Christmas gift basket ideas for the homebody, spa lover, DIYer, entertainer, baker, movie lover, and coffee fanatic.
I’m calling it. Christmas shopping is DONE! I have to tell myself to “officially” stop or else I’ll just end up giving my heart out right up until the day.
Having the gift giving love language might be a blessing and a curse in that regard. 😉
But I truly can’t help it. I LOVE giving little treats to teachers and neighbors and the mail man and the garbage pickup crew. It’s a big reason why I love this time of year, not for the receiving but for the giving.
This year, since the economy is causing families to tighten their budgets this holiday season, I decided to put together “experiences” in the form of unique gift baskets for our neighbors.
I didn’t want to give people “stuff”. I wanted to create a moment for them, whether that was in the form of a movie night on the couch or a s’mores making evening in the backyard or a cookie decorating afternoon in the kitchen.
So I pulled together 50 fun gift basket ideas, if you need out-of-the-box ideas for friends, family members, or neighbors.
You can do same-day pick up for a lot of the items in these gift boxes from Walmart, Target, or grocery stores if you need to get your holiday gifting finished quickly.
I plan to just leave these little kits on our neighbors’ porches for them to enjoy.
All of these could work as a birthday gift, housewarming gift, or thoughtful care package too.
50 Unique Gift Basket Ideas for Christmas (or Any Holiday)
This one is really fun for large families with kids who bake together in the kitchen. Maybe throw in some Christmas themed cookie cutters for good measure. To make it even more personal, throw in your own DIY cookie or muffin recipe mix. It’s a food gift they can choose to eat later if they don’t want it right away.
1. Baking Kit Gift Basket Idea
- Batter bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Butter dish
- Kitchen towels
- Scone mix
- Cookie mix
- Cookie icing
- Sprinkles
This basket is perfect as a housewarming gift. After moving boxes and prepping your new house, sometimes you just need a relaxing evening vegging out with a good movie and eating junk food. Include your family’s favorite Christmas movie (or include an Amazon gift card for $10 so they can rent a movie on Prime).
2. Movie Night Gift Basket Idea
If you have a java lover in your life, this one is a guaranteed hit. Fill a jar with biscotti and add your favorite bag of ground coffee. (Even better: hit up your local coffee shop to see if you can grab a bag of locally roasted beans to support their small business). I
f you want to get extra fancy, add this milk frother for making lattes and cappuccinos.
3. Coffee Gift Basket Idea
- Percolator
- Locking jar with biscotti
- Ground coffee
- Sugar & creamer set
- Tall travel coffee cup
- Travel coffee mug
If someone on your Christmas list is always building something or diving into another home improvement project, whip up a basket with some DIY essentials. (We’re always losing tape measures, safety glasses, work gloves around here.)
4. Handy DIYer Gift Basket Idea
This is another fun one for families with kids, especially if that family enjoys spending time in their backyard.
5. S’mores Kit Gift Basket Idea
- Tabletop gas fire pit
- Telescoping roasting skewers
- Marshmallows
- Hershey chocolate bars
- Reese’s cups
- Lighter
This basket is especially perfect for anyone newly retired, someone with health issues who can’t leave home often, or a new mom. But really… we could all use a spa pampering sesh every now and then.
6. Spa Gift Set Idea
- Throw blanket
- Slippers
- Essential oil diffuser
- Essential oil
- Apothecary jar with bath salts
- Hand and foot set
- Facial mask
If you know someone who loves to entertain regularly and enjoys wine gifts, a sangria kit complete with a nice bottle of red, brandy, juice, fruit, pitcher, and mixing spoon is a unique idea. Print out this sangria recipe and tuck it inside of the basket.
If you want a little something extra, maybe add some chocolate covered strawberries or meat and cheese for charcuterie on the side.
