As a commerce editor who writes extensively about Christmas hampers, I consider myself something of an expert in the category. I review many hampers year in, year out and like to think I am very discerning about what makes a truly great basket of goods. That said, this year I have the itch to create my own. In shop-bought hampers, there's always an item or two that doesn't quite makes sense for the recipient of your present, it might be a chilli oil for the spice-averse friend, or the artisanal jar of peanut butter that ends up in front your family member with a nut allergy, so I am determined to learn how to make a Christmas hamper this year–where every item is just right.
You can, of course, pick any theme for your handmade hamper. For a keen fisherman, a mixture of practical equipment and silly fish items would be cheerful. For a busy gardener, lovely new gloves, a new trowel or tool and plenty of seeds would be spot on. However, for the purpose of this article, I will be sticking to food and food adjacent items, and I hope it provides inspiration in abundance no matter the hamper. Read on to find out how to make a Christmas hamper.
First things first you'll need a basket, box or bag to ‘deliver’ your items in. I like to choose something that will be genuinely useful for the recipient long-term. If they're often on holiday, how about a lovely straw beach bag? For someone with children, or a busy household, perhaps something that can become a form of storage? Depending on the shape, you can wrap it in a lovely Christmas paper, or place a piece of fabric over the top and secure as you might with a jam jar. If the size is right, I might use a tea towel for the latter, which then becomes an extra gift. Finally, no hamper is complete without a sense of discovery, and to maximise this feeling you'll need some kind of ‘stuffing’. We recommend a recycled, shredding paper. As a bonus, this will also keep your items safe in transit.
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Take cues from Ottolenghi's hampers, which are often paired with one of his brilliant cookbooks. Inside, you'll often have hard-to-find spices which are integral to his recipes, as well as the building blocks and ingredients for the majority of the book's recipes. Try to think of your recipient's favourite cuisine and go from there. Or, head to our guide to the best cookbooks to buy this year.
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Colourful tins of fish have undoubtedly graced your algorithim at some point in the past year. They make a great hamper addition because you can get them for as little as 30p, so no matter the budget you can add a couple of these into your basket and make it feel quite full. We'd argue this is the perfect time to opt for style over substance too. The prettier the better!
Much like with tinned fish, store cupboard goods should be judged by their cover when it comes to building your hamper. Olive oil is easy win. It lasts for ages and some of the young, new brands look so great on the shelf. Alternatively, if you're giving to a keen baker, you can find some beautiful cake ingredients on Sous Chef.
Whether they are a tea or a coffee person, an elevated brand of either is a great way to brighten up their first cup of the day.
It is always fun to discover a giant version of something you love and these large pots of crisps, olives or cheese are ideal. No doubt you have seen the large crisp tins before, but the two kilogram Perello olives would make a whimsical addition to a hamper. Once empty, any of these pots can have a second life as a charming vessel for storing wooden spoons and kitchen utensils.
A fancy butter? A gorgeous ‘library’ of chocolate? These are things we would likely never purchase for ourselves, but boy would we love to receive them–which makes them brilliant additions to a Christmas hamper.
No hamper is complete without a sweet treat or two.
Finally, every hamper should have a one object that keeps giving long past the sell by dates of the other items. Our advice is to try pair said thing with the perishables, so everything can be used in conjunction.
Happy hampering!
