The best Christmas food gifts of 2022, from luxury chocolates to the Marks and Spencer hamper
Why is food a good gift at Christmas? Because it's the easiest to get right. It’s the one thing that we all need and we all love. You can’t go wrong with a delicious box of chocolates, a panettone or a goodie-packed Christmas hamper. And if they happen to be a budding chef, that opens up the world of luxury ingredients, desirable cookware and kitchen gadgets too. The best food gifts are likely to be very well-received.
What food makes a good gift?
Chocolates are the classic, of course, but now that people take things like coffee and pizza-making more seriously, it’s easier to tailor your gift to a genuine passion – which is always the sign that you’ve put some thought into it.
Christmassy foods are also a great idea, from smoked salmon to a posh Christmas pud or a delicious cheese – and to accompany them, you may want to read our guide to the best Christmas drinks gifts.
Still wondering what to buy? Here’s the Xanthe Clay guide to the best Christmas food gifts of 2022. Bon appétit and merry Christmas.
Best Christmas food gifts
1. Marks & Spencer Christmas Hamper
Xanthe says: “A proper wicker hamper feels luxurious and this one is a great price, with three kinds of biscuits, chocolate florentines and wine, plus the obligatory jar of chutney.”
£50
Price at
Marks & Spencer
2. Ooni pizza oven skillet
“This sturdy little skillet is perfect for pitmasters and bbq heads, as it works in pizza ovens, on fire pits or over charcoal. Serve smokey shakshuka or seared peppers out of the pan, which sits on a neat wooden base.”
£35
Price at
Ooni
3. Aeropress Go
“Aeropress is a satisfyingly low tech way to make espresso-style shots, designed by a retired California engineer and approved by hipster baristas the world over. This on-the-go version nests neatly, and comes with a bag of top notch Pact coffee.”
£34
Price at
Pact Coffee
4. Chococo Caramelised White Gold Chocolate Penguin
“Chocolate penguins are way cooler than the ubiquitous Santas, and these versions come in sustainably sourced plain, milk, vegan oat milk and caramelised white chocolate (think gourmet Caramac), hand made in Dorset.”
£11
Price at
Chococo
5. Pizarro Rose and Tapas
“Christmas isn’t all about the sweet stuff: Spanish chef Jose Pizarro’s collection of tapas includes prized Iberico ham loin from top notch producer Cinco Jotas, as well as Perello olives, smoked mussels, and a bottle of his own label rosé.”
£48
Price at
Jose Pizarro
6. Orb Pestle and Mortar Designed by Gareth Neal
“A good pestle and mortar is essential kitchen kit, and this one is both beautiful and functional. Made of heavyweight granite, it makes short work of spice grinding. Seriously covetable.”
£58
Price at
Case Furniture
7. Dishoom chai set
“The cult Indian restaurant chain’s authentically fragrant version of Mumbai chai in a keepable tin, along with proper chai glasses and a tea strainer. Just add milk and fresh ginger, plus sugar to taste.”
£35
Price at
Dishoom
8. Lazzaroni Biscottiera
“No one does iconic packaging like the Italians, and this covetable tin will long outlast the crunchy biscuits inside - themselves a chic and easy pud with a glass of Vin Santo.
£18
Price at
Sacla
9. Finca La Barca Smoked olive oil
“Chef Ashley Palmer Watts, formerly Heston Blumenthal’s right hand man, first put me on to this addictively good smoked oil in a beautiful bottle. Trickle it over crostini or mix with lemon juice for a savoury dressing.”
£15
Price at
Ocado
10. Panettone al Gin all’Arancia Rossa
“Gin plus panettone covers a lot of Christmas bases, and this mash-up made in the Veneto has the booze in a custardy cream filling so there’s no risk of dry cake.”
£23
Price at
Carluccios
11. Crossip non-alcoholic taster collection
“Ditching the booze is positively chic these days, and these beauties really pack a flavour punch, especially the the intensely smokey “Dandy” and the Campari-bitter hibiscus “Pure”. Perfect for Nogroni lovers.”
£35
Price at
Crossip
12. Carbonator Pro
“Love fizzy water, hate plastic waste? A home carbonator is the answer, but they’ve never been things of beauty until Scandi company Aarke got in on the act. These seductively designed glass bottle versions can take centre stage on the work top.”
£250
Price at
Aarke
13. Chef’s knife, House Marble handle, personalised
“A beautiful knife is every chef’s most wanted item, and these versions handmade in Wiltshire are top of the tree - plus they’ll engrave the recipients name on the blade.”
£169
Price at
Savernake
14. Gin Advent Calendar
£89.90, Neat and Shaken (currently reduced to £76.40)
“A gin for every day of advent, almost - there’s three days of cocktail related kit too - but this will make you very popular with the G’n’T lover in your life.”
£77
Price at
Neat & Shaken
15. Rack Hamper
“The Meat Merchant, aka Peter Hannan supplies some of the best meat in the business to top chefs including Mark Hix. A hamper of his premium racks, beef, lamb and sugar pit bacon, is a meat lover's dream.”
£170
Price at
The Meat Merchant
16. Fiasconaro x Dolce & Gabbana Hazelnut Panettone with Manna Cream
“Fashionistas love cake, and this hazelnut panettone with a creamy filling would be irresistible even without the Dolce and Gabbana designed tin, perfect for storing paraphernalia stylishly.”
£60
Price at
SousChef
17. Full side of smoked organic salmon
“Glenarm salmon is farmed to exacting standards in Northern Ireland and is generally reckoned to be the most ethical salmon available. Carefully smoked, it’s a proper treat like smoked salmon used to be.”
£99
Price at
Glenarm
18. The Brindisa Christmas Hamper
"You get a lot of booty for your buck with this traditional wicker hamper from the Spanish specialists Brindisa - including top notch cava (made in the same traditional method as Champagne), Pastura truffle cheese, Iberico ham and delectable crisp tortas de Naranja."
£200
Price at
Brindisa
Getting ready for Christmas? You may want to read our guides to the best Christmas hampers, the best advent calendars, the best beauty advent calendars, the best food advent calendars, the best alcohol advent calendars, the best artificial Christmas trees and the best children's toys. We also have guides to the best Christmas gifts for women and the best Christmas gifts for men.