Home made Christmas family hampers

[Snadger]

I've never made them and intend making two.......any tips for containers,contents etc?

[bramble]

Pudding, cake, chocolates, luxury biscuits, wine, feraro roche, maybe a few crackers, some nice cheese, home made jars of produce.
really, you can put anything in depending on the size, personal likes and dislikes and of course monatary outlay.
Tie it all up with a big red bow.
Good luck and enjoy making it.

[greenishfing]

I've used a variety of baskets in the past (mainly from car boot sales). I've also used cardboard boxes (Morrisons) wrapped in foil or Christmas paper. I usually put either straw or shredded paper in the base and then depending on the recipient and what I have made a selection of:

Jam, Chutney, Picalilli and marmalade. Maybe a bottle of homemade wine and plait of garlic and/or onions Sometimes a Christmas pudding. Occasionally I've also made Chocotate truffles to go in.

[Lisasbolt]

I love making hampers, especially for my dad. He won't ever buy himself anything special and is really hard to buy for, so i will get that extra special cheese that i know he will love, or the next price up bottle of wine and them stuff it with loads of things that i know he loves like homemade chocolates, jams, chutneys sundries bits and bobs
Homemade honeycomb is to die for and always goes down a treat.

[Snadger]

I'm contemplating two, one for my Sons family and the other for my Daughters family. I would like to make them exactly the same, the trouble is one side of the family are very fond of alcoholic drinks and the other side are tee total.

I intend making some non alcoholic ginger cordial as I love the stuff myself anyway.. I have chilli jams, various other jams, chutnies and pickles (onions and beetroot.)

On the bought side, I would like some ideas for unusual additions,possibly tinned jarred or packeted that are reasonably cheap to add to the hamper?

Keep the ideas coming please.

[Lisasbolt]

nice local honey? or some lovely homemade candles?

[Snadger]

nice local honey? or some lovely homemade candles?

I've never made candles or soap but I'm sure i could pick up some home made stuff at a local craft fair at the weekend!

[Guest]

Other homemade food goodies mince pies, apple pies, tea cake/fruitcake, choc. log, cupcakes with melted marshmellow snowmen, pumpkin seed brittle (am yet to try this one), sausage rolls (but that is more for the delivering day)

Bought - I got a goodie box at the weekend with some lovely italian nougat and pate, oh and possibly nuts

I tend to do breakfast hampers as I have blokes to buy for and know that food is usually the best way to go. So some jams and jellies, some speciality tea and coffee, home laid eggs, then various years there have been novelty egg cups, keyrings etc. There is then a 2nd part from the butchers - speciality sausages (marmalade, spicy spanish, black pudding and strawberry jam etc.) bacon - usually guinness and black treacle. I might have a go at cheese when I can find the blog I saw the recipe on

Edit: personalised photo mugs https://www.tescophoto.com/photo_mugs or you can buy your own transfer paper on amazon etc.

[Lisasbolt]

Have fun at the fair, but for future they are really easy to make.

Do you have kids, sorry you have probably said but i cannot remember everyones posts could they decorate the baskets/boxes.

i have sent paella dishes as the box filled with all the ingredients to make it (apart from fresh) rice, saffron, pimento etc looks lovely with a bottle of rioja or juice

[bearded bloke]

What about a few bath bombs for the ladies

[Alison]

I make a few every year but only put homemade stuff in them as that's the point of it to me - I get annoyed by all the commercialism at Christmas so this is my reaction . I have done various things over the years, OH's aunty's always get small 4" Christmas cakes, little Christmas puddings, jams, pickles and chutneys which I've already made and just need ribbons and bows on them. A couple of days before I hand them over I'll make something like flapjack and fudge. Will also add flavoured liqueurs, oils or vinegars or maybe cordials. Not decided yet but probably need to think about that soonish. Have also added homemade soaps and other toiletries and think I knitted scarves one year to line the baskets. The baskets were originally scavanged from somebody and are returned in time for refilling at some point during the year. Made toiletry ones for nieces last year, bought a nice flannel but accompanied it with home made soaps, shower smoothies, body lotions, lip salves, scrubs and face packs.

[Nicos]

What a lovely idea Snadge!

How about a few fat balls/ cake with seeds in them for the birds?...it's always nice to watch the birds eating!
You'd need to make it clear they are for the birds though.
Easy to make too!

[Scarlet]

I always make Christmas puddings, christmas cake, pickled eggs, pickled onions. Home made jams, chutney, chilli oil, flavoured vinegars, lemon/gooseberry curd. A couple of jars of mincemeat (if they cook?). Walnuts - from the garden, then top up with some biscuits, chocolate, and lemons to go with the gin?

[Snadger]

Thanks all! My heads now bursting with inspiration and I'm going to need hampers the size of wheelbarrows if I use all your ideas!

I'm Looking forward to getting started though and I may even post some piccies of the finished articles if I'm pleased with them!

PS Pallet wood could make some neat trays if cut and fastened into shape and all the rough edges taken off?

[veggiechicken]

The seed companies are selling "crates" personalised with a stencilled name. Cost an arm and a leg for summat that looks like its made from an old pallet - but it might be an idea for you!

For example
http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Gift+Ideas/Crates/
Other crates are available