Best Christmas Crackers
Photography by Hannah Partridge PhotographyIf you’ve already scoped out our roundup of the best advent calendars of 2024, you’re sorted for counting down to Christmas—but what about some fun festive favours for the big day itself?
Let’s talk Christmas crackers. Sure, they’ve been around forever, but these days they’re so much more than paper hats and dad jokes (although we secretly love those too). For 2024, the cracker game has seriously levelled up, with luxury picks packed full of dreamy beauty treats, indulgent goodies, and gifts so fab you’ll be tempted to keep them for yourself.
Still love the classics? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Our top value Christmas crackers are packed with enough cheesy jokes and colourful crowns to make everyone at the table groan (in the best way).
The 18 Best Christmas Crackers for Festive Celebrations, Including Luxury, Beauty & Value Options
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Best Christmas Crackers of 2024 at a Glance:
- Best Overall Christmas Crackers: 8 Luxury Christmas Crackers - White & Gold Design
- Best Luxury Christmas Crackers: Harvey Nichols Six Luxury Christmas Crackers
- Best Beauty Christmas Crackers: L'Occitane Festive Christmas Crackers Collection
- Best Value Christmas Crackers: Pack of 6 Luxury Winter Starlight Crackers
Best Luxury Christmas Crackers
When it comes to elevating your Christmas table, luxury crackers are in a league of their own. Forget the usual plastic trinkets—these are all about sophistication, with high-end gifts like delicious festive goodies, alcohol, premium leather goods, or even jewellery. Perfect for those who adore a little festive indulgence, luxury crackers not only make a statement but also offer a touch of refinement to your celebrations. Whether you’re hosting or bringing a luxury contribution to dinner, shop our favourite luxury Christmas crackers to celebrate in style.
All that Glitters Crackers
Includes:
- 6 x Gold Hats
- 6 x Motto Cards
- Christmas Tea Biscuits
- Piccadilly Blend Coffee
- Royal Blend Tea Caddy
- Gingerlossus Biscuits
- Fortnum’s Champagne Stopper
- Fortnum’s Bottle Stopper
£185, Fortnum & Mason.
Six Luxury Christmas Crackers
Includes:
- Gold or Silver Crowns
- Jokes
- Miniature Gin
- Delicious Liqueurs
- Speciality Honey
- Waiter’s Friend Corkscrew
- Champagne Stopper
£65, Harvey Nichols.
MOTH: Cocktail Crackers
Includes 6 ready to service cocktails:
- x1 Margarita
- x1 Espresso Martini
- x1 Cosmopolitan
- x1 Pink Gin Fizz
- x1 Negroni
- x1 Old Fashioned
£29, MOTH Drinks.
Luxury Christmas Crackers
Includes:
- Leather Bookmark
- Elegant Keyrings
- Artisanal Aspinal Honey, produced by the Aspinal bees at hives near their head office in the heart of the South Downs National Park.
- Honey Drizzler
- South Downs Wildflower Seeds
£100, Aspinal of London.
Complete Christmas Cracker Gift Set in Gold
Includes:
- Love Studs in Gold
- Lucky Studs in Gold
- Protection Studs in Gold
- Cosmic Studs in Gold
£150, Astrid & Miyu.
Best Beauty Christmas Crackers
Beauty lovers, rejoice! Christmas crackers aren’t just for novelty toys anymore. Packed with mini skincare saviours, luxe lipsticks, and iconic fragrances, beauty crackers are the ultimate treat for makeup mavens and skincare enthusiasts. Whether you're gifting them to a friend or keeping them for yourself (no judgment here!), these best beauty Christmas crackers bring a glam touch to your festivities.
Luxury Traditional Christmas Crackers Set of 6
Includes:
- Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion 45ml
- Intensive Treatment Foot Oil 30ml
- PURE Cuticle Oil 10ml
- Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum Pen 15ml
- Intensive Hydrating Hand Cream 45ml
- Hydrating Hand Sanitiser 30ml
- Small Crystal Nail File and Small Shiner Buffer
£59.40, Liberty London.
Festive Crackers Collection
Includes:
- Red Cracker
• 35ml Cherry Blossom Shower Gel
• 10ml Cherry Blossom Hand Cream - Purple Cracker
• 35ml Shea Shower Oil
• 10ml Shea Butter Hand Cream - Yellow Cracker
• 35ml Almond Shower Oil
• 10ml Almond Delicious Hands - Green Cracker
• 30ml Verbena Shower Gel
• 10ml Verbena Hand Cream.