7. Sangria Kit Gift Basket Idea
- Pitcher
- Wine glasses
- Wooden spoon
- Red wine
- Brandy
- Orange juice
- Brown sugar
- Oranges
- Apple
- This recipe written with a note
This is another sweet idea as a housewarming gift. It’s hard to dislike a canister filled with cookies, cocoa, and a cozy blanket. If you choose to give this basket in warmer months instead, substitute the cocoa with ice cream sundae fixings.
8. Cozy at Home Christmas Basket Idea
9. Swedish Pancake Breakfast Gift Basket
Instead of a basket, make your gift container a mixing bowl or a utensil crock so it’s even more useful.
- Kitchen towels
- Swedish pancake batter mix
- Lingonberry jam
More Unique Gift Basket Themes
10. Family Game Night Basket
Compile 2-3 small games like UNO, Skip-Bo, dominoes, and Phase 10 along with a few snacks.
11. Postpartum Gift Basket
The first few days after having a baby are rough to say the least. Here are some postpartum basket stuffers you can give to a new mom to help her make it through the stressful days and sleepless nights with a newborn during her recovery. Gift it before she has the baby so that she feels prepared.
12. Nacho Basket
Fill a festive basket with chips, salsa, queso, and guacamole. Throw in some margarita mix, salt, tequila, and a cute margarita glass for good measure.
13. Hot Cocoa Basket
Gift all of the fixings for an epic hot cocoa bar by including mugs, cocoa mix, peppermint stir sticks, Pirouette cookies, toffee bits, caramel sauce, and of course mini marshmallows and marshmallow fluff.
14. BBQ Gift Basket
If you know someone who loves to smoke meats and grill out, make a basket filled with spice rubs, barbecue sauces, meat shredders, grilling tongs, and an apron that can stand up to the job.
15. Ice Cream Gift Basket
This one is definitely a crowd pleaser, especially for families with kiddos. Add every ice cream sundae topping and accessory you can think of: sprinkles, chocolate syrup, caramel, ice cream cones, spoons, cute bowls, a jar of cherries… everything but the ice cream of course. That last one might make a mess upon delivery.
16. Housewarming Gift Basket
Think of all the things someone might appreciate using on move-in day.
17. New Dad Gift Basket
If Mom gets a postpartum self-care basket, it seems fitting to hook up Dad with some goodies too.
18. Big Sister Gift Basket
With all of the attention on a new baby, big sis could probably use some fun activities to do while Mom and Dad adjust.
19. Big Brother Gift Basket
Big bro deserves lots of love too with fun activities he enjoys.
20. Car Wash Gift Basket
A great idea for anyone who just got a new car or has an old classic pride and joy in the garage.
21. Housecleaning Gift Basket
It might seem like an insulting gift, but receiving great smelling housecleaning supplies as a housewarming gift right when you move into a new house is a blessing.
21. Pasta Gift Basket
It’s hard to go wrong with an Italian meal someone can decide to enjoy now or cook later. Add a fresh basil plant that they can keep right on the kitchen countertop to toss clippings into cooking.
22. Spice Gift Basket
The great thing about this gift idea is you can blend spices on your own. Just search “spice blend recipes” for ideas using ingredients you probably already have in your spice cabinet.
23. Classroom Essentials Gift Basket
Let’s be honest, teachers don’t need more candles. By December, they’re running low on the classroom essentials and could use a pick-me-up.
24. Poolside Gift Basket
If you know someone with a fun warm climate trip coming up, this beach bag / poolside basket is a great idea.
25. Picnic Gift Basket
Even if it’s too cold outside to have a picnic, who says you can’t have a date night picnic right on the living room floor?
26. Cheese Board Gift Basket
An instant hit… it’s hard to say no the a scrumptious gourmet cheese spread.
27. Gardening Gift Basket
The gardening enthusiast in your life is probably dying to get their hands back in the dirt in winter, so a houseplant and some seeds they can start indoors is helpful.
28. Tea Gift Basket
Having a cozy tea stash handy in the colder months is especially nice.
