Christmas gift basket ideas for people who can’t wait for Christmas

Holiday baking gift basket centered around a ceramic bakery-shaped container, baking accessories, cookie cutters, measuring spoons, kitchen towels, and Christmas treats arranged in a white basin against a red backdrop.

Whenever I want to show someone a little extra love at the holidays or I’m giving a gift meant for the whole family, a Christmas gift basket always ends up being my go-to gifting solution.

You can customize Christmas gift baskets in endless ways, make ones to fit practically any budget, and—my favorite part—come up with all kinds of creative themes. In fact, one of my favorite uses for Christmas gift baskets is to gift them early to help loved ones kick off the holiday season and make the most of it. Let me show you what I mean with these Christmas-themed gift basket ideas!

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.

What do you put in a Christmas-themed gift basket?  

Anything that will help them start the season off in a fun way or enhance their enjoyment of it. Usually, that’s a mix of small, thoughtful items and larger splurge or “statement” items. I like to make a checklist to keep it simple:

  • A few little things they can use exclusively in their celebrations
  • A décor item you know they’d love
  • Some fun food items…it IS the holidays, after all
  • A gift that feels personal, even if it’s not necessarily personalized
  • A card that lets them know how happy I am to help them get their holiday joy on!

What are some Christmas gift basket ideas for Christmas lovers?  

This is my absolute favorite part—coming up with basket themes that show I know how they love to spend the holidays!

Christmas Baker Gift Basket  

Holiday baking-themed gift basket featuring a ceramic bakery-shaped container, cookie cutters, measuring spoons, baking supplies, kitchen towels, a holiday tea towel, candy canes, and festive Christmas décor arranged against a bright red background.

 

I have a friend who is an amazing baker. As in he hosts cookie decorating workshops and he’s been in some televised cookie baking competitions. That kind of amazing. 🤩

For someone like him, a Christmas gift basket full of thoughtful little goodies that make his kitchen merry and help him package his perfectly frosted sugar cookies is ideal.

  • These ceramic Christmas tree plates and this adorable tea towel would look equally cute on the kitchen counter.
  • A set of measuring spoons feels dressed up for the holidays when tied with red and white ribbon.
  • Add a little treat box filled with their favorite Christmas candy or homemade treat of your own.
  • These stand mixer, cookbook and gingerbread man ornaments are adorable…especially if they keep a mini tree in the kitchen!
  • You could even make, bottle and gift your own vanilla extract. It’s super easy—but you do need some lead time. Do a simple internet search and you’ll find tons of instructions.
  • A set of treat bags, tags and twine makes gifting their creations super easy.
  • Our Snowman Village collection debuts this year, and wouldn’t you know it there’s a bakery among the very first figurines to collect!
  • Finally, this pop-up papercraft card reimagines Santa as the owner of a sweet shop. You couldn’t ask for a better card to let a holiday baker know how much they’re loved!

Holiday Host Christmas Gift Basket  

My neighbors love having people over and taking care of them. It just makes them happy! In fact, as I write this, I’m sure they’re already thinking about the appetizers for their annual Christmas party.

For someone like them—a basket full of items to help them go all out at party time, plus a few treats to remind them that they matter, too!

  • A pretty serving tray. They go all out on specialty cocktails at their parties, and this would be perfect for passing them around.
  • This ceramic sculptural Santa mug comes in four different colors and goes perfectly with the vintage vibe in their basement.
  • A pack of stylish, decorative toothpicks for all the small bites I know they’ll be serving.
  • Their 3-year-old little girl always steals the show at the party. I’m thinking she and this reindeer stuffie with light-up antlers would be best buds.
  • Some peppermint bark. Just a sweet treat to say thanks for accepting all the extras from my vegetable garden.
  • Speaking of my garden, I’d make sure to include some of my homemade peppermint hand balm, too!
  • A card that lets them know how lucky we feel to be their neighbors. And not just because they have a pool. 😂

Christmas Movie Marathon Gift Basket  

Hallmark Channel-themed holiday gift basket filled with cozy movie-night items, including a white sweatshirt, blanket, mugs, popcorn tubs, snacks, holiday popcorn, and Hallmark Channel-themed accessories on a mint green background.

