A Christmas gift basket—brimming with delicious things to eat and drink—is just the thing to send to friends, family members and colleagues. Here are the top picks to show you care.
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We’re all about a themed gift—a collection of three to four hand-picked items that match the recipient’s personality, interests and needs. But when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season ensues, it can be hard to find time to plan, buy and package multiple themed presents for each person on your list.
That’s where Christmas gift baskets and care packages come in clutch. They’re exactly the type of thoughtful gift we’re looking for—but without any of the work.
The folks at Taste of Home have tested dozens of Christmas gift baskets over the years. Below are our favorites to help you find the best gifts for everyone on your list. Happy holiday shopping!
Shopping for someone who just can’t get enough ice cream? Jeni’s is a favorite of ours, thanks to its high-quality ingredients and inventive flavors, like those in this holiday box. The festive lineup features classic Christmastime flavor profiles like peppermint, panettone and eggnog.
Our editors are big fans of the new holiday flavors, especially the pistachio macaron. Scoop up the Grand Holiday Collection now and give the gift of gourmet ice cream this season.
We are colossal fans of this young but bold cookie brand. The cookies are big, decedant and arrive at your doorstep within just a few days of leaving the Last Crumb kitchen. Fifteen seconds in the microwave and they’re warm, gooey and utterly irresistible. The Core Collection packs 12 classic cookies with unique flavor twists—each with fun names and poetic descriptions that make the tasting experience all the more indulgent.
Our personal favorite—”The Floor Is Lava,” a chocolate lava cookie—is made with three types of chocolate, espresso and a core of creamy chocolate ganache. Plus, sealed cookies stay fresh on the counter for two weeks or in the freezer for two months, so your giftees can enjoy them long after delivery.
Who wouldn’t want a chocolate gift basket for Christmas? Maybe someone with a cocoa allergy, perhaps. But for just about everyone else on your list, this gift box from Andre’s Chocolates includes a range of decadent goodies.
With one pound of assorted boxed chocolates, chocolate orange peels, chocolate almonds, caramels and more, the Legacy Gift Box showcases treats from three generations of chocolatiers specializing in Swiss confectionery. Plus, its holiday gift ready with it’s festive red-and-white packaging.
Ride the tinned-fish wave with this Fishwife gift box—an ideal choice for the adventurous seafood lover who wants anything but the usual. Ready to gift in a gorgeous, artful box The Ultimate Tinned Fish Gift Pack includes ten curated premium tins, like smoked rainbow trout with red chimichurri and slow-smoked mackerel with chili flakes.
Throw in a pair of Tinned Fish Tongs, and your seafood-loving friend will be picnic-ready!
For the one who’s always snacking on sour candy, this gift box from BonBon is the perfect treat. It’s packed with gummies and classic Swedish flavors. Choose from sour, sweet or a mixed variety and get one whole pound of the brand’s top-selling favorites.
We love that this New York brand imports all its products straight from Sweden, and there are gluten-free options, too!
This holiday hosting set from Brightland is dressed up in MacKenzie-Childs designs and complete with a dipping dish in the iconic Courtly Check print.
This gift set is perfect for the trendy home cook and features two of Brightland’s best-selling oils, Alive Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Rosette Garlic Flavored Olive Oil, along with a gold spout for each bottle.
The Better With Age gift box is a guaranteed hit for the truest cheese lovers. It features the longest-aged varieties from Murray’s cheese, including a five-year Parmigiano Reggiano, gouda, a classic French snacker and cheddar. Foodies will rejoice when they bite down on the crunchy crystals.
This beautifully packaged pasta gift box includes a salt cellar, wooden pasta spoon, extra-virgin olive oil, a green gingham towel and a pasta cookbook—ideal for anyone who appreciates al dente perfection.
Each hand-wrapped box ships as a ready-to-gift package, complete with a handwritten card and no pricing included, so you don’t have to think about a thing. You can even schedule the order to arrive closer to the holidays!
If you’re shopping for someone who believes in soup season, this new package from Spoonful of Comfort is the perfect gift for this time of year—plus, you get to customize it! Choose one or two soup flavors, a festive flavor for a half dozen cookies and an extra treat like fuzzy socks or a holiday candle.
The Cozy Comfort and Joy Package also includes a half dozen rolls, a throw blanket, a keepsake ladle and holiday packaging with a personalized card. Let someone else handle the wrapping so you can give a perfectly curated gift with zero fuss.
Christmas outshines New Year’s Eve in most people’s minds, but if you know someone who’s keeping the Christmas magic going all the way until the 31st, then consider this champagne-inspired gift set. It includes a sparkling nonalcoholic drink akin to champagne, wine-flavored gummies, a champagne-scented candle, a champagne stopper, champagne-infused chocolate-covered popcorn, Compartes chocolate and gold noisemakers.
“The curators did an excellent job collecting items that feel celebratory and festive,” our tester and Executive Culinary Director Sarah Farmer says. “From the superior packaging to the array of products, this box nails it for any occasion that calls for a cheer.”
We’ve tried several of Harry & David’s gorgeous gift baskets, but this baked goods basket is definitely one of our favorites of all time. Editor Emily Way sampled the signature bakery assortment, which is overflowing with cakes, baklava, galettes, cookies and a cinnamon swirl.
“Everything looks fresh, and upon opening the box, it smelled absolutely lovely, like a local bakery,” Emily says of the delivery experience. “There’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re a fan of fruity cookies and cakes or prefer chocolate.” It’s a great gift for him—especially if he has a sweet tooth!
Showcase their love of sweets with a chocolaty, wine-filled gift box. Inside is Moose Munch popcorn, chocolate decadence cake, candies galore and a bottle of red blend wine. The chest of chocolates and wine were packaged very carefully—some of the best packaging we’ve seen when it comes to keeping items safe and intact. While the contents seemed a bit smaller in person than what’s pictured online, there’s a good variety of sweets included.
