I find a gift of Mexican wedding cakes (really a type of shortbread cookie) gingerbread men or similar, gifted in a nice cookie tin from the thrift store is always well received.

This year, I am going to make a heap of quince jam for Christmas presents as part of the family is Mexican and they love membrillo.

Once, I made some family friends a tin of the Mexican wedding cakes and gave it to the father to take home. His daughter later told me that the tin had arrived home empty from its short drive. He simply could not be trusted with them. I

I have also had great success baking braided loaves of Scandinavian fruit bread as Christmas gifts. The hand-knitted socks I gave an old GF caused her to start crying.
Maxine