40 Condiments You Can Make at Home

Spicy Chunky Salsa

Vinegar adds a refreshing tang to this sweet tomato salsa. It's wonderful as is, but for more heat, leave in some hot pepper seeds. —Donna Goutermont, Sequim, Washington

White Sauce

For years, I’ve used this smooth white sauce for pasta to make many dishes. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. —Lois Gelzer, Standish, Maine

Parsley Pesto

Homemade pesto always makes a thoughtful hostess gift. Mix things up with this parsley pesto variation. It's delicious served with pasta or in one of these recipes using pesto. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Homemade Peanut Butter

We eat a lot of peanut butter, so I decided to make my own. My homemade version is easier on my wallet, and I know what ingredients are in it. It's also a lot tastier! —Marge Austin, North Pole, Alaska

Over-the-Top Cherry Jam

We live in Door County, an area known for its wonderful tart cherries. This beautiful, sweet jam makes lovely gifts. —Karen Haen, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

The thick, creamy blue cheese dressing does double duty at our house because I often serve it as a veggie dip. —Christy Freeman, Central Point, Oregon

Apple Butter

I make several batches of this simple and delicious homemade apple butter recipe to freeze in jars. Depending on the sweetness of the apples used, you can adjust the sugar to taste. —Betty Ruenholl, Syracuse, Nebraska

Homemade Lemon Curd

Lemon curd is a scrumptious spread for scones, biscuits or other baked goods. You can find it in larger grocery stores alongside the jams and jellies or with the baking supplies, but we like making this lemon curd recipe from scratch. —Mark Hagen, West Allis, Wisconsin

Quick & Easy Honey Mustard

This fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey mustard dressing I've ever tried. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas

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Homemade Spicy Hot Sauce

I created this spicy recipe one day using what I had available from my garden: hot peppers, carrots, onions and garlic. The carrots make this recipe stand out. —Carolyn Wheel, Fairfax, Vermont

Pretty Peach Jam

This homemade jam has been a favorite in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a delicious medley of fruits, including peaches, cherries, pineapple and orange. —Theresa Beckman, Inwood, Iowa

Foolproof Gravy

Make your Thanksgiving or other special-occasion dinner easy with this can't-miss homemade gravy recipe. Use the drippings from your roasted turkey, and the gravy is done in just 20 minutes. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

Homemade Ranch Dressing and Dip Mix

Give this versatile mix in a decorative jar with instructions for making dip or dressing. Then tuck it into a gift basket along with a pretty serving bowl and snack crackers or chips. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Mild Tomato Salsa

I got this salsa recipe from my sister, and my children and I have been making batches of it ever since. We pair pint jars with packages of tortilla chips for zesty Christmas gifts. When the kids give this present to their teachers, they can truthfully say they helped make it. —Pamela Lundstrum, Bird Island, Minnesota

Homemade Mayonnaise

Pssst! Did you know America’s top-selling condiment and go-to dressing for chicken, tuna and potato salad can be prepared with a handful of everyday pantry items? This mayonnaise recipe will be a new favorite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Italian Herb Salad Dressing

This vinaigrette is a delicious dressing that I like to keep on hand for topping a variety of salad greens. —Dan Wright, San Jose, California

Sweet & Spicy Barbecue Sauce

I've never cared that much for store bought barbecue sauce. I just like to make things myself from scratch including this spicy, deep red-brown sauce. You'll find it clings well when you slather it on grilled meat. —Helena Georgette Mann, Sacramento, California

Spicy Bavarian Beer Mustard

Here's a gift that has bite! This spicy beer mustard is great with pretzels or as a condiment for bratwurst. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Classic Tartar Sauce

You'll never buy the jarred stuff again once you've tried this homemade tartar sauce recipe! —Michelle Stromko, Darlington, Maryland

Low-Fat Tangy Tomato Dressing

This zesty blend is delicious over greens, pasta or fresh garden vegetables. I love that it's a healthier alternative to the oil-heavy versions sold in stores. —Sarah Eiden, Enid, Oklahoma

Quick and Easy Strawberry Jam

This is an easy and tasty way to use up a freshly picked quarts of summer strawberries. It makes about seven half-pints, so there's enough to share. —Ball Brand and Kerr Brand home canning products

Cranberry Orange Sauce

In about 20 minutes, with just a few ingredients, you can have the freshest cranberry orange sauce you’ve ever tasted. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin

Basic Buttermilk Salad Dressing

When serving salad to a crowd, this easy buttermilk ranch dressing comes in handy. It make a full quart of creamy, delicious dressing to toss with your favorite greens and veggies. —Patricia Mele, Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania

Walnut Butter Spread

This healthy alternative spread will have you making more of your own homemade spreads in just minutes. It's so simple and you know exactly what's going into it. —Bryan Kennedy, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Texas-Style BBQ Sauce

We love a Texas BBQ sauce with all the right moves: ketchup, mustard, lemon juice, chili powder, Worcestershire and brown sugar. —Sandy Klocinski, Summerville, South Carolina

Cranberry Orange Relish

With its festive color and refreshing citrus-cranberry flavor, this lovely cranberry orange relish works well at holiday gatherings. It’s also convenient because you can make it in advance. —Clara Honeyager, North Prairie, Wisconsin

Balsamic Herb Vinaigrette

Balsamic vinaigrette is a classic, versatile dressing. A variety of savory seasonings gives this recipe a tangy kick. It's the perfect complement to a bed of fresh greens. —Edgar Wright, Silver Spring, Maryland

Cashew Butter

Once you taste how great homemade cashew butter is, you'll never go to back to store-bought. The coconut oil makes the butter just a little creamier, but you can omit it if you don't normally keep it on hand. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Our family's all-time favorite salsa, this recipe is the reason we grow a huge garden every summer. We make gallons of it and share with our neighbors. You might find yourself eating it right out of the bowl with a spoon. —Donna Kelly, Orem, Utah

Spiced Maple Mustard

Have grill masters on your Christmas list? Consider giving them a special homemade mustard flavored with maple syrup, allspice and turmeric. Everyone just loves it. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

Favorite Bread & Butter Pickles

I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, Illinois

Spicy Ketchup

When this homemade ketchup is bubbling on the stove, the aroma takes me back to childhood. One taste and I’m home again. —Karen Naihe, Kamuela, Hawaii

Enchilada Sauce

This chunky, mild sauce is a great way to use up abundant veggies from the garden. It tastes great on Mexican dishes and scrambled eggs. —Rebecca Schwegman, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

Zesty Salsa Verde

Last year was the first time I had ever grown tomatillos. They were so abundant that I had enough to eat fresh, give away and freeze for future gatherings. What I didn't expect was how well the salsa would freeze. I do like to add an extra zip by juicing a fresh lime into the salsa after it has thawed. —Kim Banick, Salem, Oregon

Chocolate-Hazelnut Butter

Store varieties of chocolate-hazelnut butter just can’t compete with the homemade kind. Slather it on everything from toast and pretzels to banana chunks and shortbread cookies. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

Giardiniera

Sweet and tangy, this Italian condiment is packed with peppers, cauliflower, carrots and other crisp-tender veggies. It’s perfect to offer alongside pickles or olives on a relish tray. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin