Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50

If you have an avid cook or food lover in your life, your gifting opportunities these days are vast and deep. There are authentic ingredients and creative concoctions in brick-and-mortar shops and online. The global pantry beckons. Plus, in many cases, the packaging is gorgeous!

Many of these affordable luxuries can be tucked into a stocking, but they also make great presents for a co-worker, mail carrier, nephew or teacher. As a slightly compulsive and obsessive gift giver, matching the right edible treat to the recipient is my jam (another great gifting option!).

All of these items cost under $50, but make a big splash.

Let’s go!

Two Chinese American friends took the flavors of their favorite childhood treats and transformed them into sweet spreads, ready to be slathered on toast, apples or just eaten with a spoon. Rooted Fare sells spreads like Crunchy Black Sesame Butter (inspired by tang yuan, a Lunar New Year dessert ), Pineapple Cake Cashew Butter, and Chinese Almond Cookie Butter. $15 per jar.

Il Colle del Gusto makes some sweet and unusual nut-based spreads with an Italian twist: Coarse Hazelnut and Cocoa, Crunchy Peanut, and Sicilian Pistachio, all blended with olive oil. Swirl them into ice cream, slather them onto toast. Each jar under $10.

Related: Sesame lovers will be delighted with either an assortment of tahini products such as Chocolate Sesame Sauce, or a tub of flaky, melt-in-your-mouth halva in flavors like cardamom and pistachio from Seed + Mill. Some great gift sets available for under $50.

Chile crunch condiments have taken the cooking world by storm, and there are some highly giftable options.

Fly By Jing makes a large assortment of Asian-inspired chile crunches, and they have some attractively packaged gift sets for the holidays. The mini sampler set is around $20.

The aptly named Chile Crunch sells several varieties of their crunchy condiment, including hot, chipotle, mild and original, all for about $13 per jar.

Somos' Salsa Macha Mexican Chili Crisps explode with texture thanks to a whole lot of nuts and seeds. Scoop these spicy-crunchy sauces over everything from avocado toast to tacos — and try the sweeter one on ice cream! The gift set of two comes with a cute spoon for $35.

Chef Patricia Quintana has created a line of salsas, sauces, dressings and condiments that preserves the heritage of traditional Mexican cooking. Treat someone to a jar of Achiote sauce or Pineapple Habanero Salsa (and hope you get invited over for the ensuing meal). $15 to $20 per jar.

Ever heard of Secret Aardvark sauces? You might be tempted to spread the word. This Caribbean/Tex-Mex line of condiments has a big following for what they call their “flavor that kicks you in the mouth.” There are many choices, including Drunken Jerk Jamaican Marinade, and Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce. $10 each, with combo packs starting at $20.

Tinned fish is also having a blockbuster culinary moment (and in many cases the packaging is super fun). Fishwife cans ethically sourced fish, like salmon, anchovies and trout, from around the world, with some attractive gift boxes under $50.

La Narval focuses on combinations of fish and sauce, such as their mussels in Spanish sauce. Each tin is about $10.

The Drinks Bakery creates savory snacks with flavor profiles meant to match up perfectly with your favorite libations. Munch on a Lancashire Cheese and Spring Onion biscuit with a hoppy IPA or a sauvignon blanc. Serve the Parmesan, Toasted Pine Nut and Basil biscuits with a whiskey highball or champagne. Choose from small or larger boxes.

I can’t think of a food gift I’m happier to see than a high-quality bottle of oil or vinegar, two of the most-used ingredients in my kitchen. Bona Fortuna's selection of Sicilian olive oils is fresh and fragrant, and their aged balsamic vinegars are thick, sweet and rich. The Invecchiato 7-Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, for instance, sells for $44.95; Forte Extra Virgin Olive Oil from $10.95 to $39.95.

Metafora olive oil comes in a beautiful bottle and is a nice introduction to Portuguese olive oil. $40.

Alvear makes lovely Andalusian sherry vinegars. For the salad makers and Spanish chefs in your life, think about gifting one each of the bottles, a sweet and a dry, about $20 apop.

Tartuflanghe makes all sorts of luxury ingredients infused with white and black truffles. Elevate your cooking game with truffle-infused butters with flavors like porcini or anchovy (about $10 each). Pick up a box of decadent, truffle-flavored Tartufissima 19 for $32. Or how about a little jar of black truffle pearls, which look like caviar, and are the most elegant way to finish off a risotto or a deviled egg ($40)?

’Tis the season for sweet things, but there's no need to settle for the same old bonbons.

Sanders is known for decadent, chocolate-covered caramels, and this holiday season they have some limited-edition flavors. Do you know someone who might like a bag of bourbon, maple or peppermint dark-chocolate sea-salt caramels? I do! $10.

Perhaps you’ve seen the elegant Lady M layered crepe cakes? Well this holiday, try their more portable and giftable Holiday Crepe Biscuit Collection. Eight wedge-shaped boxes contain a delicate crepe biscuit with fillings such as vanilla, chocolate hazelnut and green tea. $28.

