Christmas hampers are one of the best gifts you can give to the foodie in your life. You’re sure to find one for any palate – from classic baskets of mince pies and other sweet treats to unusual arrays of liqueurs and savoury nibbles. We’ve tried Christmas baskets from a range of restaurants, bakeries and more, and these are our favourites.
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1. Cutter & Squidge
London’s only all-natural bakery is the obvious place to start when looking at the must-have Christmas hampers of 2021! Cutter & Squidge is the home of dream cakes, biscuits and unique afternoon teas, so they are uniquely suited to creating the ultimate Christmas hamper.
We tried the Mini Squidge hamper – and even though it’s called ‘mini’, it certainly packs a huge Christmas punch! There are goodies galore, including a pack of white chocolate strawberry meringue bark, chocolate fudge hot chocolate, and rainbow peppercorn crackers.
But real highlights of the Mini Squidge hamper are the baked goods – the Christmas NYC cookies and mince pies. When warmed through in the oven, the cookies have a gooey Nutella centre that will please any chocoholic, and the sumptuous mince pies immediately gave us a boost of Christmas cheer.
If you’re buying a Christmas hamper for someone with a sweet tooth, then look no further – this is everything you’re going to need.
London’s only all-natural bakery is the obvious place to start when looking at the must-have Christmas hampers of 2021!
2. Ottolenghi
If you like eating in London, then you probably have already tried the world-famous food at NOPI, ROVI, or one of the other Ottolenghi restaurants. But with the Ottolenghi Christmas Hamper, you can recapture the magic at home or gift it to a loved one who might not have had the restaurant experience yet.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this Christmas hamper is full of festive classics that have been given that signature Ottolenghi twist. We immediately devoured the cheddar and pistachio biscuits, chocolate orange sables and the chilli and coriander chutney in a matter of minutes.
If you like eating in London, then you probably have already tried the world-famous food at NOPI, ROVI, or one of the other Ottolenghi restaurants.
While they were delicious, the stars of the show were the Ottolenghi Christmas cake and panettone classico. The Christmas cake was crammed with so much boozy, delicious fruit that it was almost absurd, and on top of that was a layer of sticky marzipan that was so good that we could have eaten it alone.
The panettone was as good as any Italian cake straight from Milan – and by that, we mean it was amazing. We ate some of it straight from the packaging, and used the rest in French toast, as Ottolenghi suggests on their website. Naturally, it was the best French toast we’ve ever eaten, hands down.
There’s no denying that this hamper gives you everything you need to celebrate a fantastic Christmas. The fact that it twists and perfects Christmas classics is just the icing on the cake.
3. Sacred Gin
Do you know someone who loves a great gin? Then the Sacred Classic Christmas Hamper is absolutely the gift to give.
Sacred Gin is known for its carefully handcrafted gins made in the heart of historic Highgate. But their love for gin and attention to detail doesn’t stop there! Their classic Christmas hampers are stuffed to the gills with incredible gin, including their signature Sacred Gin, a more savoury Coriander Gin, and the pièce de résistance of holiday drinks – the Sacred Christmas Pudding Gin. This is a rich and luxurious gin that is actually made with real Christmas puddings! It’s great when paired with a citrus tonic, but it takes on a whole new life when sipped very cold and neat.
Do you know someone who loves a great gin? Then the Sacred Classic Christmas Hamper is absolutely the gift to give.
However, this unique Christmas hamper doesn’t just give the gift of gin. It also includes nibbles that pair perfectly with these handcrafted spirits. This includes Godminster oak smoked cheddar, Tempus Achari Salami, and some truly delectable beetroot and nigella seed crackers.
If you have a loved one who adores a good tipple, then this is the hamper you need. (And if you give Christmas presents to yourself, this is a great one to treat yourself with too!)
IG: @sacredgin
4. Rococo Chocolates
We think that chocolate is a must at Christmas – but not just any chocolate will do when it comes to Christmas hampers! You’ve got to treat your loved ones to a chocolate experience, and Rococo Chocolates gives you exactly that.
We had a try of their Nutcracker Hamper, which combined the classic spices of the festive season with beautifully creamy, high-quality chocolate. The cinnamon nuts, holly jolly caramel and tipple nibbles were immediate favourites (especially the amaretto liqueur enrobed in a milk chocolate truffle), but the chocolate bars elevated this hamper into greatness.
