Easy Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

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Inside: These easy Christmas Gift Basket Ideas are simple to put together and will make anyone feel special.

If you’re looking for some unique Christmas gift basket ideas, I’ve got you covered. I’ve already shared several DIY gift ideas for Christmas – candles, lotion bars, soap, and lip balm if you like to make homemade gifts.

But I wanted to share some themed Christmas gift baskets that you can put together yourself. Most of these ideas don’t cost too much and can be scaled up or down, depending on how much you are willing to spend.

And if you need several gifts this holiday season, you can save some money by buying in bulk and splitting the items between the baskets.

Many of these items make great gifts for that family member that is hard to buy for. So whether you need co-worker gifts, teacher gift ideas, or just something to please that hard-to-buy-for man in your life, these Christmas gift basket ideas will have you covered.

gift basket with pine needles, cloth, bar of soap, and bottle of serum
This spa Christmas gift basket is made entirely from items you can make yourself.

Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you purchase something through a link. It will not change your cost. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my disclosures page.)

Homemade Gift Basket Ideas

Gift baskets make the perfect holiday gift because you can pick and choose meaningful items to add for each recipient. The best gift baskets usually require some thought about what the recipient would like.

You can make up the same basket for several different people, while still customizing it for each individual’s tastes by adding a little bit of something each individual prefers. This makes each basket extra special.

I share lots of options for homemade gift basket ideas so you are sure to find the perfect present for everyone on your list this Christmas season.

free Christmas gift planner

Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

I have divided the list into three categories – Christmas gift basket ideas for adults, food gifts, and gift baskets suitable for the entire family. I have also included several other neat gift basket ideas that I found online as well as places to order gift baskets if you would rather purchase them pre-made.

Food Gift Basket Ideas

Food gift baskets are always a hit. You can tailor to basket to the person’s taste preference by choosing gourmet treats for the foodie, or simple goodies for the person who prefers everyday foods.

Bread & Jam Basket

A loaf of fresh (homemade or store-bought) bread and some gourmet jam or honey would make an easy (and delicious) gift.

You can add a small cutting board and a bread knife or a cute spreader to make the gift even more special. Wrap everything up in a stenciled flour sack towel to complete the look.

An Italian Basket

Spaghetti noodles, sauce, a loaf of Italian bread, and a good bottle of wine make an adorable basket. I love to add some nice olive oil and spices to dip the bread into. Add a cute towel and a few wooden spoons for an extra special touch.

Coffee Lovers Basket

Fill the basket with some gourmet coffee, several kinds of coffee flavorings, and some scones or cookies to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Add an adorable mug and you have the perfect gift for the coffee lover on your gift list. You could also make a tea lover’s basket or wine baskets by substituting the recepients favorite beverage.

For a family, try a hot chocolate gift basket or do a mix of hot chocolate and coffee. Tuck in a few candy canes or peppermint bark to add in some holiday cheer.

Homemade Cookie Dough

Homemade slice-and-bake cookies or cookie dough balls would work well for a cookie dough gift basket. A new cookie sheet and a potholder would be a nice addition to this basket.

This gift will need to be refrigerated or frozen so be sure you have a way to keep it cold until gifting. You can also do a layered cookie mix in a jar if you prefer. This looks like a nice recipe to try.

Don’t forget to include the baking instructions for your chosen cookie recipe.

Chocolate Lovers Gift Basket

For the chocolate lover, fill a gift basket with an assortment of gourmet chocolates. Add a few chocolate cookies, some coffee, or a good book to make this one of the best holiday gift baskets they’ll receive.

To really take this gift over the top, make a few homemade chocolate-covered cherries or chocolate-covered dehydrated fruit. Your gift recipient is sure to appreciate the extra special effort.

Ice Cream Kit

I’ve given ice cream kits before and they’ve been a big hit. Combine chocolate and/or caramel syrup, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, gummy bears or worms (kids love these), and any other ice cream toppings you can think of in a cute basket or galvanized tub.

If you want to, you can also include a gift certificate to a local store for the ice cream. This gift idea is sure to be a hit with the kids as well!

Snack Basket

For teenage boys, try creating a snack gift basket. (My Mom has done this for my kids for their birthdays too! They love it!)

Buy individually wrapped packages of their favorite snacks and drinks and combine them in a large basket.

If you don’t want to spend the money on a basket, you can also use a cardboard box wrapped in pretty paper. (Teenage boys don’t care much for baskets.)

This makes a much-appreciated gift for college students too! If funds allow, tuck in a gift card for their favorite restaurant.

A Christmas Breakfast Basket

If you enjoy cooking, make pans of cinnamon rolls to gift for Christmas. Add some fruits like apples or oranges, a package of coffee or tea, and maybe even a package of shelf-stable pre-cooked bacon for a Christmas gift basket the recipient will remember long after the holidays are gone.

Don’t forget to include freezing and re-heating directions for the cinnamon rolls. And if the family has children, maybe add a few packets of hot cocoa for them to drink on Christmas morning. Who wouldn’t love to have Christmas breakfast taken care of?

