How to make a Christmas hamper

Get more inspiration from our pick of the best Christmas gifts for foodies and edible Christmas gift recipes. We've also got plenty more extended gift guides too, including the best Christmas hampers, letterbox gifts and best baking gifts.

What to buy to make a hamper

Use crêpe or tissue paper (£4.99, Amazon) to wrap your present and avoid single-use plastic. Wrap in a variety of ribbons (£4.99, Amazon) to create a colourful look.

Wicker baskets (£14.99 for two, Amazon) can be found in garden centres, online and in department stores, but it's worth scouring your local charity shops for second-hand bargains, too.

You can also use a pretty plate to present your gifts or a nice tray, both of which also work as an extra present.

Reuse nice cardboard boxes you have around the house as an easy shortcut.

Christmas hamper recipes

Gifts for cheese lovers

1. Manchego & chorizo melting biscuits

If you're making a hamper for a cheese lover, treat them to homemade accompaniments like these manchego & chorizo melting biscuits. These cheesy morsels are easy to make, plus the recipe makes 30, so you could keep some aside for yourself...

See more of our savoury bakes.

2. Sea salt water biscuits

Complete your cheese-lover's hamper with these homemade sea salt water biscuits, which are sensational spread with creamy cheese. If you fancy adding your own flavours, try sprinkling over a teaspoon of fennel seeds with the salt, or adding two tablespoonfuls of sesame seeds to the mix, or simply whizzing in a clove of garlic when you make the dough.

Check out more savoury biscuit recipes.

3. Fig & walnut slice

Looking for something novel to go into your cheese hamper? This sophisticated fig & walnut slice makes the perfect accompaniment, plus it's an easy, no-cook winner.

See our dried fig recipes for more ways with fig.

4. Spiced beetroot & orange chutney

A cheese hamper is simply not complete without chutney. This vividly coloured beetroot and orange chutney is delicately spiced with cinnamon, cloves and coriander seeds.

Take a look at our best chutney recipes for more ideas.

5. Baked camembert kit

The ideal gift for a cheese-lover: a box of camembert to warm in the oven and serve with boozy marinated sultanas. Add a bottle of wine and they're sure to love it.

See our homemade gift kit recipes for more festive ideas.

6. Marinated goat's cheese

Submerging cheese in oil is a good way to preserve it. To make this marinated goat's cheese, break the goat’s cheese into pieces and roll into balls, place in the jar then pack the lemon zest, thyme and chilli around the cheese. Scatter over the fennel seeds and pour over the oil, then chill and leave to marinate for two days. Store in the fridge, and eat within two weeks.

If you're big into goat's cheese, see our full collection.

Gifts for chocolate lovers

7. Choc hazelnut truffles

Keep chocolate lovers sated with a hamper of sweet treats and you'll definitely be popular. And who can say no to chocolate hazelnut truffles? Wrap these decorative chocolates in cellophane and pop in your hamper.

Discover more of our Christmas truffle recipes.

8. Banoffee chocolate cup

Turn your hand to these banoffee chocolate cups for an indulgent addition to your hamper. Made with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana chips, they're all the taste of banoffee pie in one small bite.

See more Christmas chocolate ideas.

9. Salted fruit ’n’ nut bark

Chocolate barks are easy to make and decorate – just choose your flavours, then pour the melted chocolate into a slab, decorate and leave to set. This super-simple slab of swirled dark and white chocolate is studded with chopped mixed nuts and dried fruit – break into chunky shards and pop in your hamper.

Try out more chocolate bark recipes.

Bakes and sweet treats

10. Pistachio nougat

If you're up for something more challenging, try this homemade nougat studded with pistachio chunks. Wrap up in a presentation box and pop in your hamper for a thoughtful Christmas gift.

We also have a recipe for classic nougat.

11. Snowy chocolate crackle biscuits

Roll balls of dough in icing sugar to give these chocolate biscuits their ‘crackle’ effect. These have a real festive feel and can be made with kids, too.

See our best Christmas biscuit recipes for more ideas.

12. Chocolate fudge

For something more challenging, try making your own chocolate fudge. Be sure to use a sugar thermometer to achieve the perfect melt-in-your-mouth consistency.

Check out more of our fudge recipes.

13. Ginger biscuit snowflakes

These dainty ginger biscuits make an easy addition to your Christmas hamper. They're made with our universal dough recipe as well as festive spices including cinnamon, ginger and mixed spice.

You may also want to bake these lovely checkerboard biscuits.

14. Coconut caramels

These coconut caramels are bound to impress the recipient of your hamper. These require more effort than other sweets featured here, but time and attention are all you need.

We have plenty more caramel recipes in our main collection.

Homemade drinks gifts

15. Turkish delight vodka

A bottle of wine in a Christmas hamper is almost compulsory, but you don't have to stick with the standard. Our Turkish delight-infused vodka is sure to impress.

See more homemade Christmas drinks gifts.

16. Christmas pudding vodka

This homemade Christmas pudding-infused vodka is a big toast to the season's flavours – oranges, lemons, cinnamon, dried fruit, amaretto and brandy.

Read more on how to make flavoured spirits, and find tips and recipes for making infused gin, vodka and the classic winter tipple, sloe gin.

Homemade food kits

17. Triple-chocolate cupcake kit

The perfect Christmas gift for someone who loves to bake - the ingredients for delectable triple-chocolate cupcakes. This no-cook idea is a fun recipe for kids to get involved in, too.

Alternatively, rustle up this chewy cranberry choc-nut cookie kit.

18. Mulling syrup

Make up a mulled syrup gift kit as part of your DIY Christmas hamper. This spiced syrup works equally well for mulled wine or cider. You could also make yourself a batch ahead of time for festive entertaining.

Try this recipe for mulled wine syrup, then check out our classic mulled wine.

19. 10-minute mincemeat

Pack a jar of homemade mincemeat in your hamper. Ready in just 10 minutes, this mincemeat isn't just for mince pies – try it in Chelsea buns or sweet samosas.

We have many more recipes in our mincemeat collection.

20. Hot chocolate stirrers

These charming hot chocolate stirrers are a chocolate lover's dream, and the chances are they'll never want to use powdered cocoa again! This recipe is really easy to follow, and makes up to six stirrers.

See our main Christmas gifts page for more gifting inspiration.

More Christmas hamper recipes and tips

The best edible gift recipes
Last-minute homemade festive hamper ideas
Christmas biscuit recipes
Gingerbread inspiration
Chocolate truffle recipes
Easy DIY boozy gifts
Homemade Christmas gift ideas
Christmas chutney recipes
How to make your own fudge
Pickle ideas
Savoury biscuit recipes
The best hampers to buy

Have you made your own Christmas hamper? Let us know your tips and advice below.