“When it comes to gifting food baskets, the first thing that consumers are looking for is the quality of products and where they’re sourced from,” says the founder and CEO of Tasty Ribbon Giulia Scargetta. Upon delivery, our tester found that there weren’t any labels on the box letting the recipient know there were perishable items inside. Most of the items were snacks that could be kept in the pantry for weeks anyways, but also included was a Hickory-smoked summer sausage and a block of white cheddar cheese—so if a recipient doesn’t open within a couple of hours of the box arriving, these foods could go bad quickly. Otherwise, the food items paired nicely together, and though our tester ordered the smallest size of the basket, she had enough food to share with her partner over a couple of snacking sessions. More Great Options:
Under $50: Snack Box Under $100: Deluxe Favorites Basket Splurge: Bountiful Harvest Fruit Gift Basket
Our favorite options come in luxurious wooden crates, like the best-selling Tour de France Gift Crate that comes stocked with smoked salmon, brie, and even caviar. If that’s a bit outside your price range, there are plenty of simpler options, including some just filled with cheese or fruit and nuts. During testing, we loved the high-end feel of the packaging. A twine string held the boxes together neatly in a stack, and a decorative gifting bow adorned the boxes, just as pictured. Our tester gave it high scores for taste, which make sense since they ship perishable foods directly from their vendors for freshness. If you’re concerned about ingredients and allergens, those are clearly printed on the boxes, but the information is placed so as not to get in the way of the presentation of the gift. This gift basket lost some points for ordering and selection, as it stood out to us that most gifts cost a minimum of $50 and the basket we selected had a $12 shipping fee—a significant markup if you’re on a budget. More Great Options:
Under $50: Williams Sonoma Infused Olive Oil Gift Set Under $100: Manhattan Fruitier Chocolate Confections Gift Tower Splurge: Tour de France Gift Crate
Mouth received high scores overall, but our tester took off one point since three items she originally ordered were swapped out with another snack. There is a disclaimer that notes this on the site when you place your order, but it’s something to keep in mind if you had your heart set on a specific product making into the gift. However, there are plenty of filters to find what you’re looking for. “I appreciated how easy it is to filter Mouth’s offerings by dietary requirement and taste preference, and still find a nice range of appealing gift options,” says our tester. All items came packed in crinkle-cut brown paper, which might not make for the fanciest presentation, but we liked that the material was easy to recycle. The wide selection, easy-to-use filters, and recyclable packaging made Mouth our favorite overall pick. More Great Options:
Under $50: Poppy Popcorn Tiro Under $100: The Chocolate Fix Splurge: All the Snacks gift
Testing proved that the quality of the ice cream was phenomenal. You can expect unique and delicious flavors that are packaged well and will arrive at your recipient’s door within the expected time frame. The included dry ice kept the ice cream frozen and ready to eat. Compared to other options, the packaging is a bit simplistic, but the high-quality ice cream makes up for it. We think it would make a great hostess gift after a holiday visit—that way you don’t have to share! The order minimum is four pints at $12 each, or you can order a specific collection starting at $58 for five pints. Shipping cost is dependent on zip code, and all orders will arrive one to two days after being shipped. More Great Options:
Under $50: Gooey Butter Cake Pint Under $100: Crowd Pleaser Collection Splurge: Care Package Collection
We gave the brand high scores for quality, and we loved that a lot of the items included were “treat-like”—meaning they weren’t necessarily products people would buy for themselves, but still made for fun pantry items that would last over the course of a few weeks or months. And although food is the star of the show with Stonewall Kitchen, many of the gift options come with one or two non-food items that extend the life of the gift. More Great Options:
Under $50: Classic Sampler Collection Under $100: Family Brownie Night Gift Splurge: Brunch Gift Basket
While the selection may seem overwhelming, we recommend shopping by occasion, which the website makes easy to do. For adults, opt for a wine and cheese pairing, while kids and teens might love a birthday box full of candy and cake-themed treats. There are smaller and bigger baskets available, but all wine baskets also include snacks that pair nicely with the chosen beverage. In terms of delivery, our tester’s basket arrived very quickly, and she found that all items were packed securely to ensure nothing shifted during the shipping process. The basket’s other contents tasted fine, but we took off a point since some food items didn’t live up to the same quality as others—the wine was clearly the main star of the gift. More Great Options:
Under $50: Gourmet Meat & Cheese Sampler Under $100: Classic Red Wine Gift Basket Splurge: Ultimate Snack Gift Basket
When browsing through the site, we noticed that David’s Tea had quite a lot of options for a range of tastes and budgets, including plenty of seasonal blends and packs. Keep in mind that gift sets do tend to sell out quickly, which is why we took a point off for ordering. You can get free shipping when you spend over $39, and your recipient can expect two servings with each tea in a gift set. Take note that most of the gifts contain loose-leaf tea, so you’ll have to be sure the recipient has an infuser. More Great Options:
Under $50: Classic Faves Under $100: Matcha Essentials Kit Splurge: 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar
