Holiday Shopping Guide for the Arkansas Foodie

Discover perfect holiday gifts for the Arkansas foodie in our curated shopping guide. Embrace the spirit of local flavors with a range of locally made food products, from small-batch jams, seasonings, and sauces, to handcrafted chocolates. These delectable treats are sure to delight the taste buds of any food enthusiast. For those who appreciate the beauty of craftsmanship, explore a selection of handcrafted wooden kitchen products that capture the essence of Arkansas’s natural beauty. 

Our friends at Honeycomb Kitchen Shop (HKS) share their favorite Arkansas-Made food and kitchen products. For a one-stop shop of locally-made products, shop with HKS online or visit them in downtown Rogers at 213 W. Walnut St. 

Arkansas-Shaped Cutting Board

Artisan Wood Design — Rogers, AR  

This locally crafted "State Pride" Arkansas-shaped edge grain cutting board makes a beautiful staple piece in any kitchen. The cutting board includes a non-slip mat, conditioning oil, care instructions, and a warranty. 

Artisan Wood Design owner and creator, Don DeSpain, creates premium hardwood gifts and housewares using a mixture of walnut, cherry, hard maple, and oak woods so each piece is slightly unique. Woods are responsibly harvested in the Ozarks and resist bacteria. His wooden creations can be personalized with custom inlays or engravings. Artisan Wood Design products include cutting boards, wine boxes, lazy Susans, Arkansas magnets, recipe boxes, and more. 

Peppermint Chocolate Bark

Bark Boy Chocolate— Lowell, AR 

A bag of Peppermint Chocolate Bark, made with white chocolate and peppermint candy, makes a great holiday stocking stuffer or gift at school or work! Bark Boy Chocolate is a Northwest Arkansas small business owned by husband and wife duo Tommy and Candace Hankins. Tommy, the chef of Bark Boy, makes chocolate bark of various flavors perfect for dessert, snacking, or gifting. Their staple flavors include S’mores, Cookies and Cream, Coffee Toffee, Dark Almond, Dark Pretzel, and Razzstachio. Every season they offer seasonal bark flavors in limited quantities.

Their bark chocolate can be found in various shops across NWA, and at the Bentonville Farmers Market every Saturday. 

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Hot Mama Bloody Mary Mix

Bloody Darn Good — Little Rock, AR  

Warm up this holiday season with not just any regular bloody mary but a Hot Mama Bloody Mary from Bloody Darn Good! The flavor of ghost pepper ensures this smoking hot bloody mary mix will appeal to the confident and adventurous. 

In 1945, Bloody Darn Good’s grandmother (pictured on the label) was celebrating her husband’s return from WWII when one of their friends snapped a picture. More than 75 years later, that picture inspired Diana, founder of Bloody Darn Good, to fulfill her longtime dream of bottling her family's renowned bloody mary mix for everyone to enjoy. The name, Bloody Darn Good, seemed obvious since her grandmother had written a note at the bottom of her handwritten recipe, “p.s. this is BLOODY DARN GOOD!” 

Their flavors include Morning Light, OG, Dyl Pickle, and Hot Mama. Their Morning Light flavor is a citrusy twist on a bloody mary, and is excellent with tequila!

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Wooden Spoon

Cirro Studio — Rogers, AR

A handcrafted wooden spoon is a must-have tool in the kitchen and on every foodie’s Christmas wishlist! Not only are wooden utensils a strong material to cook with, they are also non-scratch and heat-resistant. Cirro Studio is a small-batch woodshop and design studio in Northwest Arkansas led by Monica McCleary, who completed a two-year furniture design and building program in Western North Carolina. With a mission to inspire the feeling of home, Monica designs and handcrafts fine furniture, home goods, and personal accessories using locally sourced hardwoods. Monica can be often found at local farmers and crafts markets accompanied by her wife, Jessy Duque, who helps with the business part-time. As of late, they have been focusing on handcrafting kitchen tools such as wooden spoons, spatulas, sourdough stirring sticks, charcuterie boards, and even mini spoon and spatula earrings! 

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Pepper Jellies and Jams

Deb’s Gourmet Pantry — Fayetteville, AR

These locally made pepper jellies are perfect for pairing with your favorite soft cheese on a holiday charcuterie board or for slathering on a pork loin for Christmas dinner. You’ll definitely want to add all the flavors to your stocking stuffer list.  