 

This friend or family member never misses Countdown to Christmas on Hallmark Channel. They likely have a list of must-watch classics each season, too.

To help them indulge in their holiday happily-ever-afters to the fullest this season, I’d plan on a Christmas gift basket with

  • A set of mini popcorn buckets for watch parties with friends or the whole family.
  • Some gourmet popcorn! Or make some popcorn yourself with one of our holiday popcorn recipes here. We even have a reindeer crunch mix!
  • Premium hot cocoa mix, purchased or homemade—mini marshmallows included, of course. 😋 Add some colorful peppermint sticks bundled together with ribbon to stir the cocoa and give it that holiday flavor.
  • A mug, of course, since you can’t gift someone cocoa at Christmas without also gifting them a mug, right?
  • A bottle of wine or a stemless wineglass if they’re not into cocoa.
  • A few additional snacks, like chocolate-covered pretzels, some homemade Christmas cookies or their favorite candy.
  • A sweatshirt (coming soon!) for those “me-time” Hallmark Christmas movie marathons or this throw blanket for family Christmas movies on the couch to help them cozy it up.
  • This Hallmark Christmas movie bingo game that turns any movie into an interactive game.

Pet Parent Christmas Gift Basket  

Pets already have a special place in our hearts, but at Christmas, they get extra helpings of love. Especially mine—her birthday is on Christmas, and she has her own stocking and everything.

Know anyone like that? (Of course you do!) Whether it’s their first Christmas with their pet or you know they always go all out for their four-legged fur-kid at the holidays, they’d love to see these goodies in a Christmas gift basket:

  • An ornament just for them! Whether you pick a photo ornament, one that can be personalized with their name or just a sweet, silly one, they’ll think of you (and their pet) every time they hang it on their tree.
  • Treats, treats and more treats. Do a little digging (sorry) and sniff out (sorry again) what their pup’s or kitty’s favorite snacks are. You could even make some!
  • A cute notebook. Not everything in the basket needs to be for their pet. Some of it can be for the person you’re gifting it to. 😊
  • A DIY gift. Find lots of DIY ideas for celebrating your favorite critters here.
  • This funny throw blanket if their pet pal is a known cover hog when it gets cold out (their human will surely appreciate the humor).
  • An insulated mug to make trips to the dog park more fun. Also, everyone needs socks. But not everyone has socks with dogs or cats on them.
  • And of course, a Christmas card that lets them know how much they’re BOTH loved.

Disney Fan Christmas Gift Basket  

Disney-inspired Christmas gift basket featuring Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse plush items, holiday socks, mugs, ornaments, candy canes, and festive Disney-themed accessories arranged in a woven basket.

 

We all know a Disney fan. You might be a Disney fan. I’m a Disney fan. 😂 Disney just has an incredible way of connecting people across generations and lived experiences. Especially at the holidays!

And Disney always has the cutest Christmas gifts, many of which you can only find at Hallmark! So, for the Disney fan or Disney family in your life, a Christmas gift basket that helps them kick off the holiday magic could look like

  • A Disney Minnie Mouse plush (coming soon!) for the littlest one in the family to take on their holiday adventures.
  • This tea towel and ceramic mug, both covered in a cute gingerbread-themed pattern.
  • Some supersweet socks (coming soon!) for chilly toes, always welcomed in winter.
  • This Disney Mickey Mouse pillow to fit right in with holiday décor in the living room or even a kid’s bedroom. (Pssst…kids bedroom decorating ideas here!)
  • A homemade gingerbread cookie mix in a jar. Include a gift tag with instructions and any other necessary ingredients. If you can find one, include a Mickey Mouse-shaped cookie cutter, too!
  • This Disney Mickey Mouse snow globe ornament and this Disney Pluto ornament to add the perfect playful touch to any Disney fan’s tree.
  • Candy canes! You can’t go wrong by adding this classic Christmas sweet to their gift basket.
  • A card, to let them know how magical you hope their holidays turn out to be. This one’s made of wood and doubles as decoration!