We gave Jasper Hill Farm high points in every category, most especially in part because the cheeses were delicious and weren’t something you’d typically find at the grocery store. Our tester said that the basket she tested felt very personal and special, and the included crackers and nuts gave her an instant charcuterie board. Note that the baskets start at a pretty high price point, but a lot of the boxes ship free with codes found throughout the site, and the quality of the product is worth the splurge if your loved one is a cheese enthusiast. More Great Options:
Under $50: Blake Hill Mini Jams Boxed Set Under $100: The Perfect Gift Splurge: The Great Diversion
You might think that having a smaller selection would be a bad thing, but in this case, our tester found that this made the ordering process clear and fast, given the website was easy to navigate and not-at-all overwhelming. She found that every cookie she ordered arrived fresh, decadent, and ready to be enjoyed right away. More Great Options:
Under $50: Signature Cookie Assortment 4-Pack Under $100: 8 Cookies in a Holiday Tin Splurge: Chocolate Chip Walnut 12-Pack
The brand scored a perfect score for selection since Milk Bar has a wide range to choose from; for example, you can browse among cookie-only packages or opt for a sampler of their popular desserts. Our tester was particularly impressed by the company’s commitment to freshness. The gift basket arrived packaged with cold packs and the tin basket was secured, so none of the treats were broken or damaged. The basket even included instructions on how to best store and preserve the treats once opened, in case you don’t finish their delicious selections in one sitting. More Great Options:
Under $50: B’Day Truffle Dozen Box Under $100: The Holiday Sampler Splurge: 10-Inch Birthday Cake
Shipping is super quick—our tester received her basket within a week of ordering and by the predicted delivery date. Plus, the two-day shipping option is free! All items were intact, and we were happy to see that there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of waste when unboxing. One thing to keep in mind: While the wine and snacks were tasty, we took points off due to the fact that there wasn’t a full ingredients list online. This would’ve been helpful for those with certain food allergies or sensitivities. More Great Options:
Under $50: Wicked Jack’s Rum Cake Under $100: As Good As Gold Basket Splurge: 5th Avenue Grand
Our tester’s box included an array of cheeses and a card describing each cheese’s flavor and pairing suggestions. The cheeses were wrapped in their original packaging and then placed in Goldbelly’s packaging to keep them cool during transit. Our tester noted that even a week after arrival, her cheese tasted just as delicious. More Great Options:
Under $50: Veniero’s Assorted Cookie Tray Under $100: The Pie Hole’s Assorted Pie Holes Splurge: Taste of New York Box
Knack received perfect scores across all categories. Our tester felt that every individual product included was unique, and all contents were curated well together. Every item arrived fresh, clearly labeled, and without damage. You can also email the recipient so the package doesn’t get lost, as well as add a custom-written message and video—great if you’re gifting from afar. The only downside to Knack is that the gifts tend to have fewer items that are mostly intended for one person, so this isn’t necessarily the best option to send to a family or a couple. However, as a gift or as a thank you to an individual, Knack’s selection can’t be beaten. More Great Options:
Under $50: Big Time Thank You Gift Set Under $100: Popcorn & Movie Night Gift Set Splurge: The Ultimate Care Package
Our testers loved the fresh-tasting dried fruit combined with the saltiness of nuts and the sweetness of chocolate, all at such a great value. Many gifts also come with a collapsible basket or tin that can be repurposed instead of wasteful plastic packaging. There are plenty of limited edition gifts available that come in festive candy-striped tins or arrive in the shape of an apple for the fall time. The website also features a “gifting search tool” to easily find who sent you the delicious package. While Bonnie & Pop’s selection may pale in comparison to other retailers, the speedy delivery, high-quality products, and exceptional value make it a contender. More Great Options:
Under $50: Chocolate Gift Basket Under $100: Christmas Dried Fruit and Nut Gift Basket Splurge: The Colossal Chocolate Set
Wicked Good Cupcakes also lets you send an e-gift for your recipient to choose their own flavors with gluten-free options as well. Our testers loved the moist cake that looked exactly like the pictures online upon arrival. However, some wished there were a few more flavor options and a non-alcoholic pairing option for younger recipients and non-drinkers. More Great Options:
Under $50: Mix & Match 2-Pack Under $100: Cupcake 2-Pack & Red Blend Gift Set Splurge: Build Your 16-Pack
Choose from different collections to gift from an extensive hosting gift set to Asian-inspired flavors to those more commonly seen in America. The hosting gift set comes with 32 pieces and 8 popular flavors, so there are some doubles to share with friends. The flavor bundles come to about $3 per piece, while pricier options come with extras like tea towels and serving tongs. While expensive, the mochi comes packaged extremely nicely, with one tester comparing them to a fancy box of chocolates. The variety and uniqueness make Mochidoki a great option, according to our tester, who shared “I’d definitely send this instead of flowers next time I need a unique gift idea.” They loved the combination of familiar and unique flavors that made the gift a full experience, with some trying to guess the flavor based on the color and then confirming with the helpful guide. Just be sure to put your mochi in the freezer immediately upon arrival to avoid melting. More Great Options:
Under $50: Black Sesame 4-Pack Under $100: Bestsellers Collection Splurge: Hosting Gift Set
Once the gifts arrived, we considered the unboxing experience from the recipient’s eyes, including the packaging, the freshness of the products, and—of course—how the products tasted. Only baskets our testers really enjoyed and would send out to our friends and family made this list.
