Christmas is a profound holiday celebrated all over the world. With the holiday bells jingling just around the corner, food hampers are highly anticipated during this season in Australia. Food hampers are a great way of sharing happiness and commemorating the general Christmas spirit.
A Christmas food hamper is basically a basket filled with delicious treats like baked goods, chocolates, nuts,A Christmas food hamper is basically a basket filled with delicious treats like baked goods, chocolates, nuts, wine, and cheese. According to the preferences of the receiver, you can basically create your very own pick and mix, you can customize the gourmet goods.
To help you decide what thoughtful food hampers to give, this article will discuss various creative Christmas food hamper ideas.
Classic Christmas Treats
Embrace the Christmas spirit and gift the person you care about with a basket filled with scrumptious foods that highlight the festivities. There are many sites that offer a variety of Christmas hampers in Australia.
A wide variety of holiday treats can be included in the hampers. You can add various holiday-special chocolates, cookies, Christmas puddings, and mince pies.
To add some more jazz, you can add a bottle of Champagne or a light-bodied wine. Artisanal bread, caviar, and roasted nuts like cashews can be nice additions as well.
For the Ones Who Love Cheese
If the person you will give the food hamper happens to be a cheese lover, treat them with delectable cheeses and homemade accompaniments like crackers, figs, grapes, and wine.
You can fill the basket with different types of cheese like a round of gouda and a block of parmesan. A baked camembert kit like McLaren or the mouth-watering brie can be a great choice. Including an assortment of gourmet cheese will surely make the receiver smile.
If the person has an acquired taste, you can go bold and include Riverine Blue cheese. Pairing this cheese with pears, figs, and light red wine will be a showstopper.
You can enhance and preserve certain cheese by submerging it in oil. The oil can be infused with various herbs and spices to add more depth to the flavors. To add a personal flair, you can gift marinated cubes of goat cheese.
Simply prepare the oil first, which involves adding sprigs of thyme, fennel seeds, chili, and some lemon zest in olive oil. The infused oil should be in an eloquent transparent jar so that the beautiful colors of the herbs and cheese can be seen from the outside.
Then submerge the goat cheese cubes into the oil. Let the flavors of the herbs and spices seep out and infuse into the cheese and oil. Make sure that the lid is closed tightly and adorn the jar with a quaint little ribbon to make it more special. This marinated cheese lasts for weeks and is incredibly delicious.
You can also add other sorts of delicious accompaniments like sea salt biscuits, saltines, manchego melting biscuits, and sliced walnuts. Homemade chutneys are also appetizing additions. Orange and spiced beetroot chutney is a great option; it tastes out of the world with hard cheese with nutty notes.
Chocoholic’s Basket of Dreams
For die-hard chocolate lovers, melt their hearts by gifting a hamper filled with chocolaty goodies. Fill the basket with mouth-watering chocolate truffles, chocolate-covered pretzels, and other types of chocolate treats.
To make the hamper more special, you can give a bouquet of various chocolates that the person likes. Artisanal handmade chocolate bars studded with different roasted nuts are something everybody loves and can not say no to.
If you know how to bake, you can bake chocolate cupcakes and fudgy brownies. This will help you add a personal touch and make the whole gift quite thoughtful. For a real festive vibe, you can also add chocolate crinkle biscuits. These biscuits are so darn good and go great with a glass of milk.
Chocolate chip cookies, minty chocolates, caramels, and meringue are also lovely additions. A personalized hot cocoa mixture is also a lovely option that properly captures the holiday spirits and wholesomeness. Do not forget to pack marshmallows if you are gifting hot cocoa.
Boozy Indulgences
Celebrating the holidays also includes different types of alcohol besides rich foods. You can consider gifting a hamper filled with different types of alcoholic drinks paired with accompaniments. This type of basket will be very appreciated by the ones who love booze.
The alcohol options are quite vast, from the elegant wine to the crafted beers; you can surprise the person with any beverage of their liking.
