The best Christmas crackers of 2025

Luxury, playful and sustainable designs that are almost too good to pull

The Christmas table really isn’t complete without crackers. These festive treats date back to the 1840s when London confectioner Tom Smith began wrapping bonbons, along with a love motto, in tissue paper. The distinctive cracking sound we now associate with these table treats was added a few years later; inspired by the sound of a popping fire it was this addition that helped the cracker’s popularity take hold. Later, paper hats and small gifts were added and crackers became a quintessential part of Victorian Christmas.

This Yuletide tradition continues to this day. Keep it alive with glittering options bursting with unique treats, or choose a sustainable, refillable design for an extra-thoughtful touch. Your festive tablescaping just went up another notch.

Are the gifts inside crackers always tat that ends up in landfill? Absolutely not. These design-focused crackers bring all the pull-and-snap fun, with a little added sparkle. The gifts inside range from the more affordable holly design, holding little treats such as key rings and mini rulers, to Morris and Co.’s premium pressies (mini cheese grater, anyone?).

Vibrant, playful and quirky, these crackers for little ones contain gifts ranging from Disney-themed tree decorations to the guaranteed LOLs of the mini Harlequin crackers’ fake moustaches. For more fun still, the Snowman crackers have a six-player ‘Who Am I?’ game, complete with paper glasses.

Reusable or refillable crackers, or even ones you make yourselves, help care for the environment and allow you to choose more meaningful, individual gifts. Wondering what you can put in fill-your-own crackers? Go for small beauty treats, classic chocolate, or choose items such as a mini harmonica or cat sticky notes from our secret Santa gifts.

At the super-luxe end of the cracker spectrum the jokes and gifts are upgraded to booze, sugar, spice and all things really nice. Hotel Chocolat’s bestselling 10-pack of Mini Crackers each contains a sweet treat, while Kocktail’s includes four classic pre-mixed cocktails. Just crack them open, add ice and get the party started.

For crackers almost too gorgeous to pull, these decadent options – filled with premium beauty-brand minis – are presents in their own right. Molton Brown’s ornate offering contains a miniature fragrance and body wash, while The After Party Cracker holds skin-nourishing heroes to help you recover from big nights.