Secret Santa exchanges call for gifts that are festive, easy to enjoy, and safe for just about anyone on your list. Christmas gift baskets are perfect for that: they look impressive, feel thoughtful, and are filled with treats your recipient can keep or share around the office or at home.
Below are five of the best Christmas gift baskets for Secret Santa gifting, with each offering a fun, seasonal presentation and a mix of goodies that make holiday exchanging effortless.
A Taste Of Christmas Gift Basket — GourmetGiftBaskets.com
The A Taste Of Christmas Gift Basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com is a compact red holiday box packed with classic seasonal snacks that feel festive without being over the top. It’s a very “grab-and-go” option: Christmassy packaging, easy-to-love flavors, and a size that doesn’t overwhelm someone’s desk.
What’s inside (highlights):
- Butter toffee peanuts
- English toffee caramels
- Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
- Crunchy caramel popcorn
- White chocolate chip sugar cookies
Why we love it: This basket hits that sweet spot between “small token” and “real gift.” The mix of popcorn, nuts, and cookies feels like a curated treat break, and the bright red Christmas packaging instantly reads as seasonal.
Best for: Coworkers or acquaintances in your Secret Santa exchange when you want something clearly Christmassy, budget-friendly, and universally appealing (especially if you’re not 100% sure about their tastes).
Holiday Signature Flavors Gift Basket — Hickory Farms
The Holiday Signature Flavors Gift Basket from Hickory Farms leans savory, with a mix of sausages, cheeses, mustards, and crackers that basically assemble themselves into a mini charcuterie board.
What’s inside (highlights):
- Beef summer sausage
- Sweet & smoky turkey summer sausage
- Sharp cheddar blend
- Three cheese & onion blend
- Smoked cheddar blend
- Honey pineapple mustard
- Sweet hot mustard
- Golden toasted crackers
- Olive oil & rosemary crackers
Why we love it: Not everyone wants a sugar rush. This basket gives your recipient something they can put out at a holiday gathering or nibble on during movie night. It feels a bit more “grown-up” than a pure candy box, and Hickory Farms is recognizable enough that people know they’re getting reliable quality.
Best for: The office foodie, the person who loves game-day snacks, or anyone you know prefers savory over sweet. It’s also great for Secret Santa gifts that might be shared with a spouse, roommates, or a team.
Classic Christmas Gift Box — Harry & David
The Classic Christmas Gift Box from Harry & David blends their signature Royal Riviera pears with a small lineup of holiday confections. The result is a gift that feels premium and traditional, without the bulk of a giant corporate hamper.
What’s inside (highlights):
- Royal Riviera pears
- Dark chocolate peppermint bark
- Raspberry-filled tree-cutout shortbread cookies
- Dark chocolate mini mints
Why we love it: This is a Christmas gift box that looks like it belongs under a tree or in a nice holiday spread. The combination of fresh pears, peppermint bark, and shortbread cookies feels very “old-school Christmas,” and the box presentation keeps it compact enough for Secret Santa.
Best for: Someone with classic or slightly upscale tastes; think a manager, a long-time colleague,anyone in a Secret Santa drawing who would appreciate something a bit more elegant than candy alone.
Santa Claus Gift Tower — Wine Country Gift Baskets
The Santa Claus Gift Tower from Wine Country Gift Baskets is pure holiday fun: a stack of Santa-themed boxes filled with chocolates, cookies, and popcorn. It’s the kind of gift that turns heads when it’s placed on the Secret Santa table, then gradually disappears as everyone helps themselves.
What’s inside (highlights):
- Milk and dark chocolate hazelnut pralines
- Lindt Lindor milk, dark, and white chocolate truffles
- Snowman and Christmas tree decorated cookies
- Candy cane popcorn
- Ghirardelli® peppermint bark squares
- Palmiers, brownies, and madeleine cakes
Why we love it: The tower format makes the unboxing experience feel playful and interactive. Each tier contains something different, and the mix of recognizable brands (like Lindt and Ghirardelli) gives it instant credibility with chocolate lovers.
Best for: Office Secret Santas where the gift will sit on a shared desk or break room table—coworkers can grab a treat here and there. It’s also great for recipients with kids at home who will be excited by the Santa motif and the variety of sweets.
Collector’s Edition Santa’s List Cookie Jar — Cheryl’s Cookies
The Collector’s Edition Santa’s List Cookie Jar from Cheryl’s Cookies is a ceramic Santa cookie jar holding his “nice list,” filled with buttercream-frosted holiday cutout cookies. Once the cookies are gone, the jar doubles as reusable Christmas décor that can be refilled year after year.
- 3 buttercream-frosted red sprinkle cutout cookies
- 3 buttercream-frosted snowball cutout cookies
- 3 buttercream-frosted green sprinkle cutout cookies
- 1 buttercream-frosted snowman cutout cookie
- Collector’s Edition ceramic Santa’s List cookie jar (approx. 8″ x 7.5″ x 12″)
Why we love it: It’s not just edible: it’s collectible. The cookie jar itself is a substantial, display-worthy piece that feels more personal than a standard basket, and the buttercream-frosted cookies are a surefire hit. It’s the kind of Secret Santa gift that gets an immediate “wow.”
Best for: A higher-impact Secret Santa pick for someone you know a bit better: a close coworker, department lead, or friend in the exchange who loves decorating for Christmas and will actually reuse the jar each year.
Final Thoughts
When you’re choosing a Secret Santa gift basket, a few simple rules help you nail it:
- Keep it explicitly seasonal. Look for words like “Christmas,” “holiday,” or Santa/Christmas imagery so the gift feels tied to the occasion.
- Think about shareability. Baskets with individually portioned treats, popcorn, cookies, or snackables are great when your recipient might share with coworkers or family.
- Match the vibe to the relationship. Smaller, sweet-only boxes are perfect for casual coworker exchanges; larger or more decorative options like sleighs and towers fit closer relationships or higher budgets.
Leave a Reply