Christmas Food Gifts. Every family seems to have one person who is almost impossible to buy for.
You ask what they would like for Christmas and get the familiar answer:
“Oh, nothing. I’ve got everything I need.”
Which, annoyingly, is probably true.
There comes a point when another scarf, candle, mug or clever kitchen gadget is not really doing anybody any favours. Some people genuinely do have enough things.
That is one of the reasons we have always liked food as a Christmas present.
It gets opened. People share it. Before long, it has disappeared. And, if you choose well, it is remembered long after the box is empty.
The trick is choosing something that feels a little more special than the sort of thing we all put in our weekly shopping basket.
Christmas food gifts for the person who really does have everything
This is where the slightly unusual things come into their own.
A box of marrons glacés, for example, is the sort of thing most people would rarely think to buy for themselves.
And that is precisely why they make such a good present.
Soft, sweet candied chestnuts feel wonderfully indulgent at Christmas, particularly with coffee after dinner.
The same is true of glacé fruits. They are traditional, colourful and a little extravagant. Open the box and they immediately feel like something special.
Then there are marzipan fruits, chocolate-dipped fruits, good nuts and nougat.
None of them needs to pretend to be practical.
They are simply there to be enjoyed.
Sometimes that is exactly what a Christmas present should be.
Christmas food gifts for parents who say, “Please don’t spend anything on us”
We hear variations of this one every year.
Parents and grandparents can be particularly difficult to buy for because, by the time Christmas comes around, they often insist they need absolutely nothing.
A food gift neatly gets around the problem.
Rather than buying another thing for the house, you are giving them something they can open over Christmas and enjoy together.
A box of chocolate-covered fruits might come out after lunch.
Later, the nougat gets cut into pieces with a cup of tea.
Meanwhile, the nuts mysteriously disappear every time somebody walks past the table.
And if you are buying one present for two people, a hamper makes a lot of sense.
There is something rather nice about opening a box and finding several different things inside. One person heads straight for the chocolate, somebody else chooses the nuts, and suddenly everyone has an opinion about which piece of nougat is the best.
That is part of the fun.
Christmas food gifts for when you’re buying for a whole household
Buying separate presents for a couple or family can become expensive very quickly, particularly once the Christmas list starts growing.
A hamper solves that rather neatly.
It feels generous, there is plenty to discover, and nobody has to pretend to be delighted by something chosen solely because you ran out of ideas.
We tend to think the best hampers have a bit of contrast in them.
Something chocolatey. A little fruit. Then perhaps something with a crunch, followed by nougat or marzipan.
Things that can be put on the table over Christmas rather than eaten all at once.
And if you know exactly what the family likes, creating your own hamper is even better.
One household might demolish dried fruit and nuts in an afternoon.
Another would happily swap the lot for chocolate.
There is no rule saying every Christmas hamper has to contain the same things.
What do you take when somebody invites you for Christmas?
A bottle of wine is the obvious answer.
It is also, sometimes, a slightly automatic one.
If you are going somewhere for dinner, drinks or a few days over Christmas, bringing something to eat instead can be a lovely change.
A small box of chocolates, glacé fruit, nougat or nuts does not put the host under any pressure to open it there and then.
They can tuck it away and enjoy it once everybody has gone home.
It also avoids that slightly awkward moment when somebody who does not drink is handed their third bottle of wine of the evening.
And unlike flowers, nobody has to abandon the gravy to hunt for a vase.
Christmas food gifts for someone who doesn’t drink
Christmas gifting can be surprisingly bottle-heavy.
Wine, Champagne, gin — and then quite possibly another bottle of wine.
For somebody who does not drink, it is nice to receive something that feels like a proper present rather than an alcohol-free substitute.
That is where good confectionery, chocolate, fruit and nuts work particularly well.
They still have that celebratory feel and can be opened after dinner or shared with family.
Better still, there is no sense that you have bought the “alternative” version of somebody else’s gift.
You have simply bought something delicious.
Dietary requirements needn’t make Christmas shopping impossible
Buying for somebody who is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal or kosher can require a little more thought.