S’mores Gift Basket

S'mores gift basket
S’mores gift basket

When making a s’mores gift basket, include everything needed to make s’mores – marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars, and forks to roast the marshmallows on.

Some baby wipes are an excellent addition to this basket because smores are messy and I always forget them by the campfire.

Charcuterie Board Gift Basket

A charcuterie board makes a great Christmas gift basket idea. But don’t just stop at gifting the board. Make this an entire basket by adding any of the following items:

  • deli meat or summer sausage
  • a block of cheese or cheese spread
  • a couple of types of crackers
  • nuts
  • pickles
  • olives
  • and a sweet treat like a box of cookies or some homemade brownies.

For even more personalization, you can purchase a monogrammed or engraved charcuterie board. And adding a cute knife or fork or tongs can really make this gift something truly special that the recipient will love.

For Gift Baskets for Adults

Spa Kit

If you really want to go all out, make a spa gift basket. Choose from soap, candles, lip balm, sugar scrub, and lotion bars that you scent the same way.

Spa gift bag filled with a homemade soap, lotion bar, lip balm, and body butter
This spa gift bag includes body butter, lip balm, a lotion bar, and a homemade soap.

Placed in a cute basket with a bow (or bagged as above) this makes a great (useful) gift for almost anyone – men women, teachers, friends, co-workers, etc.

Gardener’s Basket

There are so many items you could include in a gardening basket for your favorite gardener. Items like a new pair of gardening gloves, seed packets, a new trowel, would be appropriate.

You could also include a bar of scrubby soap, a lotion bar, some plant netting, plant markers, cups to start seeds in, and maybe even a potted herb or two.

Grill Kit

For the man that likes to grill, put together a gift basket with grill tongs, potholders, and an assortment of BBQ spice rubs or marinades. The spice mixes from this meal prep chicken would work exceptionally well if you wanted to make your own.

A lighter or wood chips would also be appropriate depending on the type of grill the recipient owns.

Car Care Kit

A car care kit would be a great gift for the man (or woman) that likes to keep a neat car. Microfiber towels, car wash, a tire brush, and other assorted cleaners would all be appropriate.

Tuck everything inside a 5-gallon bucket and you’ve got the perfect gift for the older teenager that just started driving.

Gift Basket Ideas for the Entire Family

Movie night gift basket
A movie night gift basket is a great Christmas gift idea for the whole family to enjoy.

Movie Night

For a movie night gift basket, include several bags of microwave popcorn, a movie or two, several cans or bottles of soda, and a few “movie-sized” bars of candy.

This makes an instant at-home movie night perfect for the family that likes to relax at home on the couch.

Art Supplies Basket

An art supply basket is perfect for kids from toddlers on up. Fill a basket or tote with crayons, paint, coloring books, scissors, paper, stickers, and any other fun things you can think of.

Game Night Basket

Pick a new game for the family and combine it with some fun snacks and drinks for a gift idea the whole family will love.

If you know the family well, you can choose their favorite sodas, add some popcorn or chips, and a pack or two cookies. If you’re lucky, maybe the family will invite you to join them for a game night.

Other Christmas Gift Basket Ideas From Around The Web

Jami from An Oregon Cottage has a round-up of lots of gift basket ideas from an ice cream basket, a BBQ basket, and even a cleaning basket which would all make great gifts.

HGTV has a list of 8 DIY gift baskets for food lovers. It includes Christmas food baskets for the baker, the entertainer, and a basket of kitchen essentials.

The Busy Budgeter has several unique gift basket ideas including a Sunshine Gift Basket full of yellow products, a craft gift basket, and a fairy garden in a tin.

Places to Purchase Gift Baskets

Not interested in making gift baskets? You can purchase many premade baskets locally. Some small businesses will put together unique baskets customized just for you.

Or, places like Harry & David (which specializes in gourmet food), Williams Sonoma, or Hickory Farms (which does a variety of meat & cheese gift baskets) can even ship a gift basket right to your recipient’s door. These are a great option for corporate gifts too.

Do you have any other gift basket ideas? If so, leave a comment and let me know. Gift baskets are some of the best holiday gifts I’ve received so I would love to update the post with even more ideas.

free Christmas gift planner

Meet Julie

I’m a farm girl born and bred in North Carolina. I’ve been growing a vegetable garden for over 20 years (and helping my Mom grow hers even longer). I’ve been raising chickens in my bathtub and backyard for 12+ years. I believe that homegrown food can be made simple. Let’s get started.

top photo is a gift basket with 2 bottles of wine and a cnadle with a poinsettia and spruce sprigs, bottom photo is a picture of gift basket with pine needles, cloth, bar of soap, and bottle of serum
16 Epic Gift Basket Ideas for Christmas

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4 Comments

  1. We had Christmas today and I did my 1st baskets for my 2 adult boys and thier wives. They Loved it!! Dinner and a movie. Cute basket, spaghetti and jar of sauce, pj’s for each, $5 for movie rental, candel, mugs and hot chocolate, popcorn, and a variety of movie theater candy boxes from the dollar tree. 1 daughter in law said so much for losing weight. I said so healthier next yr? She said NO! I’ll work out more! šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