Looking for a fun and unique Christmas present to give this holiday season? Try making a Hot Toddy Gift Basket loaded with all the goodies for this classic winter cocktail, including stunning Cornishware mugs hand painted in the UK.
Growing up, my mom had a small Cornishware pitcher and I loved the simple classic design. I was thrilled when I discovered Cornishware again earlier this year through the owner / artist Karina Rickards on Instagram. Karina, her husband and their talented team have brought the production of this iconic British brand back to the UK from overseas. They make teapots, plates, bowls, pitchers and more – everything is painted by hand and glazed to an almost glass-like finish. I recently shared them in my Practical Gift Guide too! Karina kindly gifted me the mugs for this Hot Toddy Gift Basket and they’re perfect for this fun Christmas present idea.
Hot Toddy is a classic cocktail for a cold winter night and is easy to make with just a few ingredients that you may already have on hand. It’s the kind of drink you warm up with after a snowy winter walk, a fun day skiing…even shovelling the driveway, ha!
The idea with the Hot Toddy Gift Basket is that the recipient has everything they need to make this special festival winter drink and then can enjoy the mugs and the basket year-round. These Cornishware mugs have become my favourites now and I’m always reaching for them in the cupboard to make a tea.
For this basket I used 12oz Cornishware mugs in the classic blue and red colours. There are a rainbow of colours and you can have them personalized too. All the mugs come in the most beautiful striped boxes that are perfect for giving as gifts on their own as well. Karina also sent us the sweetest small 4oz mugs for our little girls – just the right side for a cup of cocoa after a morning playing in the snow. I have the mugs wrapped up under the tree with a simple bow around the striped box. They’d make great stocking stuffers too!
I made my Hot Toddy Gift Basket in a nice decorative basket – filling it with all the hot toddy ingredients, beautiful Cornishware mugs and a FREE Printable of my Hot Toddy Recipe Card (see below!). You can add whatever else you like to the baskets, including other cozy handmade gift ideas, such as cookies, a knit infinity scarf or homemade handwarmers.
How to Make a Hot Toddy Gift Basket
What you’ll need:
- basket
- shredded paper
- ribbons and greenery to decorate
- 2 Cornishware mugs
- small bottle of whiskey
- jar of local honey
- fresh lemons
- cinnamon sticks
- small glassine envelopes
- whole cloves
- ground nutmeg
- printable recipe card (see below)
- optional cozy additions: cookies, hand knit infinity scarf, homemade handwarmers, etc.
Putting this Hot Toddy Gift Basket together was so easy. I filled the basket with shredded paper and added a festive bow to one handle. I poured the spices into small glassine envelopes and wrapped a few cinnamon sticks up with twine. I love the striped Cornishware boxes so I kept one in the box and one out. Then it was just a matter of arranging everything in the basket, and adding the recipe card.
I’ve made this printable hot toddy recipe card that can be tucked into the basket. It is full size and you can adjust how big you would like it in your print settings. For this basket I set it to be 65% and printed it onto nice card stock.
How to Make a Hot Toddy
While you’re making up your gift basket, why not make yourself a hot toddy too!
Add 1 tsp honey, 1.5 fl oz whiskey and 3/4 cup boiling water to a mug.
Spice it with 3 whole cloves, a cinnamon stick and a lemon slice. Let mixture sit for 5 minutes so the flavours can mingle, then sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg before serving. Enjoy!
I hope you find this Hot Toddy Gift Basket helpful with your gift giving this holiday season. Visit my Holiday page for more Christmas inspiration from gift ideas and decor to recipes and crafts. Happy Holidays!
Disclaimer: Cornishware gifted me these beautiful mugs. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