New Home Christmas Gift Basket  

My niece and her fiancé just bought their first home, and I’m so ridiculously happy for them both. But as a homeowner myself, I know how pricey decorating your first place can be. You gotta collect that stuff over the years!

Help the new homeowner in your life get a start on their seasonal decorating stash with these Christmas-themed gift basket ideas.

  • If you’re confident you know their style, Christmas bedding is such a fun way to extend the holiday décor to other parts of the house. We’ll also have a special collection coming to Michaels craft stores this November!
  • Along the DIY route, what about making them a personalized wreath to hang on their front door or somewhere else in the house?
  • Everyone knows one of the best parts about owning a home is being able to burn as many scrumptious-smelling candles as you please. Especially the holiday-scented ones in winter!
  • This might be the first time they’ve had room for a grown-up-size tree. Get them an ornament that helps them decorate and celebrates their “new house” milestone. Doubly thoughtful!
  • What’s something you wish you’d had when you decorated your first house at Christmas? An extra extension cord? Stocking hangers for the mantel? Those adhesive hooks for putting up lights? Add them to the gift basket! Remember, good gifts can be functional, too!
  • Include a heartfelt card and let them know that you hope this is just the first of many happy holidays in their new home.

Peanuts-Themed Gift Basket  

Peanuts-themed Christmas gift basket featuring Snoopy plush toys, holiday socks, ornaments, greeting cards, and festive Peanuts character accessories displayed in a colorful gift bag on a pink background.

 

Not naming names, but some of us feel like it’s not the holiday season until we’ve watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” We dig into precisely why here, but if you’re just here for the Peanuts®-themed Christmas gift basket ideas, we totally understand!

These Christmas gift basket ideas are perfect for any Peanuts fan, especially if your loved one identifies with—or could use a dose of—Snoopy’s holiday optimism and playfulness.

  • This ceramic mug is sure to put them in the mood to decorate. 🎄
  • Speaking of which, Snoopy really knows how to deck the halls. This ceramic house with sound or this salt and pepper shaker set will help them deck their own!
  • Any kiddos in the house? They’ll love this interactive Snoopy and Woodstock plush with music and movement.
  • Up the anticipation with a countdown calendar! This one has light and sound to make each day leading up to Christmas that much more fun.
  • If they’re nuts for nutcrackers, this Snoopy nutcracker will be a treasured addition to their collection.
  • We can’t get enough of Snoopy in a puffy coat. If you can’t either, be sure to add this ornament to their Peanuts-themed Christmas gift basket.
  • Charlie Brown’s sister Sally could’ve probably used some help writing her letter to Santa—like these free printable templates for any kids in the house!
  • No frozen ponds to ice-skate on? They can slide across the kitchen floor in these comfy socks.⛸️
  • It’s hard to control yourself when putting together a Peanuts-themed Christmas gift basket, so this extra-large gift bag might come in handy.
  • We all know how great it feels to get mail…including Charlie Brown. Whether you include this mailbox card (coming soon!) as part of your gift basket or send it separately to add another element of surprise, your loved one will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Self-Care Christmas Gift Basket  

Sometimes the best gift is the one that reminds us that we deserve rest. That it’s not a luxury, but a necessity. That’s the aim of a self-care-focused Christmas gift basket—to tell the recipient, “Hey, you do a lot. And it’s okay to take a break. Especially during the holidays.”