For Wine Lovers
Rosé is a great wine that can be enjoyed in lunches or picnics under the Australian sun. This drink is quite refreshing and can be a great way to start the day. Moreover, Rosé is a great ice breaker and is a great beverage for soirées.
You can also gift dry white wine paired with hand-crafted cheese and caviar. Red wines like Malbec can also be a great addition as they are liked by many. The light fruity taste is easier to drink than the ones that taste oaky. Hence, fruity red wines are safer options, and they also taste quite good.
Whatever assortment of wines you are including in the gift, make sure you also include complimentary snacks like crackers, chocolates, and nuts.
Beer Enthusiasts
Some individuals prefer beer over any other drink. There are some beers that work perfectly with meals during the holidays. This malt beverage is favoured by many due to its buzz and heartiness. Cracking open a cold one is a great way to socialize and catch up with each other.
You can also add hand-crafted premium lagers to make the entire package more special. Do not forget to include homemade pretzels, salted peanuts, and chocolates that go well with a pint.
Christmas Spirits
Some prefer celebrating Christmas with spirits like gin, vodka, and whiskey. Having cocktails made with these tantalizing spirits are a great way to enjoy Christmas feasts and parties.
To add a little bit of extravagance, you can also gift a cocktail shaker set and flavorsome syrups. You can also make flavored spirits at home and include them in the hamper.
For instance, you can add some orange zest and spices like cinnamon to limoncello. The oils from the orange zest and the aromatic spices infused can make the flavoured beverage an ideal Christmas drink.
Fruity Hamper
Some people prefer refreshing fruits that are naturally sweet and can be enjoyed on their own. If you want to make the hamper a bit fancy, you can opt for a bouquet of different fruits.
From nectarines like peaches to sweet and sour oranges, the fruit options are quite diverse. Different berries like strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are quite popular and liked by many.
Moreover, pairing these berries with a small assortment of cheese go quite well together. You can also add fruits like cherries, grapes, melons, and bananas. Chocolate-covered fruits like strawberries and dates are great additions as well. Throw in a bottle of wine to complete the whole basket.
Homemade jams, marmalades, and fruit preserves are also ambrosial treats. Pair the jams with scrumptious freshly baked bread like brioche. This will make the hamper quite wholesome and hearty.
Caffeine Connoisseur
For those who love caffeine, you can gift them various types of coffee and tea. If the person you are gifting is a coffee aficionado, you can give premium ground coffee. To include some exotic flavors, you can also include Arabic roasted coffee beans.
You can also opt for coffee pods for those who use Keurig machines or Dolce Gusto. The pods come in various flavors and types, from basic cappuccinos to sweet mochas, you name it. You can also include sweeteners like jaggery or organic cane sugar to complement the coffee.
To elevate the Christmas present, you can also include coffee liqueurs like Kahlua. Add some other snacks that go great with coffee, like some quaint cookie bites and mixed nuts.
If the receiver is an avid tea drinker, you can give a variety of loose tea leaves and bags. Gifting the classic Black tea and Earl Grey is mandatory for those who get their caffeine boost from teas.
You can also include tea that has numerous health benefits like organic green tea, Matcha, and hibiscus tea. Teas with floral and fruity notes like peach and mango are also wonderful additions. Delightful teas like mint and chamomile tea are sound options to consider as well.
For tea sweeteners, you can also give organically sourced honey or monk fruit sugar. Pair the selection of teas with accessories like tea infusers and strainers. Include various biscuits like macarons and berries ideal for evening tea. You can also add premium evaporated or condensed milk for those with a sweet tooth and a love for tea.
Final Thoughts
Whether gifting to your close relatives or friends, food hampers are an effective way of spreading joy. Exchanging Christmas hampers is a wonderful way of celebrating the holiday spirit and wholesomeness. Hope you get to wow your loved one with your personalized hampers.