What to Look for in a Gift Basket
Assortment
Having an assortment of food items the recipient can sample (and share if they’re feeling generous) is all part of the fun. Pick products that you know your recipient will enjoy while also tempting them to try something new. Mouth makes it easy to filter your snacks by dietary restrictions, occasion, region, and more. This makes the wide selection more manageable. However, Mouth also warns that they may swap out some options if they’re unavailable. If this is a major concern, we recommend opting for something like Goldbelly, which makes specifically curated boxes.
Pricing
Gift baskets are an excellent gifting choice because there’s an option for every budget, ranging from $20 to $200. However, some brands add one extra shipping fee (like Milk Bar), while others (like Gift Tree) offer free two day shipping. When you’re looking at pricing, make sure you’re taking that into account. Also consider the overall value of the products—some brands, like Stonewall Kitchen tend to offer full-sized products that can be used for entertaining, while other brands include single-serving options better for snacking.
Delivery
Editor’s Note: Be sure to order early and research delivery dates and shipping times when ordering a gift basket. Luckily, some brands offer expedited or next-day shipping, but it always helps to choose your gift early to ensure it arrives in time, especially during the busy holiday season. In addition to determining shipping costs, it’s important to read up on the company’s delivery statement: Does it deliver in the area the recipient is located? How do cold items arrive, and how long can they safely stay in the box? For Harry & David, there may not be perishable warnings on the package, so be sure to warn your recipient that it’s arriving so they can prepare to bring it inside right away. For alcoholic deliveries, someone often will have to sign for the package, which is another thing to consider. When sending a gift box around a major holiday, you’ll want to check for delivery times, too. Lots of sites have timetables and order-by dates to give you a pretty accurate estimate. In general, the earlier you place your order, the more likely it’ll arrive on time.
Intended Recipient
Because there are many options available, you really can’t go wrong with sending a tasty gift basket to just about anyone. Edible gifts are especially fitting for people who are difficult to shop for because everybody loves treats of some kind. Plus, it’s not a present that’ll clutter up the house (or end up in the giveaway bin), and anything they don’t like in the basket can be shared with friends or family.
Allergy Information
When shopping for the perfect gift basket, you must also keep in mind the recipient’s taste and possible allergies. Luckily, many sites selling food-based gift baskets offer allergen information right in the product description. Some baskets with various snacks included may require more research or a quick call to the company, but this becomes vital when allergies come into play. We love that some options like Williams Sonoma clearly printed allergen information on the box, so there’s no guesswork.
Serving Size
Some things to consider: Does the recipient have kids that may want to break into their delicious dessert box? Are they a big entertainer so a larger wine, cheese, and meat basket might be better? If they live alone, will all of the included treats stay fresh long enough for them to enjoy? Many companies have various size options or items that have a long shelf life including nuts, coffee, jams, and more. After putting so much time and effort into your gift choice, you want to ensure they can enjoy every part of it. For example, Goldbelly’s gift boxes are often large with tons of treats, but our tester was still able to enjoy them a week after arrival, which contributed to its high rating.
Why Trust The Spruce?
For this list, editors at The Spruce put their own tastebuds to the test and sampled gift baskets from each of the companies included to make sure we only include options we’d shop from when choosing gifts for our own friends and family.
Some even allow for other special add-ons including packaging options like bows and ribbons, embroidered liners for baskets, or additional items. For an even more personalized gift, turn to companies like Stonewall Kitchen which allow buyers to design their own breakfast gift basket from scratch so gifters can choose the perfect items for their recipient. The article was written by The Spruce editor Julia Fields, who writes gift and holiday content for the site. We also spoke with experts in the gifting field to get tips on what to consider when you’re making your selection to help guide you to the perfect choice for everyone on your list. Expert advice was provided by the founder and CEO of Tasty Ribbon Giulia Scargetta.