André’s Confiserie Suisse makes handmade chocolate with deep rich flavor, a result of generations of Swiss chocolate-making expertise. Some unusual classics include the Nussbergerli Sticks, a mix of caramel, candied orange peel and nuts, covered in either dark or milk chocolate, as well as a lovely assortment of chocolate-covered almonds. Also check out the festive, almond-stuffed chocolate pinecones, a cute edible ornament. Offerings start at $7.

There are chocolate bars and then there are chocolate bars. At Chocopologie, it's hard to decide among the creative confections. Burnt Caramel Hawaiian Sea Salt? A S'Mores Bar that includes organic graham crackers and vegan marshmallows? At $10 each, you might need to buy a few.

The bakers you know will love playing around with the Salted Caramel Crumbles from Kitty Keller. These toffee-like crumbles are made from the butter and salted caramel of Brittany, France, and can be used to finish all kinds of sweet treats with a crunchy little panache. $12.

I could go on (quite clearly), but suffice it to say that a little special treat can have a big impact. Those stockings aren’t going to stuff themselves!

For more AP gift guides and holiday coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/gift-guide and https://apnews.com/hub/holidays.

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a selection of olive oil and vinegars. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a variety of nut and sesame butters from Rooted Fare. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a box of holiday crepe biscuits from Lady M. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a variety of drinks biscuits from The Drinks Bakery. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image from Katie Workman shows an assortment of chocolate bars from Chocopologie. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a variety of Secret Aardvark Sauces. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a selection of halva and tahini by Seed and Mill. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a selection of nut spreads by Il Colle del Gusto. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a variety of truffle infused ingredients from Tartuflanghe. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows an assortment of holiday chocolates from Andre's Confiserie Suisse. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows two bags of sea salt caramels from Sanders. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows two Mexican-inspired salsas ingredients from Patricia Quintana. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a variety of tinned fish. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows two sherry wine vinegars from Alvear. (Katie Workman via AP)

This image provided by Katie Workman shows a variety chili crunch products. (Katie Workman via AP)

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Former British Open champion Cameron Smith and Jason Day, who is back Down Under for the first time in seven years, shot 4-under 67s Thursday and were two strokes off the lead after the first round of the Australian PGA at Royal Queensland.

Smith, the 2022 British Open champion at St. Andrews, 2015 PGA Championship winner Day and fellow Australian Marc Leishman were in a group behind first-round leader Elvis Smylie, the son of former Australian tennis pro Liz Smylie. He shot 65.

Joel Girrbach of Switzerland, France's Victor Perez, Cristobal del Solar of Chile and Australian Matias Sanchez were tied for second with 66s, a stroke behind Smylie.

Min Woo Lee, who won last year's tournament at Royal Queensland, shot 68 and was three strokes off the lead. Lee, Day and Smith were in the same early group Thursday in the joint PGA Tour of Australasia and the inaugural European Tour event for the 2025 season.

The 22-year-old Smylie, who is from the nearby Gold Coast, said the tournament was like a “home game” for him.

“It’s only an hour’s drive,” Smylie said. “I’ve played a lot of golf here. I’m quite familiar with the course and every part of my game’s really good at the moment. I’m really comfortable with what I’m doing.”

The 37-year-old Day said he enjoyed being in the featured group Thursday. He hadn't played in his home country since the 2017 Australian Open and he has not played the Australian PGA since 2011.

“Obviously Cammy’s (Smith) is a big draw here. It’s nice to get out there and watch Min,” Day said. "It’s unbelievable how far that guy hits it. He seems like he’s got a lot of control. He just had just a couple of bad breaks and obviously some swings out there, but overall, he’s playing pretty solid.

“It’s always nervous to come back and try and defend,” Day added. “And then when you’re in the marquee group, there’s a lot of people watching and it’s always a little bit more nerve-wracking coming back as a defending champ.”

Day said Smith was feeling under the weather and Smith later confirmed the diagnosis.

“I think Tuesday out here in the rain and then Wednesday in the rain, a couple of big weeks and stuff, I think it just got to me a little bit,” Smith said. "Just a little bit of a head cold thing . . . I'll be right, I’ll live.”

Australian Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion who now spends most of his time designing golf courses, shot 69.

Lee (ranked No. 48) and Day (No. 31) are the only players from the top 50 in the world in the field. Smith is playing his third straight week in PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments — he closed with 74 last week to lose a two-shot lead at the New South Wales Open, finishing tied for second and three strokes behind winner and fellow LIV player Lucas Herbert.

Many of the same players will travel to Melbourne next week for the Australian Open, also on the European Tour, which is being played concurrently with the Women's Australian Open at famed sandbelt courses Kingston Heath and Victoria.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Min Woo Lee of Australia, left, Justin Rose of England, centre, and Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark prepare to plays their second shot at the 3rd hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)