We’re not exaggerating when we say that the crystallised ginger dark chocolate bar made us wonder if we’d ever eaten real chocolate before. The ginger essential oils gave the rich and sweetly spiced chocolate an indulgent and comforting warmth. It could only be topped by the cardamom white chocolate bar, where the aromatic spice of the cardamom cut through the sweetness of the creamy white chocolate in a way that can only be described as divine. We would buy this hamper just for another taste of this one bar of chocolate, it was that good.
Rococo describes this hamper as ‘chocolate with the character’, and we have to second that description! This isn’t an ordinary chocolate Christmas hamper – it’s something truly special.
We think that chocolate is a must at Christmas – but not just any chocolate will do when it comes to Christmas hampers!
5. Bird & Blend
We had to talk about the Tea Mixology Christmas Hamper from tea artisans Bird & Blend. Known for their unusual tea blends (ever tried a rhubarb and custard tea or an ice cream matcha?), Bird & Blend are the best when it comes to turning tea on its head.
So when we saw that they had Christmas hampers that combined tea and mixology, we knew that it would feature on this list! Included in the hamper is everything you need to have a great cocktail night at home, including a 750ml cocktail shaker, three recipe cards, and three corresponding teas. You can also add a Miniature Spirits Bundle Pack to the hamper, which will add a selection of miniatures to be used in the cocktails.
We tried all three of the tea cocktails, with the standout being the creamy white Russian inspired cocktail. Chocolate and rose from the tea melded beautifully with the coffee liqueur to create a cocktail that we will absolutely be creating again and again! That’s if we don’t drink the teas by themselves, that is! They are all delicious in a cocktail and when simply brewed and enjoyed hot.
We had to talk about the Tea Mixology Christmas Hamper from tea artisans Bird & Blend.
The attention to detail here is what made this tea mixology hamper not just great, but fantastic. All of the teas are caffeine-free, meaning that you won’t be up all night after drinking them in cocktails! All three of the recipe cards had simple instructions, and included ways to change up the cocktails to suit your taste. If you’ve got a budding mixologist on your hands, or simply a tea fanatic, the Bird & Blend tea mixology Christmas hamper is a must-buy.
IG: @birdandblendtea
6. Pong Cheese
Pong Cheese send exceptional cheese straight to your door and they have a range of special hamper just for Christmas.
Their Christmas Extravaganza Box is ideal for any festive gathering, and includes dreamy Valencay goat’s cheese, a Cheddar that has been aged in Wookey Hole caves and the extraordinary La Retorta from Extremadura in southern Spain.
This magnificent Christmas cheese selection is suitable for royalty or indeed the dining table of the most demanding of cheese-loving families.
IG: @pongcheeseuk
Pong Cheese send exceptional cheese straight to your door and they have a range of special hamper just for Christmas.
7. Ross & Ross
Ross & Ross take the stress out of the Christmas food shop with their Christmas Pantry Essentials Hamper. It is packed full of everything you need to create a fabulous Christmas dinner, from the basics, to luxury items too.
As well as Cranberry Sauce, Roast Dinner Dust and recipe cards, it also includes delicious Truffle Mayonnaise, Smoked Apple Chutney and Truffle oil too. In fact, this hamper is an ideal self-gifting as well as a perfect gift for foodies who love to cook the traditional Christmas dinner every year.
Ross & Ross take the stress out of the Christmas food shop with their Christmas Pantry Essentials Hamper.
8. King’s Fine Food
King’s Fine Food specialise in a range of luxury hampers filled with the most exquisite ingredients. Their Emperor Hamper is particularly popular for the variety of products it contacts. For example, you can find everything from Amedei Hot Chocolate Drink and Out of Africa Cashew Nuts, to Mounters 13 London Dry Gin and Jing Jasmine Silver Needle tea.
To give it an even more luxurious feel, it comes in a roped wicker basket which you can enjoy for the rest of the year!
IG: @kingsfinefood1
King’s Fine Food specialise in a range of luxury hampers filled with the most exquisite ingredients.
👨🍳 Our Expert – @WendyTuxworth
