Christmas hampers are a great way of making presents that are frugal, but filled with love. We started making them for family when we could not afford Christmas presents for anyone but the children. We felt tight and embarrassed, but they loved them and expect them every year now. They are also a good way to make a last minute presents if you have forgotten someone and the shops are shut. A neighbour brought me a present today that I was not expecting and I was able to just put together one for her really quickly and take it across. I would have felt really bad if I hadn’t had anything to give her.
We don’t make themed ones with bought goods, but they are a good idea. We just make them with things that we preserve, make, or bake. Here are some ideas for some easy things that can be added to hampers. You might have preserved them for yourselves, already. We tend to cater them individually to what we know that the people like. It is probably too late for this year (sorry I have been taking time out to spend with family), but you can be thinking about what you want to make for next year throughout the foraging and growing season of 2025. We always try to make things that are easy to bake or to make with out it taking a lot of effort. I used to make decorated cup cakes but it would take me hours.
Throughout the year we save bottles, jars, I buy cellophane bags, ribbon, look out for baskets (you can usually find them cheap at Easter time)
mince pie
Cheese straws
The list is endless. Some people put in mini Christmas cakes. If I do not have any baskets I will cover a small box in Christmas paper, or use a Christmas cake box. One lot of shortbread makes enough for over 10 hampers. Tiffin makes a lot if cut into small squares. The hampers take effort and time but you could probably make 10 hampers for about £15 or under if you grow or forage, and depending what you put in. What do you put in your hampers if you make them?
Thank you for the lovely ideas!
I didn’t make baskets, but rather gift bags and gave them away.
One bag was filled with garlic-chili oil, peach chutney and dried chili peppers. Another bag contained spruce honey and chili jam.
All of these things were homemade with things that we had harvested in the garden and that I had preserved in the summer.
These gifts are always very popular because they are so delicious and you can’t buy them.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Sibylle from Germany
Merry Christmas. We kept most of our preserves this year as we did not make as many as we had quite a few left from last year and I did not want them to waste. They are popular. We therefore gave more baked items that went down just as well. Yes they always seem to be appreciated.
I made hampers for my grown up children and their partners this year. They were all shop bought things but personal to them and their hobbies. It was lovely to see the delight and enjoyment they got from opening them.
Aww, brilliant
Hallo Sybille,
tolle Sachen hast du verschenkt.
Pfirsich -Chutney hört sich gut an. Würde mich über das Rezept freuen.
Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland
Hello Regina,
the recipe is on my blog. I don’t want to put a link. This is Toni’s blog and territory and I want to respect that.
Best wishes, Sibylle
—-
Hallo Regina,
das Rezept steht auf meinem Blog. Ich möchte keinen Link setzen. Das ist der Blog und das Hoheitsgebiet von Toni und das möchte ich respektieren.
Liebe Grüße, Sibylle
A really good idea. Cheaper and more thoughtful. Happy Christmas 🎁⛄🎄
Absolutely. I think that they are more appreciated by most as well. Especially if I put the alcohol in which I haven’t this year
DH has a smoker. This year he smoked sharp cheddar cheese for gifts.
Ohh that is a lovely idea. I must use my smoker more. Thanks for the nudge
My 16 year old son is difficult to get something for, às he always claims he has everything he needs and “please don’t spend money on me”,. He does however love food. Most of his life he suffered with bad allergies so lots of treats were of the books for him, now he can have everything and he loves to try new things. The weirder the better! I was buying few items from Lidl each time they had themed week. I started in August so didn’t really feel it financially, as it was 1-2 extra items a week with my normal food shopping. The result was a big hamper full of American, Japanese, Spanish and Scandinavian drinks and treats and his smile when he saw it was the best reward 😊
Aww that sounds wonderful. I bet he loved that. Thanks for sharing
A lovely idea.
We give a few eggs from our hens to friends, neighbours and delivery drivers, through the year, and sell enough at meetings to buy chicken feed. We have swapped eggs for produce, we never had to buy tomato plants.
Honey from our bees was always well received. We were advised to buy half pound jars for giving, or some years we would have none for ourselves!
I made sloe gin, and vanilla extract.
I make plenty of marmalade in January for our use and for presents.
When we had the allotment, I made a lot of jam.
I love vintage cotton and linen handkerchiefs, they are beautifully made and hand embroidered. Boxes of them are often sold very cheaply on eBay, if you are patient and keep looking. I have laundered them and given them as presents where they will be appreciated.
Great ideas there Toni and definitely food for thought for birthdays etc as well in 2025. Thank you!
Starting to think now for next Christmas, and collecting things that may be useful make hampers a lot easier