What’s even more special than a hamper? One where the contents have been carefully considered and tailored to the recipient. A thoughtfully curated hamper is a wonderful way to show a foodie that you love them and truly see them—while also minimising excess by gifting only what you know they’ll enjoy.
Most hampers can feel a bit meh, but one where you haven’t just bought a gift, but also spent the time to curate its contents, becomes something else entirely: an unforgettable present that makes your loved one feel genuinely seen and deeply appreciated.
What follows is a curated collection of ideas showcasing the very best products to include in your Christmas Dessert Hamper. These recommendations have been sampled by our professionals, who collectively bring more than three decades of experience in food and drink. It’s an easily replicable, joy-filled survey of what they believe matters most.
1. Georgie Porgie’s Christmas Pudding
Let’s be honest—no one really wants Christmas pudding after a big Christmas lunch, but the day simply isn’t the same without it.
Some of the best luxury Christmas puddings come from Georgie Porgie’s, handmade in Devon. Our favourite is the classic Christmas pudding: a heavenly combination of brandy, rum, currants, sultanas and raisins, especially when served with melted brandy butter.
All of their handmade puddings are wrapped in white cheesecloth, making them look particularly charming nestled inside a wicker hamper.
2. Spirits for Christmas Cocktails
For those seeking a less calorific yet still indulgent alternative to a full Christmas dessert, after-dinner cocktails are becoming ever more popular. If your recipient enjoys mixing drinks, consider including a versatile classic vodka.
Another favourite is Dibar Coffee Vodka—we’ve created several Christmas cocktail recipes using this one spirit, and if you love a chocolate note in a cocktail, it’s a must-have for balancing sweetness.
Dorset Apple Cake Gin is also a unique and wonderfully useful liqueur for sweet cocktails, bringing soft orchard tones reminiscent of baked apple crumble on a winter’s night.
3. A High Quality Sparkling Wine
If you include just one wine in a Christmas dessert hamper, make it a sparkling wine. Choose a high-quality prosecco or champagne and steer clear of the cheapest options.
Some of our favourite champagnes include Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne and our own house blend, Hive Champagne, which is fine-tuned to our taste buds. As the Champagne region experiences warmer summers, its wines are becoming naturally less bubbly. English sparkling wines, however, are produced in exactly the same way and can be just as exceptional. Club No.1, made in Devon, is a sublime choice and adds beautifully to the merriment of Christmas.
4. Nuts & Crisps Gift Tins
Some of the prettiest keepsake tins come filled with gourmet nuts and crisps. Since 2010, Mr Filbert’s Fine Foods has created a gorgeous range of snacks tossed in natural seasonings. Their gifting range comes in delightful metal tins that can be reused to store household essentials.
As for flavour, their Somerset-baked snacks have a delicious crunch that makes them impossible to resist. Their small tins—such as the Californian Smoked Almonds—are perfect for compact hampers, while the medium-sized Mediterranean Herb Mixed Nuts are simply sublime.
For crisps, a small 40g tin of Bonilla a la Vista olive-oil patatas fritas is an excellent choice. Olive-oil crisps are among the healthiest on the market, and these are light, delicate and wonderfully crispy.
5. Fudge
Finally, to balance the savoury elements of the hamper, include a delicate fudge. Shop independent for the best, most giftable fudge—the kind that’s usually a local, well-kept secret and hard to find. It’s a sweet indulgence that also supports local makers.
Double chocolate or classic buttermilk fudge are both perfect pairings.
