Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for Christmas or another special occasion, there’s a fantastic option for gifts for food lovers. You can make a foodie gift basket that is completely customizable and gives you the scope to add home-made elements. Here are some ideas for making a fantastic gift basket for a food lover.
Use the right container
To make a fantastic gift basket, start off with the right basket. Pick something that is attractive and practical; you want a basket that they can continue to use after unwrapping their gift. Choices include arranging the gift in a fruit bowl, large mixing bowl, or other basket that could be used in the kitchen. This doesn’t have to be expensive either. Look in second-hand or bargain shops to find great deals.
Add personal touches
As you’re going to the trouble to make a gift basket rather than just buying a gift off the shelf, make it personal. For example, we made gift baskets at Christmas that included jars of home-made hot chocolate mix, home-made marshmallow, and mugs. As we were giving the baskets to relatives, we bought white mugs and ceramic pens, and then let our daughters decorate them. The results are very personal and adorable, and perfect for grandparents. No matter who the gift is for, there are easy ways like this to make the basket more personal.
Remember allergies/dietary needs
Make sure to check if the recipient has any allergies or special food needs. For example, in my family we have people with nut allergies, gluten allergies, and vegetarians. We have to make sure that food for them is something that they can enjoy rather than end up in hospital from. On a less dramatic note, you can also take note of their personal preferences. Do they like milk or dark chocolate? Sweet or salty foods? Keep these things in mind as you choose elements.
Consider including home-made elements like cupcakes or cookies, jarred food mixes, syrups , etc.
Add other elements
You can add simple things to make a great foodie gift basket. For example, wooden mixing spoons or measuring cups make a great addition to a gift basket for people who enjoy cooking.
Present it well
If you have chosen a great container and arranged your elements beautifully, then don’t spoil the look with the wrapping. It can be simple to make a gift basket look stunning. Consider buying a roll of cellophane (usually only a couple of dollars) and wrapping it around it so that you can still see the basket and contents. Then tie up the top with a ribbon and add labels or other decorative elements as desired. For example, for Christmas I tied up the top with a red ribbon and a brass bell.