Deb’s Gourmet Pantry is a local woman-owned business specializing in artisan, small-batch jams and jellies, which include Hot Pepper Jelly, Blackberry Pepper Jelly, Raspberry Pepper Jelly, Pineapple Pepper Jam, Peach Pepper Jam, and Strawberry Lavender Jam. Deb often shares cooking recipes, from appetizers and desserts to entrees, using her different jams and jellies. What started out as a garden project in 2006 has turned into a growing business focused on quality ingredients and creative, exciting food combinations. Deb's Gourmet Pantry can now be found in over 47 retail locations in 4 states (AR, KS, MO, and OK) as well as at area arts and crafts festivals and farmer's markets.

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Organic Veggie Heaven All Purpose Seasoning

Fennel & Fire — Little Rock, AR

Veggie Heaven All-Purpose Seasoning takes the crown as the most practical, all-natural, organic spice mix around. Dab it on rice, chicken, bread, tuna salad, fish, corn, popcorn, chowder, veggies, and more - no end to the recipes, and perfect for the foodie in your life. A definite stocking stuffer or gift basket addition. 

Fennel & Fire was founded by Tay, a southern farm girl who grew up in pigtails playing in the irrigation waters of the delta farmland. She grew to love the growing & harvesting of mint, fresh dewberries, and the vegetables grown in the garden. Much later in life, she learned the wonderful joy of cooking with quality ingredients, entertaining, and laughing with her friends and family. This love, passion & want for sharing is what motivated her to start Fennel and Fire. 

They offer a year-round collection of spices as well as a seasonal collection in which they rotate some of their favorites, and introduce new blends throughout the year.

Their year-round collection includes Cowboy, Delta Dust, Fajita, Fire Salt, Perfect Salmon, Steak Seasoning, Citrus Peppercorn, Lita’s Peruvian, Wild Game, and Pasta Toss to name a few. 

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Peanut Brittle

Fulmer Candy Company — Fort Smith, AR

This locally made peanut brittle just needs a bow, and it’s ready for gifting! Its homemade charm and crunchy, sweet taste make it a great present for spreading holiday nostalgia. 

As far back as the 1920s, the Fulmer family began making peanut brittle. Back then, the Sheets sisters worked in Mr. Hoffman's candy shop in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, making all sorts of delicious candy. Through the years peanut brittle was made and given as gifts and sold through various candy kitchens that the sisters maintained. Now in the fourth generation of candy makers, Fulmer Candy Company is proud to carry on the family tradition by offering the finest in gourmet brittles of different flavors. Their brittle flavors include Peanut, Pecan, Cashew, and Jalepeño.

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Local Honey

Guenther Apiary — Roland, AR

Local honey makes a thoughtful holiday gift as it represents a taste of the region and supports local beekeepers. Its natural sweetness and versatility in recipes or as a sweetener add a touch of uniqueness and warmth to a foodie’s holiday season.

In 2017, Mark Guenther left the corporate world and took up beekeeping as a hobby. In 2019, Mark and his wife, Trisha Guenther, started Guenther Apiary Farm and began selling local honey throughout the State of Arkansas. They supply 100% local honey, beeswax candles, and bees throughout the State of Arkansas. Guenther Apiary products include the Honey Bear Bottle, the Hot Honey Bear Bottle, Chocolate Creamed Honey, Cinnamon Creamed Honey, Honey Pint Jar, Natural Creamed Honey, Blueberry Creamed Honey, Strawberry Creamed Honey, and Votive and Pillar 100% Beeswax Candles. 

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Campfire Caramel Pecan Apple Butter

Montana Max BBQ — Northwest Arkansas

Montana Max’s Campfire Caramel Pecan Apple Butter takes apple butter to a whole new level.  With a decadent balance of caramel and pecans expertly combined with creamy smooth all-natural apple butter this is perfect for pairing with a loaf of homemade bread for a thoughtful and delicious gift. 

Montana Max and his partner in food, love, and life, Kansas City Jen, began a simple journey cooking for friends and family, and with their encouragement, decided to bring their unique flavors and cooking style to a bigger audience. Their BBQ sauces and seasonings can be found across the U.S. Their products include Cowboy Crafted Mustard, Wild West Huckleberry Preserves, Campfire Caramel Pecan Apple Butter, Big Sky Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Mountain Magic All Purpose Seasoning, Rocky Mountain Kickin’ Ketchup, The Last Best BBQ Rub and Seasoning, High, Wide & Handsome Steak Sauce, Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Butter, Let ‘Er Buck Rub & Seasoning, and Rodeo Rum BBQ Sauce. 

