32 last-minute Christmas hamper ideas

It’s deep into December and you still haven’t bought your Christmas presents. You’ve missed online shopping deadlines, actual shops are closing all around you and panic is setting in – it’s happened to the best of us. By this point, the idea of making traditional preserves or home-infused spirits may seem like far-flung notions best dismissed, but it is possible to make your own gifts with only days to spare.

Read on for ideas on how to create edible gifts at the eleventh hour.

Quick and easy sweets

1. Microwave boozy fudge

Homemade fudge sounds like it will take an afternoon in the kitchen to achieve – not so. This 'miracle fudge' is made in the microwave. The simple two-step recipe is a touch of festive genius, plus the fudge only takes an hour to cool and set.

2. White chocolate pretzel bites

A bowl of melted chocolate goes a long way. We love these pretzel bites – just stir cranberries and smashed pretzels into melted chocolate, spoon into mounds and leave them to set. The pretzel-crushing stage is particularly good for letting out the tension that always comes with Christmas on the horizon.

3. Chocolate & ginger fridge squares

Sticky stem ginger is a wonderfully Christmassy flavour. If you like spice, try our chocolate & ginger refrigerator squares.

4. Nutty chocolate tiffin

Fridge cakes involve melted chocolate, stirring and little further labour. This tiffin contains a mix of biscuits, nuts and fruit, and it’ll set in two hours.

Easy truffle recipes

Chocolate truffles are the ultimate speedy sweet. The trick is perfecting your rolling technique – watch our video, then flex those palms and get to work. If you don’t want to cover yourself in cocoa, use an ice cream scoop or teaspoon to help.

5. Fast truffle fudge

This fast truffle fudge is a hybrid dish that cleverly uses the microwave and needs only four ingredients. It's so fast it takes only seven minutes from start to finish, leaving you to stick on a Christmas film while it sets.

6. Sweet snowball bites

If you want to add a childlike, kitsch charm to the truffle blueprint, try these bitesize snowballs packed with cake, biscuits, marshmallow and more.

7. Chocolate chilli truffles

Go classic, or experiment with flavours. We’re big fans of chocolate combined with chilli and in this case, cooling mint, too. Don’t forget to coat them in something appealing. Try chopped nuts, desiccated coconut or colourful sprinkles.

Simple foodie gift jars

Rummage through the back of your cupboards for empty Kilner jars, or failing that, recycle used jam jars and cover the tops with pretty fabric secured with ribbon. Then, get to work creating an assemble-only jar. You could even put together a jar of baking ingredients so your recipient can get stuck into a cooking project in those lazy days between Christmas and New Year's Day.

8. Christmas biscuit jar

These layered Christmas biscuit and chocolate cookie jar recipes contain all the ingredients needed to make delicious homemade biscuits. Just layer it up, seal and go – don’t forget to include a tag with cooking instructions.

9. Hot chocolate jars with edible snowmen

If you’re stuck for something to give children, these hot chocolate jars with edible snowmen are as cute as a button.

10. Lavender sugar jar

Lavender flowers can be bought, dried, in jars and they impart lavender flavour into sugar in quick time.

Homemade recipe kits

Bespoke cooking kits couldn’t be easier to assemble.

11. Mulled wine kit

Our mulled wine box contains all the ingredients you need to infuse wine to perfection, including a clove-studded orange and muslin bag of spices. Pick up a really good bottle of red to finish things off.

12. Camembert kit

If you have a cheese-loving friend, a camembert kit with boozy sultanas will be received with open arms. Again, don’t scrimp on the cost of the main component – there are plenty of fine continental cheeses on offer in supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas.

13. Sourdough starter kit

To keep things even more simple, a sourdough starter kit requires little more than flour, a jar and neat handwriting for the instructions.

14. Gravadlax kit

Or how about a gravadlax kit, again mostly using storecupboard ingredients.

15. Whisky & pink peppercorn marmalade kit

Our whisky & pink peppercorn marmalade kit includes an optional jam pan.

Speedy jams, chutneys and preserves

16. No-cook apple chutney

You’ll only need 15 minutes and two apples to prepare this storecupboard relish. Ideally, it should be left for two or three days to infuse.