There are a LOT of people in my life that could use one of these at Christmas. Maybe you could, too! If so, get extras of the following and give yourself a little treat while you’re out there making people happy. 😊

  • Include a journal or notebook for them to write down feelings, thoughts, dreams, plans, lists…all the stuff they won’t stop thinking (read: worrying) about otherwise.
  • How about an ornament that says, “I know you.” Whether it speaks to a favorite hobby, a favorite character, a favorite food or just something that makes you think of them, anything that helps them feel seen will send a message that you care.
  • Take something off their plate by putting something on their plate! Deliver your gift basket with a home-cooked meal or give them a gift card for a food delivery service.
  • Encourage a little holiday escapism with a Hallmark+ gift subscription. It’s basically giving them 24/7 Christmas movies, all of them with happily-ever-after endings.
  • Coupons are absolutely not corny! Make ones that offer to take the kids for an afternoon, help them tackle that project they keep putting off or go with them to that doctor’s appointment.
  • Get them something that supports a hobby—ideally something they’re already into, not pressure to start a new one. For instance, if they love to draw, these new alcohol-based markers from Crayola® create some really cool effects.
  • Reassure them they are enough and they do enough with a card. Because so many of us don’t hear that enough!

Faith-Filled Christmas Gift Basket  

Faith-inspired Christmas gift basket with a nativity scene, devotional books, candles, evergreen sprigs, a decorative wreath, and holiday keepsakes displayed in a woven basket on a soft blue background.

 

As a kid, the Christmas church services I went to with my mom were always my favorite. I loved that they were held at night and after they were over you’d walk out into the dark feeling like you were taking a little, shining piece of a miracle with you.

My mom’s faith has always been a big part of her life, and I love the idea of building a Christmas gift basket that celebrates her devotion.

  • Growing up, we had a small, hand-painted ceramic Nativity set that would come out each Christmas. Recently, she gave it to me. But I can’t stand the idea of her not having a Nativity at Christmas! I love this simple wooden Nativity tabletop decoration and this lighted Nativity display casts a shadow of the Christmas star up on the wall. I might just get her both!
  • This Advent taper holder is so elegant, and just her style. I can already see it in the center of the dining room table.
  • Of course, she’d need some new Advent tapers, too. Wrapped in gold ribbon to match the holder, it’s so simple, but oh-so-pretty. ✨
  • In Mom’s mind, the more candles, the better. This pine-scented candle and this glass tree candle would be at home near any of her many small, decorative displays around the house.
  • We like to joke that I inherited her “worry gene.” So this devotional book for easing stress and encouraging calm seems like something she’d appreciate.
  • Finally, I love how this card captures the quiet magnificence of the Nativity miracle and the joy it inspires.

Making Memories Christmas Gift Basket  

So this is probably a Christmas gift basket that I’d give my own family. Not that you couldn’t give it to another family, but it just feels like something that would make your own family’s celebration so fun! And it’s not “self-gifting” if it’s for everyone, right? 🤣

This is a Christmas gift basket that I’d fill with things that encourage traditions and quality time. Things like:

  • Matching pajamas! Because what could make you feel more like a family unit than identical sleepwear?! That’s right, nothing!
  • A gingerbread house kit. Decorate it together, or if you’re a particularly competitive bunch, you could get multiple kits and have a decorating contest each year.
  • Something that takes Christmas movie nights to the next level. Maybe your yearly tradition is watching Home Alone Or Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Or A Christmas Story. Find even more ideas here!
  • A photo ornament because families grow and change. And kids definitely grow and change! It’s a fun way to capture what your family looks like at that moment in time.
  • A traditional treat to share or have together. I know several families who do chocolate oranges or Kinder Surprise eggs, which you can find at European food markets. (Just be careful with the small toy inside around very little kiddos.)
  • A puzzle to piece together. There are also puzzle rental services, or you could host a puzzle swap with family or friends. Set it up in a central place, and watch it slowly come together as everyone contributes.

 

There are so many more ways you could customize a Christmas-themed gift basket, but I have to stop writing at some point! I hope you can use these to gift some Christmas enthusiasts in your own life or they inspire you to create your own Christmas gift basket ideas!