Yes, you read correctly. I did it, I mentioned the dreaded ‘C’ word. In November! I know some of you are dreading the arrival of Christmas but I for one cannot wait! I really don’t want to disappoint all the haters out there but the big day is under five weeks away. Yes really! So it really is time to get cracking with the Christmas shopping.
With the above in mind, I am attempting to get organised for the festive season so that I am not maniacally running around in the lead up to the big day. It really does seem that the month of December gets shorter and shorter each year! I adore all the delicious delicacies that grace the supermarket shelves at this time of year so I thought I would do a round-up of some of the better goodies out there, which are just begging to be snapped up to adorn a beautiful hamper or be stuffed into a stocking!
From left to right:
Snowy Lodge Turkish Delight £1.59 available from Lidl
Not your traditional choice for Christmas but as Neil is such a fan, I couldn’t resist treating him to a box! As you can see from the photo, the packing isn’t particularly special but what this product lacks in presentation, it certainly makes up for in taste and quality.
Choceur Belgian Chocolate Seashells £1.79 available from Aldi
These indulgent seashell chocolates are almost £2.00 cheaper for the same quantity of the Guylian version, always a bonus in my book as that leaves more money for some festive fizz!
Waitrose Christmas Chocolate Selection £1.25
I was extremely shocked at the price of this chocolate selection from Waitrose. Yes, you don’t get tons and tons of chocolates but you do get a good variety of traditional chocolates presented in a fun Christmas cracker; I was almost as impressed with the price as I was with the packaging! These chocolates will make a great little stocking filler for the big day.
Hotel Chocolat Christmas Mini Selection £5.00
If it is quality you are after, look no further than Hotel Chocolat. They have some absolutely delicious Christmas treats on offer with many goodies for under £5.00. Check out my review on Hotel Chocolat’s Christmas delicacies here.
Holly Lane Stollen Bites £1.99 available from Aldi
I adore Stollen, I really do. When perusing Northampton’s German Christmas Market the other day I was shocked to see that whole stollen’s were on sale for £6 plus! Aldi is a fab place to go for this German Christmas treat, with these stollen bites being the perfect size to go with your Christmas afternoon cuppa. If I am being overly critical, I would say that the packet I bought were a little on the dry side so be sure to pick some up on Christmas week, not before.
Waitrose Chocolate Coffee Cups £5.50
Another beautiful chocolate selection! Although each chocolate cup is very dainty, I thought this selection was well priced and will be the perfect accompaniment to after dinner coffee on Christmas Day.
Favorina Gingerbread Hearts with Apricot £0.99 available from Lidl
I adore European Christmas treats and these are no exception. Lovely and soft and full of flavour…..the only issue with these gingerbread hearts is stopping yourself from eating them all at once!
Belgium Chocolate Fruit and Nut Selection £3.49 available from Aldi
My Dad always has to have a good selection of nuts to crack his way through over Christmas week and this selection is another bargain from Aldi. Plus, the addition of fruit means you can almost convince yourself that you are being healthy…..
Favorina Mini Panettone £0.99 available from Lidl
A fab size to squeeze into an already stuffed hamper! After first sampling panettone a few years ago, I now love having some around at Christmas! This mini version means you’ll always be able to fit in a slice even if you have overindulged. I am certainly looking forward to creating some interesting recipes with panettone this Christmas. Watch this space!
Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel and Pecan Chocolate Spread £6.00
Although this is the most expensive item in my Christmas hamper, I can testify that it is worth every penny! With salted caramel now trending in the UK, this Hotel Chocolat treat is a little more luxurious than your average chocolate spread and therefore a must for Christmas breakfasts! Check out my blog on Hotel Chocolat and recipe for Chocolate, pecan and salted caramel tarts, perfect for Christmas Day pud!
If you don’t have the time or energy to fill your Christmas hampers with homemade goodies, I can highly recommend the above selection. Neil and I made our own hampers from scratch last year and although enjoyable and, I hope, appreciated by our friends and family, it was a lot of work in the run up to Christmas. A lot of the goodies had to be made a couple of days before the 25th so that they could be enjoyed in the weeks to come. This year, as I am cooking Christmas dinner, I think I will look to purchase any foodie treats instead of slaving away over a hot stove!
I hope you enjoy the above recommendations and are looking forward to the festive season as much as I am!
Related posts:
- Edible Christmas Presents: Tiger Butter and Christmas Peppermints
- Edible Christmas Presents: Christmas Cupcakes
- Recipe: A Gingerbread House for Christmas
- Review: Christmas in Association with Hotel Chocolat