17. Christmas jam

Make the most of seasonal cranberries with this simple Christmas jam. Using just seven ingredients, it’s an affordable homemade gift that feels thoughtful and full of festive cheer. Add a touch of edible glitter for a sparkling, extra-special finish.

18. 10-minute mincemeat

To keep things super-festive, use our all-in-one 10-minute mincemeat recipe for a quick and effective festive gesture.

19. Quick pickled onions

If you know someone looking forward to their Christmas Day cheeseboard, quick pickled onions are sure to make a welcome addition to the fromage-a-thon.

20. Marinated goat's cheese

While on the subject of cheese, our easy marinated goat's cheese takes just 10 minutes to make, although it does need a couple of days for the flavours to develop.

Quick infused spirits

21. Chilli-infused vodka

Never underestimate the power of chilli. While, usually, infused spirits need months for flavours to develop, hot and spicy chillies will do the job in a few hours. This vodka has a hit of chopped chilli and, for presentation, a whole version is placed into the bottle.

22. Earl Grey infused gin

The bergamot oil in the Earl Grey gives a citrus hit to this tea-infused gin that takes just minutes to make. Carefully strain the gin for a stable flavour that'll last for months and serve over ice.

Easy chocolate bark recipes

Welcome to the genius world of chocolate bark. This is a guaranteed way of winning major brownie points for making your own gifts, when actually it requires little more than melting, pouring and scattering. Line your baking tray ready to go then experiment with one of our flavour ideas.

23. Salted fruit 'n' nut bark

Simple yet effective. This fruit-and-nut studded chocolate bark is made by swirling dark and white chocolate together, then scattering over your choice of toppings – we used pecans, cashews, pistachios, macadamias, sultanas, cranberries and chopped apricots for a grown-up gift. Break into shards and package up for presentation.

24. Reindeer & snowman bark

Kids will love decorating this fabulously festive chocolate bark with mini marshmallows, jelly shoe laces and pretzel reindeer 'antlers'.

25. Mint-chocolate pretzel bark

With just five ingredients, you can make these irresistible triple chocolate pretzel bark bites – perfect for gifting or adding to a festive buffet. They’re ready in just 15 minutes, making them ideal for a last-minute homemade treat when you need something quick to bring along to Christmas celebrations.

More quick and easy edible gift ideas

26. Chilli & fennel frosted nuts

Looking for a festive gift for someone who’s not into sweet treats? These chilli and fennel frosted nuts are just the thing. The recipe makes three gift bags, so you can tick off several people at once – plus they’re gluten-free and vegan, making them ideal for even the trickiest friends to buy for.

27. Potted cheddar

This five-ingredient potted cheddar, made with mustard and ale, is a brilliant gift for any cheese lover. Transform it into a mini hamper with crackers, bread, and a few charcuterie essentials, such as olives and gherkins, for a thoughtful festive treat.

28. Coconut bauble truffles

These coconut cake balls make a brilliant gift to whip up with kids – they’ll love getting hands-on, crumbling the cake, choosing the bauble colours and shaking the bags to coat the truffles in coconut. It’s a fun festive activity for everyone to enjoy (and might even tire them out!).

29. Cheese & rosemary biscuits

This recipe makes 25 cheese and rosemary biscuits – perfect for packaging up as gifts for friends and family. Any extras can be frozen, either raw or baked, ready to cook or reheat in under 30 minutes when you need a quick homemade treat to take to a festive gathering.

30. Funfetti biscuits

This funfetti biscuit recipe makes a generous batch of 32 round biscuits or around 120 bite-sized squares – perfect as end-of-term gifts for your child’s classmates. They’re easy to batch bake, taking just 50 minutes from start to finish.

31. Scottish tablet

Similar to fudge but with a more crumbly texture, Scottish tablet is easy to make and uses just three ingredients, making it budget-friendly as well.

32. Christmas cookies

These festive vanilla cookies make a beautiful edible Christmas tree decoration. Or, you could pack them into boxes to give as end-of-term gifts for teachers and friends.

For more present inspiration, visit our Christmas gift page. You’ll also find hundreds of festive recipes in our Christmas kitchen.