But it should not mean they end up with the least interesting present in the room.
Many Walnut Tree products are suitable for different dietary requirements, although it is always important to check the information on each individual product.
Allergies are different again, so if you are buying for somebody with an allergy, please do read the allergen information carefully before ordering.
It may take another minute, but it is worth it.
Few things say “I actually thought about this” quite like receiving something you can genuinely enjoy.
A word about work Christmas presents
Corporate Christmas gifts can sometimes become a little impersonal.
There is the branded notebook, another reusable bottle or perhaps something with a logo printed very prominently on it.
Useful, perhaps.
Exciting to open? Not always.
Food is different.
If you are thanking staff, customers or people you have worked with throughout the year, something they can take home and enjoy feels much more like a gift.
A beautiful box of food does not have to shout your company name from every corner.
A thoughtful card can do that job perfectly well.
The gift itself should belong to the person receiving it.
You don’t have to buy the biggest box
Christmas has a habit of making us think everything needs to be bigger.
A bigger tree.
More food than anyone could possibly eat.
And, somehow, a larger present.
It doesn’t.
A smaller box of something really good can be a far better present than a huge hamper filled with things nobody particularly wanted.
Think about the person.
Would they enjoy chocolate? Perhaps something traditional, or something a little unusual?
Maybe they would prefer something they can put out when friends come over.
Those questions are much more useful than starting with the size of the box.
The message matters too
We pack an awful lot of gifts at Walnut Tree, and one thing we have learned is that the little message inside can matter almost as much as what is wrapped around it.
It does not need to be clever.
“Wish we could be there.”
“Thank you for everything this year.”
“Something for you both to enjoy.”
Or even:
“Merry Christmas. Hide these from Dad.”
That last one may not suit every family, admittedly.
But a few words make a gift personal.
Particularly when it is being delivered directly and you cannot hand it over yourself.
So, what makes a good Christmas food gift?
We have been making and packing food gifts at Walnut Tree since 1997, and we don’t think there is a complicated answer.
Buy something the person probably would not buy for themselves.
Choose quality over quantity.
Most importantly, think about what they actually like.
Give them something they can enjoy rather than something they have to find a home for.
That could be a beautifully packed box of marrons glacés.
Perhaps it is chocolate fruits, nougat, nuts or marzipan.
Or it might be a hamper with enough in it for the whole family to start arguing over their favourites.
Christmas already gives us plenty to organise.
Buying a good present does not need to be another complicated job.
Explore our Christmas food gifts and hampers, or put together your own selection with our Make Your Own Hamper.
And if you are still stuck on that person who says they want absolutely nothing?
Something delicious is usually a very good place to start.
Why Walnut Tree?
Walnut Tree has been an independent, family-run British business since 1997.
We source distinctive foods from trusted producers and bring them together in beautifully presented gifts, all hand-packed by our team in Hertfordshire.
From award-winning nougat and glacé fruit to chocolate-dipped fruit, marzipan, nuts and carefully chosen hampers, everything we sell is selected with three things in mind: quality, flavour and presentation.
We also create gifts for businesses, from individual thank-yous to larger corporate and bespoke orders.
Beautiful gifts, packed with care
Every Walnut Tree gift is packed by hand.
We believe the little details matter, whether that is the way a box looks when it is opened, a ribbon tied properly or a personal message included with the gift.
Wherever possible, we also keep packaging to a minimum, use recyclable materials and reuse or repurpose outer packaging rather than simply throwing it away.
Giving something back
Giving has always been important to us.
Walnut Tree is proud to support Future Dreams, a UK breast cancer charity providing practical help, support and awareness for people affected by breast cancer.
Over the years, we have also supported charitable causes through food donations, gifts and fundraising prizes.
For us, gifting should be about more than what is inside the box.
From our family to yours
Whether you are sending a birthday present, saying thank you, celebrating Christmas or simply letting somebody know you are thinking of them, we want a Walnut Tree gift to be something you would be delighted to receive yourself.
Beautiful food. Thoughtfully chosen. Hand-packed in Britain.