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An Ozark Culinary History Cookbook

Local Chef and Food Author Erin Rowe — Northwest Arkansas

Looking for a gift for the foodie who has everything?  An Ozark Culinary History is equal parts recipes, history, and entertainment as local chef turned food author Erin Rowe recounts her culinary adventures stomping grapes, canning hominy, picking Muscadines, gathering wild watercress, and tracking honeybees.  Northwest Arkansas' High South cuisine is replete with nostalgia, fresh ingredients, tall tales, and rural roots. In the 1890s, Ozark apples fed the nation. Welch's Concord grapes grew in Arkansas vineyards. Local poultry king, Tyson, still satisfies America's chicken craving. Featuring 50 heirloom recipes dating as far back as the early 1800s, this delectable narrative is sure to whet your curiosity and appetite. You can also find Chef Erin Rowe at Honeycomb Kitchen Shop teaching classes on elevated Southern cuisine. 

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Cinnamon Roasted Pecans

Ozark Nut Roasters — North Little Rock, AR

Share the classic taste of Christmas with a bag of Cinnamon-Roasted Pecans from Ozark Nut Roasters. Perfect as a stocking stuffer, gift basket filler, or on your holiday charcuterie board.

Ozark Nut Roasters began as a small family-owned-and-operated business in 2000. Their candied nuts are manufactured in small batches with simple ingredients for maximum flavor and freshness. They are currently found in over 2,500 retail locations nationwide.

Their products include candied nuts such as Chipotle Cashews, Salted Caramel Pecans, Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, Cinnamon Roasted Pecans, Coconut Macaroon Almonds, Praline Pecans, and Salted Caramel Cashews, chocolate-covered nuts such as cashews, almonds, pecans, and peanuts, and cajun mixed nuts, and Smokey BBQ Mixed Nuts. 

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pH Delight Simple Syrup

Pink House Alchemy — Fayetteville, AR

This trifecta flavored syrup has been gracing the coffee mug since the early '90s. Rich vanilla, spicy cinnamon, and earthy honey make this syrup perfect for holiday coffees and cocktails alike. 

Developed in a 100-year-old pink house, a team of alchemists founded Pink House Alchemy through the love of food and flavor. Inspired by complementary patterns in roots, barks, fruits, herbs, and botanicals, they work every day to find new and perfect connections between ingredients—and simple syrups, bitters, and shrubs are where they put these discoveries to the test.

Pink House Alchemy syrup flavors range from Blackberry Sage, Cardamom, Dark Cherry Grenadine, Ginger, and Hazelnut to Herbalicious, Hibiscus Rose, Lavender, Mexican Chile, Pumpkin Butternut Spice, and Sarsaparilla, to name a few. Their bitters include Grapefruit, Honeysuckle, Sarsaparilla, Smoldered, and House. Their shrubs include Ginger, Pineapple Rosemary, and Pineapple. 

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Honeycomb Holiday Coffee Stocking Stuffers

RoZark Hills Coffee Roasterie — Rose Bud, AR

Give the gift of a cozy morning hug in a cup with Honeycomb Kitchen Shop’s Holiday Coffee Stocking Stuffers (2 oz. bags)! Choose from three flavors or get one of each - Christmas Cookie, Southern Pecan, and Old Irish Créme.

The coffee is roasted locally by RoZark Hills Coffee Roasterie, founded in 1996 in a quaint little town called Rose Bud. RoZark ensures your coffee-drinking pleasure by carefully sourcing and purchasing coffee beans from renowned coffee importers and roasting them to their maximum flavor potential. They roast each load with meticulous care by sight, aroma, time, and temperature on vintage Probat and Barth roasters. They roast-to-order to provide fresh roasted coffee for our customers, whether it be wholesale or retail. RoZark coffee varieties include Espresso, Sumatra Mandheling, Hazelnut, Snikee Doodle, French Roast, Costa Rican, House Blend, and Honey Nut Shortbread. 

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Handmade Pasta

Zelli Pasta — Springdale, AR

Surprise your favorite foodie with a delicious gift that's as unique as they are - homemade pasta! The Casarecce from Zelli Pasta means “homemade” and is originally from Sicily.

Zelli Pasta is a family-owned and operated pasta producer based in Springdale. Unlike most store-bought pasta, their extruded pasta is made with 100% all-organic durum semolina. The pasta is extruded using bronze dies, and then air dried, giving the pasta a better texture for sauce to stick. Their pasta varieties include Rigatoni, Casarecce, Spaghetti, Fusilli, Campanelli, Radiatore, Creste di Gallo, and Bucatini.  Zelli Pasta brick-and-mortar also offers provisions, cheese, and wines. Zelli Pasta can be found in retail and kitchen stores throughout Arkansas and beyond. 

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