29. Pumpkin Spice Lover Gift Basket
For that friend who is obsessed with pumpkin spice everything: pumpkin candles, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin beer, pumpkin bread… you get the picture.
30. Wellness Gift Basket
This sweet idea supports physical and mental wellness with tea, honey, and lemon with a journal and adult coloring book.
31. Manscaping Gift Basket
Guys need great skincare too, ya know?
Gather & Savor | Rachel & Josh Photography
32. Local Favorites Gift Basket
I’ll bet you live in a region with great locally crafted items. Stop in to your grocery store and find the local fare section for snacks and treats to gift while supporting small businesses.
33. Moscow Mule Gift Basket
Bundle together a copper mug, a bottle of ginger beer, some vodka, and a lime, and you have the makings for a delicious co*cktail.
34. Mimosa Gift Basket
Juice and prosecco is all you really need for this one. It’s perfect for enjoying on Christmas morning while everyone is opening presents.
35. Pet Gift Basket
For that one friend who is completely obsessed with their fur-baby.
36. DIY Slime Gift Basket
Will it end up all over the carpet? Probably. Is it still an awesome gift for a slime-loving kiddo? Yes, yes it is.
37. Kids’ Craft Night Gift Basket
A great idea for a kid who loves to make things. An even better idea to bundle it inside of a caboodle box.
38. Adult Craft Night Gift Basket
There are so many craft possibilities with this one! Provide a crochet kit, cross-stitching kit, or paint-by-numbers set.
39. Lots of Love for Grandma Gift Basket
Grandmothers are notoriously hard to buy for. But this gift basket is a beautiful idea including a photo album, gratitude journal, Storyworth subscription, and more.
40. Pedicure Gift Basket
A little self-care treat that anyone can use.
41. Wine Lovers Gift Basket
Bundle up a sampler of some of your favorite wines to share with a fellow wine lover.
42. Beer Lovers Gift Basket
Pull together a variety of different beers; locally crafted is a plus.
43. Popcorn Lovers Gift Basket
Go boujee with popcorn making supplies and a variety of popcorn flavorings to sprinkle on top.
44. Hot Toddy Gift Basket
Especially during cold season, this gift box will come in handy for sure.
45. Kitchen Gift Basket
Put a salt & pepper shaker set, a serving tray, a sugar bowl, and a dip bowl set for a friend who would enjoy a decor perk in their kitchen.
46. Girls’ Night Gift Basket
Go nuts with everything rosé to make any girls’ night a celebration.
Glitter Guide
47. Flower Gift Basket
Fill a planter with a small bundle of flowers and floral themed goodies: lavender essential oils, rose bath salts, and chamomile tea.
48. Good Scents Gift Basket
Pull together some of your favorite scented bath and home products for someone who could use a little aromatherapy.
49. College Care Package Gift Basket
By December, your college kid is probably scraping by on dorm room essentials. Send them a Christmas care package as a surprise to get them through exams before winter break.
50. Soup Gift Basket
The slow cooker is quite a splurge, but whether you use that or a basket, bundling together soup mixes, pot holders, and a ladle works well.
Where to Buy Cheap Baskets
Tip: Keep an eye out at thrift stores for any good sized secondhand baskets you can use for around $3-5. Or just take a look around your house to find baskets you’re not using that you can repurpose.
Do you do fun little gift baskets? Or any sweet gifts for neighbors. I’m not really one who bakes cookies for lots of people so this is my alternative. 😉
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a gift basket look expensive?
Something as simple as a tied satin ribbon, crinkle paper filler, and a personalized tag can make an old basket feel luxurious. If you want to make a gift basket seem even more expensive, place it inside of a cellophane gift bag.
How should I decide what kind of gift basket to give?
Think about your friend or family member’s lifestyle. A mom with young children might love a movie night gift basket. A newlywed couple who loves to entertain would likely prefer a sangria kit (though check first that they drink alcohol). A grandmother who loves being in the kitchen might love a baking kit.
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- 100 DIY Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List
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