Home made hamper ideas for gifts

[MercurysMeteor]

Planning ahead and looking to create something lovely for family members by making food/nice things to go in hampers. I don’t have a lot of money but I do have time and ability to learn!
so… I was thinking I could make some jams when the fruit comes down in price (fingers crossed) in sept, and maybe some biscuits, crackers, chutney. I was thinking maybe to get some small cloths and try out some embroidery for initials on each one. Any other ideas of what I could make to go inside?
thanks all

Fudge? Or chocolates/sweets? Chocolate dipped peppermint creams are easy and Christmassy

Pinterest is your friend for things like this. Or, eg, Celebrity Chef websites

Definitely jams and chutneys _ I love homemade!
pop in a loaf cake (obviously has to be made day or two before)
a small cheese
Oatcakes

You can get tiny loaf tins to do individual Christmas cakes (which keep quite well)

Make your own mulled wine/cider spice in little muslin bags. I always buy spices in bulk anyway so this costs pence.

Or if your recipients enjoy a particular cuisine you could make up a themed kit of spice blends, homemade chutney, pickled veg sides etc

If you know anyone with apple trees, they are likely to have loads of apples to give away around now. You could make apple jelly very cheaply and apple chutney.

Homemade truffles are easy and delicious I add some rum for the adults

Homemade candles, homemade bookmarks (if recipient is a bookworm) or if budget allows, warm fuzzy socks & slippers? : )

Biscotti - chocolate and hazlenut. Super easy and keep well

Homemade salted caramel.

Sloe gin. Probably not the cheapest option as you still have to buy the gin and then nice glass bottles to put it in but it does make nice presents.

Homemade candle and homemade wine !

Also gingerbread, knitted scarf , or knitted cushion cover.

These are all really helpful thank you. I’m actually feeling quite excited about putting something together! Might make an extra set for us too!

I do my sister and her Dh a cheese and chutney hamper every Christmas, they look forward to it.

My top tip if you are making chutney AND sloe (or damson) gin is to reuse the long necked vinegar bottles available in every supermarket to save on buying bottles (if you strike lucky in eg. Home Sense these are around £2.99). Good Housekeeping had a recipe for a white chocolate liqueur a few years ago but perhaps a bit spendy with white rum, double cream, sugar and chocolate.
I went on a Christmas baking course and one of the recipes was ginger cake which keeps well.
Don't worry about the quality of the gin - buy the cheapest.

I usually make 4 large square Christmas cakes and cut 2 of them in half (for couples or single family) to make 6 cakes and ice and decorate them. I put them on a silver coloured cake board and wrap with decorated cellophane with a ribbon from Hobbycraft. I get loads of compliments about them so have continued. Sometimes I also make mince pies and put them in a nice festive tin and/or shortbread.

Think carefully about whether your recipients like and eat these things. Crackers, chutney and jams would go uneaten here but we’d love the fudge.

Surely that's the same for any gift, homemade or bought? They might not like a particular plant or wine or book or anything else?

All you chutney-doubters need to start sticking a spoonful in with your gravy granules, it’s a game changer!

Bees wax wraps? You could buy some nice cotton fabric and melt the wax on with an iron. Best to look up the instructions online.

Brilliant, yes will def do this as I’m going to get material already to make little microwave handwarmers. Really enjoyed these ideas, thank you everyone. Keep em coming if there are more to add.

One of the problems I have found with hampers is that the packaging can add quite a bit to the cost. I recently found the Hyvens box from ikea (£1.50) which is a good size. It's not terribly Christmassy but I'm sure it could be made so with a bit of extra decoration. Also easy to wrap in some brown paper if you need to post.

I think hampers and home made goods are an age thing too. If you gave me homemade things now I'd be delighted (middle age mum) and very flattered that you had given your time to do it for me. However, if you gave it to my 23 year old self I'd be like WWTF am I supposed to do with this chutney? Where are my vouchers?

@IHateHeatWaves I agree but who would give a 23 year old chutney? You can gift a hamper and still apply common sense surely?

I used to eat Branston Pickle by the spoonful when I was in my 20s!