Hjemmelavet gavekurv: tema, indhold og sammensætning

A homemade gift basket doesn't need a basket at all. What makes it a gift in itself is thinking in terms of a theme, a container the recipient can use again, and a good mix of something that gets eaten right away and something that stays on the shelf or the kitchen worktop afterwards.

In this guide, we'll go through how to choose a theme and a container, how to fill it properly, and how to keep track of your budget along the way.

The short answer

A homemade gift basket is built on three choices. First, a theme that suits the person or the occasion, for example coffee and tea, cheese and wine, or breakfast. Next, a container that can be used as a gift box and is itself part of the gift, for example a platter, a bowl, a jar or a cake tin. Finally, you fill it with a mix of something edible and one or two things that remain once the edible part has been used up.

It's that combination that makes the difference between a bag of random items and a gift that feels thoughtful. A card stating what the basket contains rounds it all off.

What is a gift basket

A gift basket is typically a gift delivered to the recipient at home or at work, and it's often given for special occasions such as holidays or as a thank you or congratulations. Some baskets contain fruit, others dry goods like tea, biscuits and jam, and gourmet baskets often have cheese and wine alongside things that can't be eaten.

A Christmas basket is the best known version here at home, with small long-lasting food items like chocolate, nuts, jam, biscuits, honey as well as smoked or dried meat and cheese. Baskets built around coffee, tea or cocoa often also contain a cup and saucer, ideally with a seasonal theme or made personal. There are also baskets with no food at all, built around a theme like bath things with scented soaps and towels.

Historically, the basket itself was a useful item in the home, and the cloth around the food or the lining in the basket could be used further by the recipient. It's actually the same idea you use when choosing a container that can live on after the gift.

Choose a theme and a container

Once you've chosen a theme, the rest of the gift basket often falls into place naturally. Here are some examples of how theme, container and contents can work together.

The shop doesn't sell ready-made baskets, but has exactly the cake tins, serving bowls and jars that work perfectly as a container and become part of the gift instead of packaging that gets thrown away afterwards.

Mix something edible with something that stays

The edible bits bring joy here and now, whilst the one thing that's left behind turns the basket into a keepsake long after the contents have been used. It could be a cup, a wine stopper or a candlestick that sits out in the home as a reminder of who it came from.

Here, for example, you can use a Tulipan ceramic wine stopper for a cheese and wine basket or a Mor ceramic cupfor a basket built around coffee or tea. The tradition of coffee, tea or cocoa baskets often includes a cup anyway, so it isn't a new invention, but a way of making an old idea a little more personal.

How to put it together step by step

• Put a tea towel or cloth in the bottom of the container, so it looks inviting and cushions the contents.
• Place the tall items at the back, for example a bottle or a jar.
• Put the small items at the front, so they're visible straight away when the gift is opened.
• Pack fragile items, such as cups or ceramics, well in between the other things, so they don't shift during transport.
• Include a small card describing what the basket contains, so the recipient can quickly get an overview.

You can read more about the actual wrapping of the gift, with paper, ribbon or fabric, in the article Gift wrap and wrapping: Make the gift complete.

Homemade contents

Home-baked biscuits, a jar of jam or something else homemade gives the basket a personal touch that shop-bought items can't match. Write a small note with what it is and when it was made, so the recipient knows what they're dealing with.

A simple note can be enough: the name of the baked goods and the date they were made. That makes the gift more personal without you having to say anything about how long it keeps.

Budget

Use the price ranges to keep track of what the whole basket ends up costing. The shop has gifts divided into the ranges DKK 1-200, DKK 200-400, DKK 400-600, DKK 600-800, DKK 800-1000 and DKK 1000-1500, so you can choose a container and contents that suit the amount you've set aside.

If you're unsure how much a combined gift should cost, you can read more in the article How much should you spend on a gift? Rules and advice. If a homemade basket isn't quite your thing, there are also gift cards from Dims Studio in the amounts DKK 100, DKK 175, DKK 250, DKK 400, DKK 500, DKK 600, DKK 1000 and DKK 1200, as a simple alternative.

Frequently asked questions

What can you put in a gift basket?

It depends on the theme, but typically a mix of something edible like coffee, tea, cheese or biscuits, and an item that stays, such as a cup, a cheese board or a wine stopper.

How do you make a homemade gift basket?

Choose a theme and a container, fill it with something to eat or drink along with an item that stays afterwards, and finish with a card explaining what the basket contains.

What can you use instead of a basket?

A dish, a bowl, a jar or a cake tin works well as a container and at the same time becomes part of the gift, instead of packaging the recipient throws away.

What goes in a Christmas basket?

A traditional Christmas basket contains small, long-lasting food items such as chocolate, nuts, jam, biscuits, honey, and smoked or dried meat and cheese.

How much does it cost to make a gift basket yourself?

It depends entirely on what you choose, but you can use the price ranges from DKK 1-200 up to DKK 1000-1500 as a starting point to keep track of the amount.

How do you wrap a gift basket?

Start with a tea towel or cloth in the bottom, place tall items at the back and small items at the front, and take a closer look at the actual wrapping in the article about gift wrap and wrapping.

Summary

A homemade gift basket comes down to three choices: a theme, a container that is itself part of the gift, and a good mix of something edible and something that stays. Put it together thoughtfully, keep track of the budget with the price ranges, and let a card tell the rest.

Read also

• Hostess gift: The perfect thank-you gift
• Cheese board ideas: how to arrange a lovely cheese board
• Ceramic cups: From morning coffee to cosy moments
• Gift wrap and wrapping: Make the gift complete
• Almond gifts: ideas for adults, children and the family
• Easter gift ideas for adults and children at every price point
• Qualification gift: ideas for the qualification party and the newly qualified tradesperson