Before anything else, decide whether the slow cooker itself is part of the present, because that choice points you to the right basket from the list below.
If they already own one, the apple butter jars and peppermint cookies on parchment skip the big purchase.
The list covers a wide spread, from the Hot Cocoa Crock Pot Gift, built from small items and the cheapest to fill, to the Gourmet Kitchen Slow Cooker Basket, which holds the pricier extras.
1. Slow Cooker
A slow cooker works as the basket itself, which means the recipient gets a useful pot and the filling in one present. Spatulas, a cookbook and checkered towels fit inside with room to spare.
Pick a cookbook that matches the pot. A dip-focused book suits a small cooker, since small ones are made for dips and sauces, not Sunday roasts.
I like a two-cooker pair for a couple or a shared office gift.
Soup is very easy to make in a slow cooker, so offer one for the hostess as a gift that keeps on giving. It will get tons of use and the modern leaf design will compliment every kitchen.
2. Homemade Apple Butter
Apple butter in jars is a gift that looks homemade because it is, and a batch fills several jars at once, so one pot covers a few names on your list.
For the sweetener, the maker of this batch used 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup white in place of a full 2 cups of one kind.
That mix gives a deeper flavor than white alone, and you can adjust the total to taste.
Tie a checkered cloth around the basket or set the jars on one and the gift is ready to hand over.
3. Peppermint Cookies
Chocolate cookies with a chocolate drizzle and crushed peppermint on top are the kind of treat that pairs well with a cocoa-and-cooker basket.
Crush the candy canes after the drizzle goes on, while the chocolate is still tacky, so the pieces stick. Let the cookies set fully on parchment before packing.
Layer them between parchment sheets so the drizzle doesn’t smear in transit.
4. Themed Baskets
Because the theme follows the recipient’s interests, you can swap the contents freely: tea for a night owl, spices for a baker.
Choose a theme first, then shop for the filler. That keeps the budget in check, since the cooker is the one big purchase and everything inside it can be small.
5. Gourmet Kitchen Slow Cooker Basket
A dark green slow cooker holding a wooden cutting board, olive oil, hand soap, a candle and a towel reads as a kitchen starter kit, and it suits anyone who cooks often.
Wrap the whole thing in clear cellophane and finish with a red bow. Stand the cutting board upright at the back so it holds the other items in place.
Spend your money on the olive oil. A good bottle is the item people actually use.
6. Hot Cocoa Crock Pot Gift
Cocoa packets, a jar of marshmallows, candy canes and green spoons fit neatly inside a white slow cooker, and a pine-patterned towel doubles as padding and a bow base.
Candy canes work as stirrers, so the spoons are a bonus. I’d keep the marshmallows in a jar, not a bag, so they stay fresh and don’t get crushed.
This is the cheapest basket here to fill, because the cocoa and candy are small items.
7. Cozy Fall Slow Cooker Baskets
Autumn baskets work best when the cooker holds the treats and the extras sit around it. Mugs and a plaid blanket draped over the rim make the whole thing read as a cozy night in.
Pumpkin spice and hot cocoa are the 2 flavors to pack, and a premium chocolate gives the cocoa a little more weight. I’d tuck one mug beside each jar so the recipient can start sipping right away.
Fold the blanket last so it softens the edges of the pot.
8. Holiday Treat Slow Cooker Baskets
Gourmet snacks, a big ribbon and a few coordinating labels are enough to turn a plain slow cooker into a holiday gift.
Fill it with a mix of chocolate and something savory or warming, like a hot toddy mix, so one basket suits more than one taste.
A wide ribbon tied around the pot, not just the handles, holds the pieces together and gives the finish. Buy the treats in small sizes; the cooker already carries the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some ideas for a crockpot raffle basket?
For a raffle prize, I like turning the cooker into the container: spatulas, a cookbook and a couple of checkered towels tuck inside with space left over.
A sheet of clear cellophane and a red bow let people see the prize from across the room.
Can I use a mini crockpot for a simmer pot?
Nothing here tests a mini cooker for simmer pots, so I can’t vouch for it.
What can I use instead of a basket for gifts?
The slow cooker itself is the best swap, since the recipient gets a useful pot and the filling in one present.
A decorative box or any container that fits the theme also works. A wide ribbon looped around the whole bundle, rather than just the handles, keeps everything from shifting.