£24.50, L'Occitane.
Snowman Cracker
Includes:
- English Pear & Freesia Cologne 9ml
- Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body & Hand Wash 30ml
- Peony & Blush Suede Hand Cream 15ml
£38, Jo Malone.
Christmas Crackers (pack of 6)
Includes:
- Complexion Blender Sponge
- Body Base Shimmer in Medium
- Beauty Base Pearl
- Beauty Base Rose Golden
- Beauty Base Protect
- CloudCream™
£50, Sculpted By Aimee.
Your Bath and Body Heroes
Includes:
- Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, 25 ml
- Space NK Nordic Wilds Hand Crème, 30 ml
- Joonbyrd Violet Haze Body Scrub, 30ml
- Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Sleep Mist, 10ml
- Nécessaire The Body Wash Eucalyptus, 30ml
£25, Space NK.
Floral & Spicy Christmas Cracker Bodycare Gift Set
Includes:
- Fiery Pink Pepper Bath & Shower Gel, 50ml
- Orange & Bergamot Bath & Shower Gel, 50ml
£16, Molton Brown.
Prime & Pout Stocking Filler Makeup Gift Set
Includes:
- Lip Comfort Oil, 01 Honey, Mini, 1.4ml
- SOS Primer, White, Trail Size, 10ml
£12, Clarins.
Best Value Christmas Crackers
Who says you need to splurge to impress? Value crackers combine affordability with festive cheer, delivering all the fun without breaking the bank, often featuring practical gifts, charming keepsakes, classic games and a cheesy joke or two. These budget-friendly options are perfect for keeping the whole family entertained, proof that great crackers don’t have to come with a hefty price tag.
Pack of 6 Luxury Winter Starlight Crackers
Each includes:
- Metal Gift
- Gold Paper Hat
- Motto Card
- A Snap
£8, Dunelm.
Mini Chocolate Christmas Crackers
Each includes one individually wrapped chocolate in one of the following recipes:
- Pecan Praline
- Billionaire’s Shortbread
- Dark Dizzy Praline
- Salted Caramel Cream
- Caramel Cheesecake
£19.95, Hotel Chocolat.
8 Luxury Christmas Crackers - White & Gold Design
Each includes:
- Gift, including trolley token, mini grater, mini screwdriver set, bottle opener keyring, nail file, loose tea strainer, nail clippers, and tape measure.
- Hat
- Joke
- Conversation Starter
£20, M&S.
Family Cube Snowflake Christmas Crackers, Pack of 12, Gold
Each includes:
- Hat
- Motto
- Dinner Game Cards (including trivia, "Hum That Tune," and charades)
- A Snap
£5, John Lewis.
24 Pack of 9" Gold Star Crackers - Party Box
Each includes:
- Hat
- Motto
- Fun Gift
- A Snap
£8, George at ASDA.
FAQs: Christmas Crackers
Which Christmas crackers have the best gifts?
Luxury crackers are the go-to for the best gifts, often including premium items like beauty minis, gourmet treats, or practical trinkets. Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols, Jo Malone, and Liberty London are standout choices for those looking to impress. On the high street, Marks & Spencer, Dunelm, and Asda also offer fantastic options - all delivering affordable crackers with thoughtful surprises like mini-games or practical keepsakes.
Which supermarket has the best Christmas crackers?
Supermarkets like Marks & Spencer, Ocado, and Asda are top picks for Christmas crackers. Marks & Spencer is praised for stylish designs and good-quality gifts, while Ocado leans into luxury with beautifully crafted options. For budget-conscious shoppers, Asda offers festive designs with fun, family-friendly content at a great price point. Aldi and Lidl are also worth checking out for affordable yet cheerful options.
Why do Brits have Christmas crackers?
Christmas crackers are a quintessential British tradition, invented in the 1840s by confectioner Tom Smith, who was inspired by French bonbons. He added the famous "snap" mechanism and paper hats to create a fun, festive table accessory. They’ve since become a staple of British Christmas dinners, featuring jokes, trinkets, and hats to add a sense of cheer and community to the celebrations.
Which are the most popular Christmas crackers?
Popular choices often blend luxury and tradition. Supermarket crackers from Marks & Spencer and Asda are consistently well-loved, with Asda offering excellent value for families. High-end crackers from brands like Fortnum & Mason and Harvey Nichols remain iconic, while beauty crackers from Jo Malone and L’Occitane are a favourite for those looking for something a little more indulgent.
