• RRP £69.99
• Hamper material Cardboard box
• Number of items 9
• Delivery details Available now, delivery dates vary depending on address
• Vegetarian? Yes

There’s something very fun about Cutter and Squidge’s Family Christmas Hamper with its brightly coloured packaging and quirky recipes, and the products are seriously delicious.

The box includes child-friendly treats such as hot chocolate spoons, sweets and cookies, as well as festive staples such as mince pies and coffee. It’s a hamper filled with odd treats to keep you going throughout the festive season, so we’d say it’s good value for money. Plus, a few of the items would make great stocking-fillers.

Rather than a traditional wicker hamper, the food arrives in a large orange cardboard box, which is sure to please those who can’t stand Christmas packaging clutter.

The large, chunky cookies are the only item with a shorter shelf-life (up to eight days) but they really help this hamper stand out. You can pop them in the oven for a decadent dessert (we’d recommend eating with ice cream or cream) — a perfect addition to a family night in, or children’s sleepover perhaps.

The orange and candied ginger dark chocolate bark is another winner for us, you can really taste the quality of the cocoa, plus the nigella seed and sweet chilli vegan bites are a real upgrade from your classic cracker.

The aesthetically pleasing branding is sure to delight, but we found there was a lot of plastic wrapping. The cookies and mince pies are individually wrapped, which while enhancing the freshness of the produce, may put people off.

All age groups are covered here, and it’s an enjoyable box for families to open together. All of the items are suitable for vegetarians, and there are a couple of vegan-friendly treats too.

Pros: Interesting (and delicious) flavours, recyclable hamper, fast delivery, fun for kids

Cons: Too much individual packaging

The Luxury Fizz & Nibbles Christmas Hamper, Abel and Cole

Best for festive hosting

Buy now from Abel and Cole (£77.00)

• RRP £77.00
• Hamper material Wicker basket
• Number of items 9
• Delivery details Available from 11th December (can pre-order now)
• Vegetarian? No

You may associate Abel and Cole with fruit and veg delivery, but the brand also creates hampers filled with organic goodies. We reviewed the Luxury Fizz & Nibbles Christmas Hamper and were impressed by the high-quality produce and overall charm.

The cheeses really stood out for us on test. Both the brie and cheddar are creamy yet bold, and even the feta used in the stuffed cherry peppers is particularly smooth. Every hamper detail and ingredient feels of premium quality.

The mini mince pies are covered in icing sugar, adding to this hamper’s homemade feel. The subtle brandy flavour didn’t go unnoticed! The chilli and rosemary shortbreads are an interesting combination of sweet and savoury, and are sure to jazz up an otherwise ordinary cheese board.

This Christmas hamper works as a whole, so it’ll please hosts looking to impress. You’ll not need to worry about picking up extra bits (although more crackers certainly wouldn’t go amiss) — just serve up and relax. The mix of cheeses, charcuterie, olives and fizz make it an ideal celebratory yet rustic dinner for four.

The hamper arrived with a woolen cool pack, a nice alternative to soggy plastic, to keep the perishable goods nice and chilled. The inclusion of meats and cheeses really takes this hamper to the next level – just make sure your recipient is around to receive it to avoid food waste (and disappointment!).

The wicker basket offers a traditional, country-chic look – it even creaks when you lift the lid – and would work well for two-person picnics.

At just under £80, this hamper is on the expensive side considering it could disappear in one sitting, but all of the items work well together and we appreciate the unique, delicious and punchy flavour combinations.

Pros: Organic produce, premium taste, hamper works beautifully as a whole

Cons: Fresh ingredients may complicate delivery

Snowdonia Quintessential Cheese Hamper

Best for cheese lovers

Buy now from Snowdonia Cheese Company (£45.00)

• RRP £45.00
• Number of items 8
• Delivery details Within 1-3 days
• Vegetarian? Yes

Cheese enthusiasts are in luck! Whether you like your cheese mild, or packed full of flavour, this selection of five includes something for everybody, and it’s a great way to try more unique flavour combinations.

The hamper includes 200g servings of Black Bomber (extra mature cheddar), Beechwood (mature cheddar naturally smoked over beechwood chips), Red Storm (vintage red Leicester), Green Thunder (mature cheddar with roasted garlic and garden herb) and Red Devil (red Leicester with Habanero chillies, peppers and spices).

The Black Bomber went down particularly well, and the Green Thunder was moreish rather than overpowering. We also found the Red Devil’s subtle spicing complemented the Red Leicester beautifully.

