Homemade Christmas hampers: 12 gift ideas in jars and bottles

A homemade hamper is one of the most personal Christmas presents you can give. A jar of your own marmalade, a bottle of sloe gin or a jar of spiced nuts shows real thought, and a good jar or bottle with a neat label makes it look properly finished. Here are 12 ideas to mix and match for family, friends, teachers and neighbours, each with a jar or bottle from our range that suits it.

Whatever you make, follow a tested recipe from a reputable source, including its instructions for preparing your jars and bottles, preserving and storage.

Pack sizes vary by product, so check the product page before you order.

1. Christmas marmalade or jam

Seville orange marmalade, spiced plum or cranberry and orange jam all feel festive. Our 380ml jam jars are the classic 1lb shape, and a gingham lid gives an instant homemade look.

Hamper pairing: add a loaf of homemade bread or a bag of scones for a ready-made Boxing Day breakfast.

2. Mincemeat

Homemade mincemeat is a thoughtful gift for keen bakers in the run-up to Christmas. Our 190ml round jam jars make a small gift portion.

Tie on a tag with your favourite mince pie method so the recipient knows exactly what to do with it.

3. Christmas chutney

A spiced apple, pear or fig chutney belongs on every Christmas cheeseboard. Pack it in our 297ml jam jars, which are made for chutneys and relishes and come with gingham among the lid options.

Serving suggestion: a wedge of mature Cheddar and a few oatcakes turn a single jar into a cheese course.

4. Pickled red cabbage or onions

Pickles are a Boxing Day essential alongside cold turkey and ham. Taller 475ml pickle jars show off the colour of red cabbage or the layers of small onions.

5. Cranberry sauce

Make a fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest or port and give it in our 212ml Orcio jars. Follow your recipe's storage advice, and if it needs keeping in the fridge, say so clearly on the label.

6. Sloe gin

If you already have a batch of sloe gin ready, this is the time to share it. If you're starting one now, check your recipe's infusion time before choosing it as a Christmas gift, as some recipes allow two to three months. Heavy-based 500ml Nocturne bottles with a cork stopper make even a small batch feel special.

Serving suggestion: on a handwritten tag, recommend topping a splash with sparkling wine or tonic.

7. Winter cordial

A spiced clementine, ginger or winter berry cordial is a lovely alcohol-free gift for drivers and families. Our 750ml swing-top bottles are made for cordials and lemonades, and the swing stopper reseals after every pour.

Add a note on how much to dilute it, using the ratio from your recipe.

8. Gingerbread coffee syrup

For the coffee lover, a gingerbread or cinnamon syrup brings café flavours home. Our 250ml hexagonal bottles are made for syrups and have a shape that stands out in a hamper.

Hamper pairing: a bag of good coffee beans and a pair of mugs.

9. Hot sauce

For the friend who puts chilli on everything, bottle a fiery chilli sauce in our 250ml sauce bottles. Clear glass shows off a bright red or green sauce, and different lid colours can tell mild from hot.

10. Hot chocolate mix

Layers of cocoa, sugar and chocolate pieces look lovely through clear glass. A 750ml jam jar has a wide opening for spooning.

On the tag: write how many spoonfuls of mix to stir into a mug of hot milk, taken from your own recipe, plus any allergens such as milk.

11. Festive granola

Granola with dried cranberries, orange zest and warming spices makes a cheerful Christmas morning breakfast. Our 1062ml round jars hold a generous batch.

Suggest serving it with Greek yoghurt and a spoonful of the marmalade or jam from idea 1.

12. Spiced nuts

Roasted almonds, cashews or pecans with rosemary, smoked paprika or a little maple syrup are an easy last-minute gift. The wide opening on our 500ml food jars makes them easy to scoop from.

Tree nuts and peanuts are separate allergens among the 14 major allergens, so name each nut you used on the label, such as almonds, cashews or pecans, and mention peanuts if you added any.

Labelling your gifts

A good label makes a homemade gift easier and safer to enjoy. Include:

  • what it is, with a full list of ingredients
  • allergens, clearly highlighted
  • storage instructions that match your recipe, such as "keep in the fridge once opened"
  • the date you made it
  • a "best eaten within" line that gives the time from making and, separately, the time after opening, with the storage conditions and timings for both taken from your recipe
  • serving or preparation notes for mixes, cordials and syrups

How to put your hamper together

  • Pick a theme: a breakfast hamper (marmalade, granola, hot chocolate), a cheeseboard hamper (chutney, pickles, cranberry sauce) or a drinks hamper (sloe gin, cordial, coffee syrup).
  • Mix heights: combine tall bottles with squat jars so everything can be seen.
  • Protect the glass: pack jars and bottles snugly with tissue or shredded paper.

Explore our jars and bottles

Browse our jam jars, pickle and chutney jars, gin and spirit bottles, swing-top bottles and sauce bottles to build your Christmas hamper, or call Anna and the team on 0117 986 9667 if you would like help choosing jars and bottles for your gifts.