Filled with delicious individually wrapped cookies, brownies, and whoopie pies, this fresh-baked gift basket comes with a sturdy box and a pretty bow for a lasting impression. “Each of the treats was delicious,” says Emily. “From the whoopie pies to the tender nut and fruit blondies, my husband and I were blown away by how fresh everything is.”
Know someone who thinks cookies make the world go round? Snag them this Levain Cookie gift tin. You can choose from a pack of 8 or 12 and pick flavors right up their alley, whether that be the brand’s signature assortment, chocolate lovers or vegan and gluten-free.
“The cookies, as per usual with Levain, were out of this world,” says Senior Editor Katie Bandurski, who has also tested the Levain cookie club. “I typically cut one cookie in fourths and eat it bit by bit throughout the week (they’re so big and rich), and I look forward to those little bites with an afternoon coffee or after dinner every day.”
Most Christmas gift baskets are overflowing with sweets and snacks, but maybe, what your special someone really needs this season is an excuse to relax. This thoughtful box boasts a champagne tumbler, monogrammed compact, lip balm, ring dish, candle, bath bomb and personalized postcard. It’s a great gift for her!
From the classy red exterior of the box to its equally traditional contents, this box of holiday treasures is quintessential Christmas. Perfect for vegetarians, too, this assortment contains pears, apples, mandarin oranges, cookies, jelly candies and chocolates. It’s a gorgeous gift that will warm their hearts during winter’s cold.
We’re absolutely smitten with this stunningly detailed tea treasure box, and your mom, girlfriend or grandma will be too. The 20 sachets, filled with flavors of jasmine green tea, raspberry violet green tea, coconut almond rooibos and cocoa hazelnut rooibos, were handwoven in France to resemble strawberries, flowers, a crescent moon and a heart. If tea is a wintertime staple that she savors, these packets make her daily cuppa that much more special.
Nuts and Christmas have always gone hand in hand, and any snacker will appreciate this party-ready nuts gift basket. Ideal for a holiday gathering or a post-sledding snack, this tray includes cheese crisps, pecans, pistachios, cashews, dried apricots, salami, olives and mission figs. Plus, it ships for free.
Can’t be with them on Christmas Day? Treat them to a delicious, decadent breakfast experience with this pastry gift tower from Gourmet Gift Baskets. It comes with an assortment of yummy treats to pair with their a.m. coffee or tea, like pecan sticky buns, chocolate marble tea breads and apple-filled croissants. It even comes with two gluten-free mini bundt cakes for any loved ones with food sensitivities.
Bonus: You can choose to include a personalized greeting card and an instant email notification to top things off.
Treat them to a hug in a gift box with this thoughtful, cozy present on Etsy. You can choose from a variety of themes (Winter White Bliss, Red Scarf & Notes, Pink Cozy Charm and six others), all of which contain winter-ready supplies for a snuggly evening at home. Tea diffusers, mugs, notebooks, biscotti and candles are all common accoutrements found in these boxes.
We found the best Christmas gift baskets through research and firsthand testing. We perused the internet for gift baskets with a range of contents and price points (oh, and good reviews) so that both gifter and giftee could feel equally excited about the present. Then, we called in the handful of gift baskets that our readers responded to best in order to ensure they were as great and gift-worthy as we expected. Taste of Home staffers from various departments and with various tastes took these baskets home to share with loved ones and then provided thorough and honest feedback to our writers.
Yes, gift baskets make excellent Christmas gifts for several reasons. They come in a wide price range, allowing you to spend more for a spouse or parent ($200) or opt for a more budget-friendly option ($25 to $50) for a co-worker or Secret Santa. Gift baskets have become so specialized that you can find one for almost any interest—from beef jerky and coffee to bath bombs and macarons. Plus, they’re designed for shipping, making them a practical option for sending gifts long-distance, ensuring they arrive safely.
While some gift baskets may seem pricier than expected, they often include thoughtfully curated items from multiple vendors and come beautifully wrapped. The cost reflects not only the contents but also the time saved in shopping, wrapping and shipping. Many baskets include festive touches, like ribbons and reusable containers, which can add to the price. However, with options starting under $30, gift baskets can be affordable and worth the convenience and presentation.
Gift baskets usually contain between four and 10 items. Small baskets work well with four to five items, while medium baskets tend to include five to eight. Larger baskets can hold eight to 10 items or more. These are just guidelines; you can customize the number of items to suit the occasion or recipient.
There aren’t necessarily any rules when it comes to gift giving, but a helpful way to approach holiday shopping is by following the five gift rule: Get them something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read and something they didn’t know they wanted.
Some of the most common Christmas gifts to give include money, clothes, shoes, gift cards and food.
You should trust us because many of these gift baskets and Taste of Home have the same basis: food. Whether tested by our shopping editors who sample products, oftentimes consumables, for a living or our culinary professionals who have decades of combined kitchen experience, these baskets were vetted by people who know—and love—food. If we say these baskets contain food gifts we’d be proud to give, we’re confident you’ll agree.
Annamarie Higley, former product testing manager at Taste of Home led gift guide efforts from 2021 to 2023. She’s an online shopping connoisseur who has reviewed hundreds of gift boxes, meal delivery services and more.
Testing efforts for the 2024 holiday season were made by Katie Bandurski, Deputy Editor, and Emily Way, Shopping Editor. Additional Christmas gift baskets for the 2025 for holiday season were tested by Shopping Editor Mary Henn.
Melissa Lee, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, provided additional reporting. She’s been working on commerce content—including gift guides and holiday hosting recommendations—for over six years.