The chutneys – Balsamic Caramelised Onion and Pear and Date and Cognac – pair perfectly with the cheeses, elevating the experience.

The hamper also includes a box of wholemeal and extra virgin olive oil crackers to complete the set. The number of crackers was slightly disappointing but the cheese is the real star of the show. Just remember to stock up on cheese board essentials!

What we really like about this hamper is that it’s also the gift of an experience. Bring everyone together over a cheese night, whether it’s for a housewarming present, or family members you’ll miss over the festive period.

The five cheeses are beautifully presented on a bed of raffia, contributing to the overall rustic feel of this Snowdonia Cheese Company hamper. The hamper box can be reused in the future, but it feels quite fragile so it may be best for display purposes.

It’s also worth checking out the Snowdonia Cheese Company’s serving suggestions.

Pros: Exceptional quality, decent portion sizes, great value for money

Cons: Refrigerated items require some degree of forward planning for delivery

The Christmas Treat Hamper, Fortnum and Mason

Best for luxury

Buy now from Fortnum and Mason (£110.00)

• RRP £110.00
• Number of items 7
• Delivery details Order by 18th December for standard delivery before Christmas
• Vegetarian? Yes

Fortnum and Mason’s Christmas Treat Hamper contains a variety of food and drink items, including a whole Christmas pudding, a bottle of red wine, reindeer sweets and cognac butter, but we’d say it’s more suited to those who prefer sweet things. This is a mature hamper that certainly leans towards an adult age group, but the chocolate coins are sure to please little ones.

We were impressed with the quality of products. The Christmas tea has a subtly unique flavour thanks to the cocoa nibs, clementine, and warming Christmas spices. Tea enthusiasts should enjoy this. The pecan and ginger biscuits are crumbly and buttery, and go well with the tea.

You’re covered for the big day itself with a rich and moist Christmas pudding, and there’s even cognac butter if you’re a fan. The Claret was of very high quality, but likely hikes the price of the hamper up quite a lot.

As for packaging, we could’ve done with less raffia. While aesthetically pleasing, it’s messy. Fans of the iconic brand however will appreciate the classic Fortnum and Mason design in black on front of the basket. The lovely biscuit tin, tea tin and cognac butter jar can all be reused, but they’re distinctly festive, so perhaps best left for homemade Christmas presents.

Fortnum and Mason gifts come at a cost, and you’re paying for the iconic wicker hamper, as well as the goods inside. We question whether the seven food and drink items are worth over £100. Compared to other hampers on the market, we’d say this one doesn’t offer enough products to be considered good value.

Pros: High-quality tasting items, iconic hamper design

Cons: Expensive, fewer items than other hampers on review

Original Social Stories Gift Hamper

Best for ethical shoppers

Buy now from Social Stories Club (£60.00)

• RRP £60.00
• Number of items 8, plus story booklet
• Delivery details Free UK delivery, allow up to two working days to be dispatched
• Vegetarian? Yes

The Social Stories Club supports sustainable brands that aim to have a positive impact on the world, so it’s one for ethical shoppers who think carefully about their consumption habits. In this hamper you’ll find shortbread biscuits made from renewable energy; chocolate from a company that contributes towards reforestation projects and organic soap that’s been designed by artists living with epilepsy and learning difficulties. There’s also a sparkling drink made from wonky lemons that would otherwise be chucked into landfill.

What’s more, you can learn more about the social enterprises involved thanks to the story booklet that comes with the hamper. This aspect justifies the price tag, as we’re happy to pay more to support charitable and sustainable projects.

The shortbread biscuits are especially tasty, and the hot chocolate has a luxurious feel which gives it a real treat sensation. We love the mix of edible and non-edible gifts. While the artisan soap and candle are small, they really help make this a special hamper, full of surprises.

The hamper itself is a sturdy woven box, crafted from red, raffia-like material. It feels especially festive, and more substantial than a traditional wicker hamper.

Pros: No fresh produce for effortless delivery (great for surprising!), sustainability at the core, inclusion of non-edible gifts

Cons: Lack of savoury treats

How we tested

BBC Countryfile Magazine reviewed these hampers with presentation, sustainability and quality of produce in mind. We tested the hampers as a whole package, to explore how the ingredients worked together, taking into account age group suitability, taste preference and dietary requirements too. Value for money was also an important consideration.

For more present inspiration, read our gift guides:

• Best gift ideas for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers
• Best gifts for walkers: 33 top presents for hikers
• The best outdoor gift cards and subscriptions for friends and family

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