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Nov 09, 2024

The 4 Best Gift Baskets You Can Buy Online, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Including our favorite sweet, savory, and festive options. Real Simple / Taylor

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Including our favorite sweet, savory, and festive options.

Real Simple / Taylor Rock

If you have a friend or family member who’s especially tricky to shop for during the holidays, a gift basket is a great option. Not only does it include a variety of items—so you don’t have to worry about making tough decisions—but it also comes beautifully packaged, eliminating the struggle of DIY wrapping.

That said, finding a gift basket that looks (and tastes) as good as advertised can be tricky, especially when you can’t see the options in person. Luckily, we tested 61 of the most popular choices for you, including sweet, savory, themed, and frozen options. Read on for our top picks that are guaranteed to impress.

The cookies taste delicious and homemade whether you eat them fresh or freeze them.

We wish the chocolate chip didn’t have walnuts in it.

If your giftee has a sweet tooth, we swear by Levain Bakery’s Signature Cookie Assortment. The basket includes four large cookies in the brand’s bestselling flavors: dark chocolate chocolate chip, chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, and oatmeal raisin.

The moment we took a bite, we knew these were some of the best cookies we’d ever tasted. Each one looked and tasted as if it was homemade. Our only (minor) complaint? The addition of walnuts in the classic chocolate chip cookie—if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

While four cookies might not sound like much, don’t let the quantity fool you—each cookie is thick, decadent, and perfect for sharing. Plus, unlike other fresh gift baskets, you won’t have to rush to enjoy them; they last up to a week at room temperature, and you can freeze and reheat them to taste just as fresh. We heated ours at 350°F for five minutes, per the brand’s recommendation, for an extra ooey-gooey consistency.

The cookies arrived in a Levain-branded cardboard box wrapped in a plastic sleeve with a bow. Nothing glamorous, but it certainly got the job done. At just over $29 plus shipping, we think this assortment is a real steal. And if you want to serve a group—or just have more for yourself—you can even opt for the 8- or 12-pack.

Shipping: From $10 | Number of Items: 4, 8, or 12 cookies

Feeling something besides cookies? You can’t go wrong with a box of chocolates, and we were blown away by the luxe, unique, and delicious Recchiuti Black Box 16. For a taste of a classic New York delicacy with pudding that tasted as fresh as getting it straight from the bakery, we also recommend the Magnolia Bakery Baked Fresh Sampler Pack. If variety is top of mind, we enjoyed that Cheryl's Cookies Classic Assortment Bow Gift Box came with five different flavors and that the Harry & David Signature Bakery Tray had a little something for everyone.

It includes more variety than your standard charcuterie board.

You may want to add another more exciting cheese to the mix.

Whether you’re hosting guests or enjoying a cozy wine and cheese night at home, this gift box from Di Bruno Bros. is our favorite savory option. It comes with everything you need to create the perfect charcuterie board: cheddar, cheese spread, prosciutto-stuffed pepper shooters, jam, candied nuts, crostini, and even a dark chocolate sea salt.

We loved the variety and found that everything tasted very fresh and high quality. While the contents didn’t seem drastically different from what you’d find at the grocery store, the salami, jam, and tapenade did taste gourmet. Our only suggestion would be to add one more (more exciting) cheese and perhaps some extra crostini to even the spread.

The box arrived in a pretty simple design adorned with illustrations and filled with shredded paper. Although this pick is on the pricier side, we think its quality and variety make it worth it. If you want to craft a charcuterie board that goes beyond the typical “meat and cheese” selection, this one has our stamp of approval.

Shipping: From $15 | Number of Items: 8

For a fun biscuit sampler, we loved the Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Share the Love Basket, which came with three flavors: classic buttermilk, cinnamon sugar, and cheddar and chive (yum!). We also recommend the Boarderie Cheese & Charcuterie Board for high-quality presentation, a variety of items, and a reusable board, and the Eli Zabar's NYC Deli Weekender Box for plenty of fresh food that could easily serve a large group (or provide plenty of leftovers). Last but not least, we loved the Universal Yums Care Package for its variety—30 cool and unique snacks from different countries—and great taste.

It includes a mix of chocolate, caramel, and fruity flavors.

You can’t customize the flavors, and they take time to thaw.

Jeni’s is a fan favorite for a reason, and when it comes to ice cream, the Best Sellers Collection is hard to beat. The five-pint pack includes all the brand’s bestsellers: brambleberry crisp, brown butter almond brittle, darkest chocolate, salted peanut butter with chocolate flecks, and salty caramel. We loved the mix of fruity and chocolatey flavors, making this collection a true crowd-pleaser.

While you can’t customize the pack, honestly, there was nothing we would have added or removed. We also liked that you can add extra pints to your order, making it extra great for larger groups. We recommend sampling the flavors with friends and ranking your favorites—ours were the salty caramel and brown butter almond brittle.

The dry ice was intact upon arrival, and the ice cream was still frozen solid. Just note that the dry ice comes directly on top of the ice cream and nestled in styrofoam, so you’ll need to tip the box over to access it.

While the manufacturer suggests letting the ice cream thaw for two hours, if you’re impatient like us, you can microwave it to speed things up. Also, the brand recommends selecting a delivery date that’s two or three days before your desired day to ensure it arrives on time.

Shipping: From $19, varies on location | Number of Items: 5

For fans of the beloved ice cream brand Salt & Straw, we also loved The Best Sellers Pack for its generous five pints (that even included a vegan flavor) and its higher-end, gourmet taste. You could also go for the Frog Hallow Farm Ice Cream Sandwiches if you want more unique flavors or are a fan of almond extract in desserts.

