19 MICHIGAN-MADE VEGAN AND CRUELTY-FREE HOLIDAY GIFTS

19 MICHIGaN-MadE VEGaN aNd CrUELTY-frEE HOLIdaY GIfTS

by rebecca from veggIes abroad

It’s the ho, ho, ho, holiday time! That means vegan gingerbread cookies, the warm glow of lights, and finding the absolute best gift for that special someone on your list!

But you don’t want just any gift, right?

Heck no! You want it to reflect your values and support businesses that reflect them too! Well, you’re in luck because there are some super fantastic vegan and vegan-friendly businesses peppered throughout Michigan that have everything from indulgent handmade fudge to chic handbags that will make perfect gifts this holiday season.

So, what are you waiting for!? Get shopping with these 19 super awesome vegan and cruelty-free gift ideas from Michigan-based businesses.

19 vegan gIfts to add to your wIsh lIst

#1 Handmade Chocolate

When in doubt, always reach for chocolate! You can’t go wrong with gorgeous bon bons from Blue Canary Confections, decadent handmade vegan fudge from Rochester Fudge Co., or expertly crafted chocolate sourced sustainably from Ecuador at Ann Arbor’s Mindo Chocolate.

Rochester Fudge

#2 Sugar High

Maybe chocolate isn’t their thing, but they love sweets! Pump that sugar high with sweets from so many fantastic vegan bakeshops, creameries, and pop-ups around town — Cold Truth, iFreeze Creamery, Super Baked, Dooped Donuts, Third Coast Bakery, Rise Authentic Baking Co., and so many more! Seriously, this is just the start of sweet-pushing shops.

Cold Truth

#3 Meats & Cheeses

You can’t go wrong with jerky and cheese for the vegan who loves to try new things! Check out the jerky selection at VEG-N in Lansing, or grab a gift box from Detroit Jerky. Just remember to add artisanal cheeses from Planthropie!

Detroit Jerky

#4 Indian Flavored Foods

Spice up your life with some Indian flavors! Grab some Khichdi and Dal or Popped Water Lily Seeds from Karma Wellness Kitchen. Khichdi is a traditional Indian dish made with lentils and rice and is a powerful source of 10 essential amino acids as well as polyphenols, protein, iron, fiber, magnesium, and dietary fiber. Popped Water Lily Seeds are a perfect snack for work, school, or even just relaxing at home. Both come in a variety of flavors!

Karma Spices

#5 Tea Time

The perfect tea time isn’t complete without the delicious blends from the only USDA Certified Organic & Demeter Biodynamic tea farm in North America, Light of Day Organics — located in Traverse City!

Light of Day Organics

#6 Zero-Waste Toiletries

If they’re looking for ways to cut down on plastic, check out the excellent zero-waste personal care products from Essence by Noble. They have lovely deodorant, soap, and lip balm options. There are also multiple zero-waste and eco-friendly shops throughout Michigan if you’d prefer to shop in person!

Essence by Noble

#7 Makeup Magic

Whether they can’t leave the house without the perfect pink lip gloss or love creating smokey eyes, you can’t go wrong with any of the amazing makeup choices from The Lip Bar or Mone’s Cosmetics!

The Lip Bar

#8 Get Your Glow On

Create a luxurious basket of skin-pampering products from Detroit Rose, Natural Red, and Cass Naturals — from age-defying to rough elbows, these three have the perfect potion. Detroit Rose has scented candles too!

Detroit Rose

#9 Furry Friend Portraits

For animal lovers who can’t take enough photos of their furry friend, get them a custom portrait from smhgraphicdesign! Then have it framed at the vegan-owned frame shop, Frameworks in Canton.

smhgraphicdesign

#10 Get Nutty

Handmade maple cashews, walnuts, and pecans from The Detroit Gourmet Nut Company are sure to please anyone and everyone!

Detroit Gourmet Nut Company

#11 Eco-Chic Handbags

The unique cruelty-free bags, wallets, and journals from The Art Forest are made with fallen leaves — how cool is that?

The Art Forest

#12 Veg-Powered Cookbooks

Get cooking with the beautiful Plant-Based for Life Cookbook written by Ann Arbor native Vicki Brett-Gach, creator of Ann Arbor Vegan Kitchen or The Six Vegan Sisters Everyday Cookbook, written by six sisters from metro Detroit!

The Plant-Based for Life Cookbook by Vicki Brett-Gach

#13 Earthy Artwork

The show-stopping illustrations created by Maia from Wander & Gather are beautiful as wall art, calendar backdrops, or even on mugs!

Wander & Gather

#14 Meal Prep Help

Give them a break from the weekly frustration of what to cook! Aratham Gourmet To Go and Miroh Meals are cooking fantastic meal selections for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert!

Miroh Meals

#15 Craft Beer & Michigan Wine

For the beer or wine lover in your life, you can’t go wrong with a basket of beer from Short’s Brewing Co., Founder’s Brewing Co., Odd Side Ales, and many more (just double-check you don’t grab one with honey). On the wine side, 13 Michigan wineries produce vegan wine, like Green Bird Organic Cellars, Mari Vineyard, and more! For the complete list of wineries, check this out.

Mari Vineyards

#16 Sweet Smells

Ori Studios makes four signature vegan and cruelty-free scents ranging from sweet and playful to smokey and mysterious!

Ori Studios

#17 Get Pampered

For those on your list that need relaxation or a refresh, check out the massage lineup at Breathe Bodywork and Beautification, incredible facials at Eden Esthetics, or mani and pedi options at Rouge Makeup and Nail Studio!

Rouge Nails

#18 Support A Veg-Friendly Michigan Restaurant

This is the gift that always fits! Grab a gift card to their favorite spot (s) or a new spot they haven’t tried — there are so many fabulous options no matter where you are in Michigan! Check out our restaurant guides to Southern Michigan, the UP, Western Michigan, Lansing, Ann Arbor & Dearborn & Detroit, and Northern Michigan for some recommendations if you don’t already have a place in mind!

Unburger Grill – Dearborn

#19 Show Your Veggie Pride

Help VegMichigan promote the benefits of plant-based eating throughout Michigan by ordering a shirt, sweatshirt, or bag from their online shop! Choose a VegMichigan Logo Tee in a variety or colors or showcase your values with one of their new Friends Not Food tees or cozy crewnecks. You can’t go wrong by adding an insulated bag to your order! Nothing is better for hauling around all your vegan snacks. It’s the perfect way to show your vegan pride and support the advocacy efforts of VegMichigan!

VegMichigan Logo Tee

If you need more vegan and cruelty-free gift ideas, don’t miss our 2021 lineup, that’s full of fantastic options too!

about the author

Hello! I am Rebecca Gade Sawicki, the Creator of Veggies Abroad, a vegan travel blog. My blog features vegan travel guides, tips and inspiration to explore the world. You can find my blog at https://veggiesabroad.com/ and follow my adventures on Instagram or Facebook @veggiesabroad