Gift Basket Ideas

Preparing a gift basket gives you an opportunity to flex your creative muscles while showing someone how much you care. You can tailor each basket to someone’s personality, or to a specific event or occasion.

Although gift baskets are most common during the holiday season, they’re also great ideas throughout the year. Because of their DIY nature, they can be as inexpensive or extravagant as you desire.

Ready for some inspiration? Check out our favorite gift basket ideas.

How to Make a Gift Basket

Wicker baskets are the most popular vessel and can be bought inexpensively. But gift “baskets” don’t have to use a basket. You can use a tub, cooler, tote bag, glass jar…even a pair of slippers can be stuffed with goodies. Your “basket” can coordinate with the chosen theme.

Classic Combinations

Now you’re ready to personalize the gift. Let’s start with some foodie-fave basket ideas.

• Baking: Bake their spirits bright by gifting supplies for holiday cookies. Add in festive cookie cutters, and don’t forget the sprinkles. Our Sugar Cookie Cut-outs and Cranberry Orange Shortbread recipes are perfect pairings.
• Hot Chocolate: Consider a snow day survival kit. Add marshmallows, chocolate syrup and candy canes to sweeten the deal. Send along our classic recipe or one for White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha.
• Charcuterie/Wine: Create the perfect charcuterie spread with crackers, olives, sausages, cheese, nuts and grapes. Complete the gift with a serving board and a bottle of vino. Or spread cheer with a basket of beer, packed with pickles, cheeses and salty snacks.

More Great Baskets

Check out more food gift baskets and other themes and ideas:

• Self Care: Choose items you feel will promote well-being and happiness. A cozy combination might consist of bath salts, candles, tea, a mug, fuzzy socks and some magazines. Or create a cosmetics-focused collection of essential oils, body scrubs, soaps, lotions, face masks and lip balms.
• Date Night: To create the perfect night in, add your special someone’s favorite snacks, a bottle of wine, a candle, some slippers and maybe a movie.
• Movie Night: Promote quality time by stocking popcorn, sweets and either adult beverages or hot chocolate. You could even add a movie theater gift certificate or theater-style boxed candy.
• Christmas: For many of us, the smell of oranges, cinnamon and wine recalls holidays past. Fill a basket with spices for making mulled wine, oranges, cinnamon-based desserts and other Christmas-themed foods.
• Sunshine: Gift a basket of “sunshine” with entirely yellow items to provide a pick-me-up. Think honey, lemonade, potato chips… anything savory or sweet with yellow labels. Add notes like “Hello, Sunshine” or “Turn Lemons into Lemonade.”
• Coffee: Create a caffeinated care package with coffee beans, K-cups, mugs, creamers and a gift card.
• Man Food: Tailor to his tastes, be it beef jerky, salsa, sodas, candy or craft beer. Another option: Build a BBQ basket with sauces, seasonings and grilling essentials.
• Teacher: Have fun with a theme to show your appreciation for all your child’s teacher does. Label your basket “Nacho Average Teacher” and stock with salsa, queso dip and tortilla chips. Or fill a Summer Break basket with a beach towel, flip-flops, sunscreen and paperbacks, so your teacher can enjoy the time off.
• Fruit baskets: For a deliciously sweet gift, incorporate fresh or dried fruit into your basket. Skewer ready-to-eat fruit onto individual sticks then place them in a vase or small basket to create a stunning bouquet. Or combine dried fruit and chocolate covered nuts to create an elegant gift.
• Snacks: Create a tasty basket with an assortment of someone’s favorite snacks! This is a simple and affordable way to get the most out of your Holiday gift exchange.
• Gourmet Gift Baskets: Shop gourmet items to create an stylish arrangement of ingredients and food. Gourmet snacks, seasonings, and pastries make perfect gifts for foodies during the Holidays.

Got the idea? The fun of DIY gift baskets is deciding what you put into them and how to dress them up. So show off your creativity while you show someone how much you care. For more holiday inspiration, visit our Holiday Shop.