The packaging is fun and festive, and it includes sweet, savory, and festive items.

Some of the items are a bit difficult to share.

Some gift baskets are just as much about the presentation as they are about the contents, and the Let’s Party box scores high in both categories. It arrived in a glossy box adorned with “Happy Birthday” with pink, blue, and green festive designs, and each item was beautifully displayed in a bed of white crinkle paper. Honestly, the box was a gift in itself.

In terms of food, the box includes two wicked cupcake jars (chocolate and vanilla), a bottle of wine, a small box of birthday cake balls, sea salt flatbread crackers, a mini jar of jam, a log of salami, and a block of cheese.

Plus, it comes with some festive extras like birthday candles, a confetti popper, and a bottle of sparkling wine. We found everything to be tasty and high quality, especially the cupcake jars (which the brand is known for).

The portions were fairly small, which makes sense since this is a birthday gift box meant for an individual recipient. We did find the salami and cheese a bit hard to cut, and the jar format of the cupcakes can be similarly tough to share with a group. However, we appreciated the mix of sweet, savory, and decorative items. If you’re looking for a festive (and tasty) birthday gift, this box is a fun choice.

Shipping: $10 | Number of Items: 10

Murray's Cheese Holiday Sampler: Murray’s Holiday Sampler tasted very gourmet, with enough cheese to easily feed a group. However, the presentation was a bit subpar—just six, individually-wrapped cheeses—and you’ll need to add your own jams, meats, and crackers to create a full charcuterie experience.

Rao's Small Sampler: We loved this small sampler from Rao’s, which includes three sauces and two types of pastas (penne and spaghetti). Just keep in mind that the sauces are all tomato-based, so it may not be the most versatile choice.

Real Simple / Jamie Fischer

We tested 61 different gift baskets and evaluated them based on presentation, freshness, variety, quality, and overall value. We examined the contents of the gift baskets when they arrived, taking into account whether or not the perishable items were properly stowed and if anything was damaged.

For the baskets with frozen items, we checked how cold the contents were and how well packaged any dry ice was within the container. In terms of presentation, we noted how visually appealing each basket was.

Next, we tasted each of the items in the gift baskets, giving feedback on the variety of the selection and how many people it could comfortably feed. We then evaluated the freshness of the food and noted whether the products tasted gourmet or as if we could have found them at a local grocery store.

Once we sampled everything in the baskets, we decided whether the price was justified for what we got. After considering all of these factors, we compiled our favorite picks.

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

We tested dozens of gift baskets, including sweet, savory, and frozen options. When it comes to variety, the first thing to consider is how many people the basket is for. Are you looking for a smaller gift basket for the recipient to enjoy alone, or a larger one that they can share with a group?

If it’s the former, it’s totally fine to go with a themed assortment that you know the giftee likes (like the Levain Signature Assortment if they like cookies, or the Jeni’s Best Sellers Collection if they love ice cream). If it’s for a larger group, or if you’re less sure about the recipient’s tastes, go for a basket that includes a mix of sweet and savory items, like the Di Bruno Bros. Abbondanza Gift Box.

Half of the appeal of a gift basket is its presentation—after all, if it didn’t look great, you could just grab some grocery store items yourself. While some baskets come in standard cardboard, others feature more aesthetic packaging. We were huge fans of the Wicked Good Cupcakes Let’s Party Gift Box, which arrived in a glossy, vibrant box with shredded confetti within.

Usually, you can get a good idea of how the basket will be presented from the website. However, it’s important to read the product description rather than relying solely on the image. For example, the photo of Murray's Cheese Holiday Sampler showed a beautifully-plated charcuterie board with all the fixings, but the actual basket included just the cheese.

While gift baskets can be pricey—especially once you factor in shipping and sales tax—it’s important to remember that you’re paying for both the presentation and the contents. Price often reflects the quality of the presentation and quantity of items.

For example, the four-cookie Signature Cookie Assortment from Levain is only $29 before shipping, while the Di Bruno Bros. Abbondanza Gift Box, designed for larger groups, costs $120. That said, if you notice that your gift basket is double what you’d pay for a similar grocery-store version of the products, it might not be worth it.

Real Simple / Meg Lappe

The best way to personalize a gift basket is to prioritize your recipient’s tastes. If they have a big sweet tooth or love cheese, choosing a basket tailored to their preferences is extra thoughtful. For special occasions, look for a themed option, like the Wicked Good Cupcakes Let’s Party Gift Box. But if the packaging isn’t specific to the occasion, don’t worry—you can often add a personalized note when you order.

When buying a gift basket for a group, there are two key factors to consider: quantity and variety. For quantity, make sure there’s enough food for the whole group to enjoy. If it’s a cheese basket, for example, you’ll want plenty of cheese to go around.

Then there’s variety. As with any party or gathering, every individual is likely to have different tastes and preferences. While some may gravitate toward fruity flavors, others might prefer chocolate. Choosing a basket with a mix of flavor profiles, or several different items in general, is a great way to please the whole crew.

This article was written by Jamie Fischer, a shopping writer for Real Simple. Jamie is a huge fan of gift baskets and has personally tested several for the brand—including cheese, pasta, ice cream, and cookie options. Her family’s favorite? The Jeni’s Ice Cream Best Seller’s Collection. For this list, our team tested 61 gift baskets in total, evaluating them based on presentation, quality, and value. From that batch, we compiled our favorite options to suit every taste and occasion.