws, or the friend who “has everything”? This is my answer. Every single year.
Here are the blends I keep on repeat, and why a Spice House box is my favorite fall and Christmas gift.
Why The Spice House Feels so Elevated
The Spice House is a family-run spice shop out of the Midwest that’s been around for decades. They grind and blend in small batches, so the jars actually smell like something when you open them.
I’m not throwing out my grocery store basics. But for the blends you can’t just pick up anywhere, this is where I shop.
A few reasons they’ve earned a permanent spot in my kitchen:
Fresh, small-batch blends. The flavor is noticeably stronger, so a little goes a long way.
Real-ingredient blends. As a crunchy mama who reads every label, I love that the ingredient lists are short and recognizable. Always check the label on the specific blend you’re buying, especially for salt content if you’re cooking for little ones.
Blends that do the work for you. One jar replaces five, which is exactly what a tired mom at 5:30pm needs.
Gift-ready packaging. Their gift boxes and sets look like you put way more thought into them than you did. (Our secret.)
My 4 Favorite Spice House Blends
(you won’t find these at the grocery store)
I’ve tried plenty of their spices, but these unique blends are the ones I keep coming back to. They’re not single-ingredient spices you can grab anywhere, which is exactly what makes them feel special (and so giftable).
Sweet, savory, and basically fall in a jar. Real maple sugar meets garlic and onion, and it’s the one that makes people ask “wait, what’s on this?”
How we use it: roasted sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and brussels sprouts, glazed tofu or tempeh, crispy roasted chickpeas, popcorn, and candied pecans for holiday snack boards. It’s great on salmon or chicken too if you’re feeding non-vegans.
My everyday savory all-rounder, and one I end up sprinkling on almost everything. (If you’ve been around a while, you might know it by its old name, Lake Shore Drive.)
How we use it: tofu scramble, roasted veggies, smashed potatoes, popcorn, and stirred into vegan dips. It works on burgers for the meat-eaters in the house too.
For when I want takeout flavor without the takeout bill (or the delivery wait with a hungry toddler on my hip).
How we use it: coconut chickpea curry, red lentil soup, curried tofu over rice, and roasted cauliflower. Warming and perfect for cold nights.
Bright, zesty, and my secret to making simple food taste fresh.
How we use it: roasted broccoli and asparagus, chickpea “tuna” salad, pasta, grain bowls, and salads. It’s great on chicken or fish for the non-vegans too.
Why Spices Are The Most Underrated Fall and Christmas Gift
Hear me out: spices are the perfect gift. They’re useful, they get used up (no clutter!), and they make someone’s kitchen smell amazing all winter.
Fall is soup season, roast season, and “everyone’s coming over” season. A good spice blend fits right into all of it.
Who to gift them to:
Who
The hostess
Great North Maple Garlic + a bag of pecans
A cute, cozy Friendsgiving or holiday party thank-you
Your mom or mother-in-law
A gift box of savory blends
She cooks for everyone; this one’s for her
The new mom
Lakeshore Shallot & Herb + Pepper and Lemon
Easy flavor for one-pan dinners on zero sleep
The adventurous cook
Thai Red Curry
Something new to try on a cold weeknight
What to give
Why it works
Teachers, neighbors, coworkers
One single jar with a ribbon
Thoughtful, affordable, and nobody needs another mug
Your husband or dad
Great North Maple Garlic
Sweet-savory flavor that goes on everything from veggies to the grill
Make it extra: tuck the jars into a basket with a wooden spoon, a handwritten family recipe card, and a cozy dish towel. Instant heirloom-feeling gift.
Stocking stuffer tip: single jars fit perfectly in a stocking and feel way more grown-up than another candle.
Spice House Gift Sets and Seasonal Goodies Worth Gifting
Not sure which jars to pick? These ready-made sets and seasonal treats take the guesswork out.
Gift Sets
The big splurge. It’s 24 of their most popular spices and seasonings in one box (Great North Maple Garlic and Lakeshore Shallot & Herb are both in there). Perfect for the newlyweds, the new homeowner, or the person who truly loves to cook. About $165 in flatpacks or $175 in jars.
Four jars of pizza toppers that make even a frozen pizza taste like a pizzeria night. A fun family gift for about $40. Heads up for my fellow vegans: two of the blends contain cheese, so this one’s better for the non-vegans on your list.
My favorite option, because you pick every jar. Fill it with my four favorite blends above, or tailor it to the person you’re shopping for.
Seasonal Treats
Rich cocoa with cinnamon, ancho chile, vanilla, and nutmeg. Cozy, a little warming, and the mix itself is dairy-free, so it works with oat or almond milk. Starts around $8, which makes it an easy stocking stuffer or teacher gift.
A limited-edition holiday mix with crystallized ginger, cinnamon, and cloves that makes about 3 dozen cookies. Pair it with a cute cookie tin for a ready-made holiday gift.
Cooking for a Mixed-diet Family
I’m vegan, and my husband and son aren’t. So most nights I cook a plant-based base and add something on the side for them. That’s where these blends really earn their spot. One jar can season the roasted veggies, the lentils, and their protein, so everything on the table tastes like it belongs together.
Motherhood has made me crave simple. With a little one to wrangle, I don’t have time to build a spice mix from scratch at 5pm. A good blend lets me make something that tastes thoughtful without the extra work.
That’s what I’m really gifting when I give someone a box of spices: a shortcut to a warm, home-cooked meal, no matter what’s on their family’s plate.
The Bottom Line
If you want a gift that’s useful, cozy, and actually gets used, grab a Spice House box this fall. Start with Great North Maple Garlic. Trust me.
And honestly? Grab a jar for yourself too. You’re feeding everyone else all season. You deserve the good stuff.
Tell me in the comments: what’s the one spice you can’t cook without?