A Christmas gift basket is a curated collection of gourmet treats packaged to give as a holiday gift and shipped straight to someone’s door. The best ones balance variety, presentation, and flavor, and feel like more than the sum of their parts. This guide walks through the best Southern gourmet Christmas gift baskets for 2026, who each one is for, and how to order in time for the holidays.
What makes a great Christmas gift basket?
Three things separate a memorable Christmas gift basket from a forgettable one:
• Variety with a point of view. The best baskets aren’t random, they tell a story. A Southern basket built around pralines, pecans, and chocolate feels intentional.
• Presentation. A basket is a gift you see before you taste. Holiday packaging that looks the part makes the gift feel special on arrival.
• Flavor that’s actually worth it. Handmade beats mass-produced every time. River Street Sweets still cooks its pralines in open copper kettles in small batches, the same way it has since 1973.
The best Southern gourmet Christmas gift baskets for 2026
Every basket below ships fresh from Savannah. Browse the full lineup in the Holiday Gift Baskets collection.
1. Classic Christmas Basket ($79.95). The all-rounder and a generous mix of Southern favorites that works for almost anyone on your list. The safe, always-welcome choice.
2. Old Fashioned Christmas Basket ($82.95). Leans into nostalgia and tradition and is ideal for the family gift or the recipient who loves a classic holiday spread.
3. Holiday Drum of Pralines ($86.95). For the praline devotee. A festive drum packed with the signature treat that put River Street Sweets on the map.
4. Taste of Georgia Gift Basket ($65.95). A curated tour of Southern flavors that’s a great mid-range gift with genuine sense of place.
5. Santa Sampler ($56.95). A right-sized gift for teachers, neighbors, and thank-yous that is festive without going overboard.
6. Office Party Baskets ($56.95–$129.95). Sized by headcount (4–6 up to 14–16 people) for teams, clients, and holiday parties. See our corporate gifting guide for bulk options.
7. Holiday Feast Basket ($289.95). The statement gift. When you want to make a real impression for a top client or the whole extended family this is the showstopper.
Which Christmas gift basket should you choose?
Matching the basket to the recipient makes the gift land:
• For family: the Classic or Old Fashioned Christmas Basket are generous and made to share.
• For a praline lover: the Holiday Drum of Pralines.
• For teachers, neighbors & thank-yous: the Santa Sampler.
• For the office or a client: an Office Party Basket sized to the group.
• To truly impress: the Holiday Feast Basket.
Want a tin or a boxed set instead of a basket? Explore holiday tins, holiday gift boxes, and holiday assortments for more ways to give.
What makes a gourmet gift basket different?
“Gourmet” should mean something. The difference is in how it’s made: River Street Sweets candy is handmade in Savannah, not mass-produced: pralines cooked in open copper kettles, pecans and chocolate in small batches. That’s the line between a basket that’s just packaging and one that’s genuinely worth eating. Every basket is anchored by the World Famous Pralines that made the shop famous.
When should you order Christmas gift baskets?
Order early, ideally by early December. Holiday shipping windows fill fast, the most popular baskets sell through before the last week of the season, and fresh, handmade candy is worth giving time to arrive in good condition. Ordering by the first week of December is the safest way to guarantee your gifts land on time and in stock. If you’re sending to many recipients, start even earlier and use the corporate platform to ship to multiple addresses in one order.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Christmas gift basket?
A Christmas gift basket is a curated collection of gourmet treats — such as pralines, chocolates, pecans, and Southern candies — packaged as a holiday gift and shipped to the recipient. The best ones balance variety, presentation, and flavor.
What is the best gourmet Christmas gift basket?
The best gourmet Christmas gift basket depends on the recipient: the Classic Christmas Basket is the all-around favorite, the Holiday Drum of Pralines suits praline lovers, and the Holiday Feast Basket is the statement gift. All are handmade in Savannah and shipped fresh.
Can you ship Christmas gift baskets?
Yes. Every basket ships fresh from Savannah and can be sent directly to the recipient’s door. For multiple recipients, the corporate gifting platform lets you ship to many addresses in a single order.
When should I order Christmas gift baskets?
Order by early December. Holiday shipping windows fill quickly and popular baskets sell out, so ordering early protects both timing and selection.
What is the difference between a gourmet and a regular gift basket?
A gourmet gift basket is built from higher-quality, often handmade items. River Street Sweets baskets feature candy made by hand in Savannah rather than mass-produced snacks.