A homemade Christmas hamper tends to bring more joy than a shop-bought one, because it shows that someone has thought about the person receiving it. And knowing how to make a Christmas hamper doesn’t take any special skill: all you need is a simple rule for choosing the contents and a good way of putting it together. Here’s what to put in a Christmas hamper, six ideas depending on who it’s for, the steps for assembling it and what to watch out for with homemade food.
What to put in a Christmas hamper: the 4-group rule
A balanced hamper combines four types of thing. One or two items from each group is enough to make it complete:
- A main item: what the person will remember, such as a good olive oil, a mature cheese or a blanket.
- Something homemade: quince paste, jam, mantecados (crumbly Spanish shortbread) or biscuits. This is what sets it apart from a shop-bought hamper.
- A sweet treat to share: nougat, chocolate, nuts or dried figs.
- Something that lasts: a wooden board, a nice tea towel or a mug, something that will still be there when the rest has gone.
6 homemade Christmas hamper ideas to suit the person
- For food lovers: olive oil, mature cheese, cured meats from their home region, breadsticks and a bottle of wine you know they like.
- For grandparents: herbal teas, homemade jam, biscuits and a framed family photo.
- For coffee or tea lovers: freshly ground coffee or loose-leaf tea, a nice mug and some biscuits to go with it.
- For afternoons on the sofa: a blanket, thick hot chocolate, popcorn, chunky socks and a book.
- For keen cooks: spices, flaky salt, an apron, a wooden spoon and a family recipe written by hand.
- For people with a dog or cat: treats for their pet, a toy and something practical for the owner, such as the Velia Select reusable pet hair roller, which works without batteries or refills. It’s used on sofas, blankets and clothes, not directly on the animal.
How to make a Christmas hamper in 5 steps
- Choose the container. A wicker basket, a wooden crate or a lined cardboard box. If it can be reused, it’s part of the gift too.
- Fill the bottom. Use shredded paper, tissue paper or a folded tea towel to add height and protect against knocks.
- Arrange from largest to smallest. Bottles and tall items go at the back and small things at the front, with the labels facing outwards.
- Secure anything fragile. Wrap jars and bottles in paper and wedge them in so they don’t move when the hamper is carried.
- Close and personalise. Finish with cellophane or a ribbon and add a handwritten card. If you’d like more ideas, see how to wrap a gift creatively.
If you don’t have time to cook: the layered biscuit jar
Put the dry ingredients for some biscuits into a clean, dry glass jar in layers: flour, sugar, oats and chocolate chips. Tie on a label with the recipe and what still needs adding, such as the butter and egg. It looks attractive, takes minutes to prepare and the person only has to add what’s missing and bake the biscuits whenever they like.
Take care with homemade food
- Choose what keeps. Dry biscuits in a tightly closed tin, quince paste and jams in tightly closed jars travel better than a soft sponge or a dessert with cream.
- Label everything. Say what it is, the date you made it and the ingredients, especially if it contains nuts, milk, egg or gluten.
- Anything that needs chilling goes separately. Soft cheeses and any product that has to be kept in the fridge should be handed over separately and at the last moment.
- Alcohol only if it’s right for them. Only include it for adults and if you know that person drinks.
A cheap Christmas hamper that doesn’t look it
There’s no right amount, but there are a few tricks to make your money go further:
- Fewer items, but better ones. Three good products in a small box look better than ten ordinary ones in a large basket.
- Set the budget before you start and include the container and wrapping, which soon add up.
- If you’re making several, buy the ingredients in bulk and prepare the homemade items in a single afternoon.
- Share the cost. Between siblings or colleagues, a joint hamper lets you choose better quality without anyone overspending.
For the smaller gifts of the season, there are also our Secret Santa ideas and the Christmas Eve box.